Inaugural Gandhi Peace Award will be awarded to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
For release September 30, 2010
The Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA)’s 8th Annual Conference gets underway this October 1 and 2 in Winnipeg, with Menno Simons College and UWinnipeg’s Global College serving as co-hosts for this important international conference.
“Our goal for Menno Simons College (MSC) is to establish the College as a centre recognized internationally for its work in the areas of peace and conflict studies and international development , and to establish significant partnerships and projects with national and international institutions and agencies,” says CMU Vice President (Academic) Earl Davey. “After eighteen months of anticipation, the 2010 PJSA conference now taking place brings evidence that the College is doing precisely what it intended to do by co-hosting this exceptional event.”
The conference will be held on the campus of The University of Winnipeg as well as using facilities of Canadian Mennonite University’s Menno Simons College and Shaftesbury campuses. Opening ceremonies and plenary panel, with Betty Reardon and Ovide Mercredi and moderated by Earl Davey, will be held at Thunderbird House October 1 at 9:00 am.
The remaining plenary sessions featuring Cynthia Enloe, Carolyn Nordstrom, Sherene Razack, Sandra Whitworth, Catherine Morris, and Marilou McPhedran will happen at UWinnipeg’s Convocation Hall, with sessions and workshops spread throughout classrooms at both MSC and UWinnipeg.
On Saturday at 11:15 am, the inaugural Gandhi Peace Award will be awarded to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian medical doctor born and raised in a refugee camp, who is the author of I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey and a strong advocate of peace between Palestinians and Israelis. The award will be handed out on behalf of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada by Premier Greg Selinger as part of the conference.
The Conference theme is “Building Bridges, Crossing Borders: Gender, Identity, and Security in the Search for Peace.” Late registrants are welcome, and may pay a day rate ($25 regular admission, or $15 student/low income). The conference schedule is available online at the PJSA website: www.peacejusticestudies.org
The conference’s closing banquet, being held in CMU’s Great Hall on Saturday evening, is sold out. However, late registrants may attend the awards ceremony, which is a key part of the conference proceedings and will feature music by Jazz for Humanity and brief talks by Cynthia Enloe, George Lakey, Caitlin Eliasson, and Ovide Mercredi, each of whom is receiving a major award from the PJSA. The awards ceremony commences in the CMU gymnasium on Saturday at 8:00 pm.
A non-profit organization formed in 2001, the Peace and Justice Studies Association serves as a professional association for scholars in the field of peace and conflict resolution studies, and it is the North-American affiliate of the International Peace Research Association <http://www.ipraweb.org> . PJSA is dedicated to bringing together academics, K-12 teachers, and grassroots activists to explore alternatives to violence and share visions and strategies for peacebuilding, social justice, and social change.
Menno Simons College, a College of Canadian Mennonite University and affiliated with UWinnipeg, is considered one of the largest peace and justice centres in the world. MSC offers course work and practicum experience in International Development Studies and Conflict Resolution Studies, providing students with practical and meaningful ways to address world issues. In addition, MSC houses Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies. CMU offers a sister program to MSC’s program at its Shaftesbury campus, called Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies.
Global College is a multi-disciplinary forum for Canadian and international students. The Global College brings students and community members into contact with faculty, visiting scholars, local leaders, and notable speakers from around the world. Through The University of Winnipeg, Global College offers a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree in Human Rights and Global Studies.
For conference information, contact:
PJSA 2010 Conference Administrator Caitlin Eliasson – pjsainfo@uwinnipeg.ca
Dean of Menno Simons College Richard McCutcheon – rmccutcheon@cmu.ca
Media contact:
CMU Communications & Marketing Director Nadine Kampen – nkampen@cmu.ca