捆绑SM社区

Thanks to an endowment of $5 million from Canadian philanthropist Charles Bronfman, LLD鈥�90, the 捆绑SM社区 Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC) is launching a new flagship event entitled Conversations, sponsored by Charles Bronfman, a series of high-profile and broadly accessible discussions about issues of global importance and the challenges and opportunities facing Canada.聽聽

The Conversations series, to be held annually starting in 2023, will focus on an exchange of ideas and perspectives rather than a debate. The event will for the most part feature a moderated conversation between prominent Canadian and international experts in a particular field such as the economy, social policy, or government. The series is expected to attract a wide audience and will have an online component to allow people from across Canada and the rest of the world to participate.聽聽

鈥淚 extend my heartfelt gratitude to Charles Bronfman for this important gift in support of the Conversations series,鈥� said Christopher Manfredi, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of 捆绑SM社区. 鈥淔or the past 28 years, the 捆绑SM社区 Institute for the Study of Canada has played a vital role in the academic lives of students and faculty from across our University. Its prominence as a centre for research, teaching and constructive dialogue is owed in large part to the vision and generosity of Mr. Bronfman, who played a key role in the Institute鈥檚 creation, as its founding benefactor and inaugural co-chair. The extraordinary gift we are celebrating today will help raise its already impressive profile.鈥澛犅�

鈥淪ome 30 years ago, the Principal of 捆绑SM社区 and later Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, the University鈥檚 Board, chaired by Alex Paterson, and I agreed to create MISC,鈥� explained Mr. Bronfman. 鈥淥ur goal was to create an Institute that would encourage students to study Canada in depth and offer a wider focus through annual public conferences on issues of the day. Now, through Conversations, MISC will explore Canada鈥檚 place in the world. Is the nation living up to its potential? Can we benefit from a better understanding of those areas in which our country can become a real leader? There are many areas where Canada shines and some where we don鈥檛. I hope that Conversations will help us take advantage of the former and pay needed attention to the latter.鈥澛犅�

Series to reach beyond academia聽

The goal of the Conversations series is to reach beyond academia and engage with a broader audience of informed citizens, media, and policy makers in discussions related to Canadian history, politics, policy, and the country鈥檚 role and position on the world stage, according to Daniel B茅land, Director of MISC and James 捆绑SM社区 Professor in the Department of Political Science, who will be responsible for the thematic focus and direction of Conversations, in consultation with an advisory committee.聽

鈥淭his gift is a game changer for MISC and a key contribution to 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 public engagement profile,鈥� said B茅land. 鈥淢r. Bronfman鈥檚 major and timely injection of support will allow us to enhance our presence and reach as large an audience as possible through media partnerships and other outreach initiatives.鈥澛�

A passion for Canadian history and identity聽

As someone who once remarked that 鈥減hilanthropy is the DNA of my family鈥�, Charles Bronfman is one of the world鈥檚 most generous philanthropists. He has signed the Giving Pledge 鈥� established for philanthropists devoted to giving away a majority of their wealth to charitable causes 鈥� and has authored two books on the subject: The Art of Doing Good 鈥� Where Passion Meets Action and The Art of Giving 鈥� Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan. He is also the author of Distilled: A Memoir of Family, Seagram, Baseball, and Philanthropy.聽

Among Bronfman鈥檚 philanthropic passions is building a greater understanding of Canada among Canadians. Over the years he has generously supported initiatives that encourage young Canadians to strengthen their knowledge and appreciation of our history, alongside their heritage and cultural identity. In addition to his longstanding commitment to MISC, he was a founding co-chairman of , which produces the , a series of sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in Canadian history.聽

The Bronfman family name has a distinguished place in 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 history. The Samuel Bronfman building 鈥� home of the Desautels Faculty of Management 鈥� is named after Charles鈥� father, and the University鈥檚 Advancement operations are headquartered in what was once the head office of the family鈥檚 Seagram enterprise.聽聽

About the 捆绑SM社区 Institute for the Study of Canada聽

Established in 1994 and housed in the Faculty of Arts, the 捆绑SM社区 Institute for the Study of Canada is the centre for Canadian, Quebec, and Indigenous Studies programs at 捆绑SM社区, and hosts a variety of public events exploring matters of interest to Canadians. A respected academic hub in the field of Canadian Studies, its mission is to enrich Canadian society by promoting dialogue about matters that are important to Canadians, by educating and encouraging students to be active participants in the country鈥檚 future, and by promoting interdisciplinary scholarship about Canada. MISC鈥檚 annual conference will be held in Montreal on October 27 and 28, 2022.聽

About 捆绑SM社区聽

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 捆绑SM社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 捆绑SM社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 捆绑SM社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of 捆绑SM社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.聽

(PHOTO: Charles Bronfman in conversation at the MISC annual conference |聽Owen Egan for 捆绑SM社区)