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The Centre for Social Concern
"Christ of the Breadline" by
Fritz Eichenberg (1901-1990)
Another feature of the Centre is its attempt to present to the
community critical voices of people involved in attempting to create
progressive social change. Over the course of the year, a number
of speakers give open talks addressing whatever issue they are involved
with. These speakers challenge us to think critically about our
social, political and physical environment and encourage us to get
involved in bringing about a more just and peaceful world for all,
particularly for those least capable of making themselves heard.
In
addition, we encourage students to get involved in social justice
issues and to work with a variety of NGO's, and activist groups on
campus and off, such as Amnesty
International, Oxfam, Students
Against Sweatshops, Food
Not
Bombs, Christian
Peacemaker Teams, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, and others.
Some
of the issues we have addressed over the years have been poverty in
Canada and globally, women's issues, work and unemployment, aboriginal
issues, racism, the environment, and many other human rights, peace and
justice issues.
We
have had speakers from a variety of sectors who spoke of their
experience of working on behalf of justice and
peace issues. For example, representing
faith communities we have had the late Archbishop Ted Scott, the
Primate of the
Anglican Church of Canada, the Reverend Lois Wilson, Moderator of the
United Church of Canada, Bishop Remi De Roo, bishop of Victoria, Ted
Schmidt, editor of the Catholic New Times, Bishop Gumbleton of Detroit,
noted for his work on peace and other social justice issues, and
internationally recognized theologian and sociologist, Gregory Baum. From politics we have hosted MP Sheila Copps
(a graduate of King's), Bob Rae when leader of the Ontario NDP, Svend
Robinson, federal MP for Burnaby, Senator Douglas Roche, Canadian MP,
Flora McDonald and many others. From labour we were honoured to host
Caesar Chavez, organizer of the California farm workers, John Clarke
while head of the Unemployed Workers' Union, labour historian, Bryan
Palmer and others. Other noted speakers have
been journalists Linda McQuaig, Naomi Klein,
Judy Rebick, and activist Jaggi Singh, Tony
Clark of the Polaris Institute, Maude
Barlow of the Council of Canadians, Mel Watkins of Science for Peace,
and Marc Kielburger, who with his brother, Craig founded Free the
Children, a worldwide organization run by children addressing child
labour.
Presently,
the Centre for Social Concern works in close cooperation with the Social Justice and Peace
Studies program at King's University College. This
four year cross-disciplinary Social Justice and Peace Studies
BA program
is designed for students who wish to expand their awareness of social
justice and peace issues, develop critical and analytical skills and
actively engage in the promotion of justice and peace on an
intellectual and practical level. Many of our speaking
engagements and workshops are now held in one of the classes of the
Social Justice and Peace Studies program into which the public is
invited.
There
is also a student Social
Justice Scholarship
associated with the Centre
for Social
Concern. Dr. Bernie Hammond, the Director, encourages student
involvement - see How
To Get
Involved for more information.
The
Centre for Social Concern welcomes and encourages questions,
suggestions and concerns. If you have a connection to a certain
speaker, know of a social justice issue of particular concern, or want
to make a general inquiry then please contact the Centre.
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