Night of Ideas 2022: (Re)building Together
The Night of Ideas is back for a seventh Canadian edition! On Thursday, January 27, seven online events organized by the cultural network in Canada will take place. From Halifax to Victoria, each event will, in its own way, invite attendees to think about a common theme: rebuilding together.
But what to rebuild? And with whom? As we seem to be drifting, collectively, from one crisis to another, these are timely questions. Each Night of Ideas event will be an opportunity to consider a different answer, whether we’re considering a post-COVID world (Moncton), what NFTs could mean for art (Vancouver), or a more egalitarian relationship between humanity and the living world around it (Toronto), each and every attendee will be given food for thought.
Come take part in the discussions alongside prominent Canadian and French figures from the fields of culture and the arts, academia and others. Discussion, dialogue between disciplines and culturally diverse participation are at the heart of the issues during the Night of Ideas.
We will also continue our exploration of these themes in the episodes of a podcast available on January 27 and created specially for the Night of Ideas by Canada’s Alliances Françaises, with support from the Embassy of France in Canada and Radio-Canada.
Moncton: (Re)building Together: How should we (re)think and (re)habilitate the post-COVID world?
In Moncton, the day begins with a student round table organized by Acfas-Acadie: at 11:30 a.m., students in the natural and social sciences will tackle the issue of “rebuilding together.”
The evening’s programming begins at 7:30 p.m., with a series of artistic presentations brought to you by the Resurgo Place museum. Six artists, chosen through a call for projects, will present their artistic reactions to the theme: Chantal Baudouin, Nid (contemporary dance performance); Shivanya Ra Albas, Disjunction and the Reimagined (collection of works in mixed media — paint, drawing and collage); Joette Lavoie, Life as a senior: We have arrived (poetry); Lucia Choulakian, Consequat (series of film photographs); Sébastien Labrunie, Milamugsit (animated digital sculptures); and Laure Bourdon, Secret de longévité (slam poetry performance).
At 8 p.m., a round table will bring together four faculty members from the University of Moncton who will discuss the ambiguities of the post-COVID world imagined during the pandemic: How can we overcome our apparent collective powerlessness, at a time when we are gaining increased awareness of the indispensable nature of our freedoms, but also of the conditions that make them possible (solidarity, mutual support, collective mobilization, etc.), in order to face major social challenges? The discussion will be led by Alain Deneault, professor of philosophy and Program Director at the Collège international de philosophie de Paris; Jalila Jbilou, doctor of medicine and associate professor at the School of Psychology and the School of Medicine (Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick); Chedly Belkhodja, professor of political science and documentary director; and Pierre-Marcel Desjardins, professor of economics and Chairman of the boards of directors of UNI and RDÉE Canada. The exchanges will be moderated by Janique LeBlanc, journalist for Radio-Canada’s Module Impact Acadie.
This event is presented by Acfas-Acadie, the Alliance Française of Moncton, the Chaire Senghor des francophonies comparées, the Consulate General of France in the Atlantic provinces, Resurgo Place (Moncton Museum), the University of Moncton, Radio-Canada, and TomorrowLAN Productions, with the support of the Embassy of France in Canada.
7:30 p.m., live broadcast on Facebook. In French.
Halifax: (Re)building together: Climate change — Building bridges between the present and future
What actions could we take to rebuild in a sustainable manner? Over the entire week, the team at the Discovery Centre is providing an online exploration of climate action to students at schools in Nova Scotia’s English and French districts, with the motto “Think global, act local” in the spotlight.
On January 27, a round table will address the subject of resilience to the environmental crisis and processes for exiting the crisis. The three panelists will each bring their own perspective: political/societal, legal/judicial, and economic/industrial. They are: Juliana Barnard, Municipal Councillor for Truro and founding member of the Living Earth Council; Tina Northrup, lawyer at the East Coast Environmental Law Association; and Dr. Antoine Sautenet, Director of Public Relations at Michelin Canada and lead of the Movin’On project. The panel will be moderated by Nathalie Geddry, journalist for Radio-Canada and producer of the La Mouvée radio show.
This event is presented by the Alliance Française of Halifax, the Consulate General of France in the Atlantic provinces, the Discovery Centre, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, with the support of the Embassy of France in Canada.
6:30 p.m., Zoom seminar, live broadcast on Facebook. In French. Inscriptions here.
Ottawa: Rebuilding through the arts, together
The National Gallery of Canada, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Canada and the Alliance Française of Ottawa, presents a series of conversations and artistic performances centered on the theme of rebuilding together through the arts and culture. This is an opportunity to consider different perspectives on the changes being undergone by this sector at a time of greater diversity and inclusion in which new voices are making themselves heard. What triggered these changes? What role can institutions play in this context? What resistance is there to openness? How can we build a sustainable future for art in which everyone in society can benefit from it?
The discussion will include various players in the arts, curators and artists representing various disciplines and horizons. Co-hosted by Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada and former Secretary General of La Francophonie (who will be introduced by Kareen Rispal, Ambassador of France to Canada) and by Sasha Suda, Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the evening will feature Greg Hill, Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery, in discussion with Paz Núñez-Regueiro, Curator at the Musée du Quai Branly and leader of the CROYAN project, and Jonathan Lainey, Curator at the McCord Museum. Mani Soleymanlou, Artistic Director of French Theatre at the National Arts Centre; Moridja Kitenge Banza, a multi-disciplinary artist; and Odile Joannette, Director of the grant program for Indigenous art at the Canada Council for the Arts and Dawn Iehstoseranón:nha, (She Keeps The Feathers) Setford (Mary Francis), founder of the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada.will also be present.
The evening’s artistic program will be kicked off by DJ Memetic, aka Kwende Kefentse, who will activate Rashid Johnson‘s Capsule installation located in the main entrance of the museum. It will include a performance by spoken word artist El Jones and Inuit throat singing by Kendra Tagoona and Annie Aningmiuq.
5 p.m. Register on Zoom to attend the event. Bilingual. More information here.
More info to come.
Toronto: A World in Common
The modern separation between human beings and their environment and an exploitive relationship with the earth, has led to an ecological catastrophe that threatens the diversity of life on our planet. Faced with this reality, it is critical to rethink the relationships between humans, animals, plants and oceans. In the wake of recent anthropological, legal and philosophical work on these issues, the Night of Ideas will be an opportunity to think about this re-newed diplomacy between humans and non-humans.
At noon, join Annie Rochette, ecofeminist and legal expert specializing in environmental law, as she discusses the ethical, legal and environmental implications of the idea of “rebuilding together,” in a live conversation with François Bergeron, editor-in-chief of L’Express, presented by the Alliance Française of Toronto.
At 6.30 p.m. onward, the evening will be organized around the screening of the documentary Composer les mondes, directed by Eliza Levy. In this movie concepts and ideas of Philippe Descola, a French anthropologist who has dedicated his life to shedding light on these issues, are confronted with a unique social experiment: that of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, in France, where, in opposition to an airport project that was finally abandoned, the inhabitants deployed new ways of experiencing the world. The screening will lead to a conversation with the director and Marine Calmet, legal expert and founder of the Wild Legal association; and Lisa Janz, anthropologist at the University of Toronto. Art will also be on full display, with an original creation by Tawhida-Tanya Evanson, writer, artist and performer, set to music by Pooria Poornazeri; the presentation of pieces from the Museum; and the screening, exclusive to this event, of scientist and artist Radha Chaddah’s latest short film. The evening will be hosted by Ulrike Al-Khamis, Director of the Aga Khan Museum, and by Hadrien Laroche, writer, philosopher and Cultural Attaché to Toronto. In presence of Tudor Alexis, Consul General of France in Toronto
This event is presented by the Aga Khan Museum, the Consulate General of France in Toronto and the Alliance Française of Toronto et le journal L’Express.
Noon, on Zoom (more information here). In French
6.30 p.m. live stream on Facebook. In English
Edmonton: Introduction of the neutral pronoun “iel” — Can language influence the construction of identity?
How can neutral gender find its place in a language polarized between masculine and feminine? When a person’s gender identity is neutral, and neither masculine nor feminine, how can they define themselves in French? What changes are needed to make the French language more inclusive? And what about inclusivity in other languages?
This round table will attempt to answer all of these questions, and others, during a discussion moderated by Rudy Desjardins, host of ICI Première’s Café Show. The discussion will feature Martin Bouchard, from the Comité FrancoQueer de l’Ouest; Loïs Crémier, a doctoral student at the Université du Québec à Montréal whose research deals with the emergence of gender-neutral language in contemporary Quebec French; and Hasheem Hakeem, instructor of French at the University of Calgary who is working on queer and critical pedagogical approaches to the teaching of French as a second language. Finally, Joëlle Perras, a non-binary educator based in British Columbia, will give a more personal account of their relationship with the French language and the way in which they use it.
Join the conversation, get informed, and ask questions in a supportive environment!
This event is presented by the Alliance Française of Edmonton, in partnership with Radio-Canada.
7 p.m. via Zoom (registration required here). Event broadcasted live on Facebook. In French.
Vancouver: Rebuilding together with NFTs
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, can be used as blockchain-based proofs of ownership. The new NFT “phenomenon” can be applied to any digital object: photos, videos, music, video game elements, and even tweets or highlights from sporting events.
Millions of dollars can be on the line when it comes to NFTs granting ownership rights to “crypto arts.” In addition to showing the signs of being a new speculative bubble, the market for NFTs could also lead to new experiences in online video gaming or in museums, and could revolutionize the creation and dissemination of works of art.
This evening will be an opportunity to hear from artists and professionals in the arts, technology and academia and to gain a better understanding of the opportunities that NFTs present for access to and the creation and dissemination of art and culture. Jesse McKee, Head of Strategy at 221A, Philippe Pasquier, Professor at School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SFU) and Rhea Myers, artist, hacker and writer will share their experiences in a session moderated by Dorothy Woodend, cultural editor for The Tyee.
7 p.m on Zoom (registration here) Event broadcast online on France Canada Culture’s Facebook. In English.
Victoria: Committing in a time of uncertainty
To address questions of resilience, how to exit crises and how to face the many issues of our time, whether we choose resolutions or reconciliations, commitment is a must. This is the theme, which paves the way toward possible futures, that the Alliance Française of Vancouver and the Department of French of UVic have chosen to tackle during an online multidisciplinary round table featuring agents of change.
Attendees will meet Moustapha Fall, linguist and professor at the University of Victoria, who will search for a solution to racism through inclusion; Catherine Léger, linguist and professor at the University of Victoria, with whom we will discover and come to accept the diversity of French with the help of marionnettes; and Casey Edmunds, Director of the Victoria Francophone Society, who will speak about community resilience. Hope will be spotlighted in the colourful works of François Michaud and, finally, Vanessa Jérome, political ecologist, will speak about how ecology can reduce inequality. There will be a musical performance by the duo Le Hot Club des Insulaires, and the evening will be moderated and hosted by Marie Villeneuve, journalist and host of the Phare Ouest radio show on ICI Colombie Britannique Yukon and Hélène Cazes, head of the French department of UVic. In presence of Nicolas Baudouin, Consul General of France in Vancouver.
This event is co-presented by the Alliance Française of Victoria and the Department of French of the University of Victoria, in collaboration with ICI Premiere.
6:55 p.m. via Zoom. Connexion link here. In French
