Empowering young English-speaking leaders of Quebec
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Bishop’s Forum 2024 is set to take place from Aug. 9 to 14 at Bishop’s University (BU). This annual event is designed to empower young English-speaking Quebecers aged 18 to 26 by providing an inside look at how the fundamental institutions of Quebec society operate. With a lineup of prominent speakers and interactive sessions, the forum aims to foster civic leadership and inspire the next generation of leaders in the province.
Elysia Bryan-Baynes, the director of Bishop’s Forum, is enthusiastic about the upcoming event. In an Aug. 6 interview, she emphasized the significance of the forum for young English speakers in Quebec. “It’s great for them for many reasons. They have an opportunity to network, meet like-minded people, and connect with those in civil society and beyond who can share their knowledge and experiences about living in Quebec,” said Bryan-Baynes. This year marks her second as director, a role she stepped into following the forum’s creation by former BU Principal Michael Goldbloom and former forum director Yolande James.
The forum will feature a wide array of speakers from various sectors, including politics, law, journalism, and business. According to information provided by Forum Assistant-Director Sonia Patenaude, the program highlights include:
– Friday, Aug. 9: The forum kicks off with an opening dinner introduced by Minister Christopher Skeete, followed by forewords from Bryan-Baynes and Patenaude.
– Saturday, Aug. 10: The day begins with a keynote on “Politics Across the Aisle” by Jean Charest. Discussions will include insights from Mayor Christina Smith and MNA Désirée McGraw. Sessions on the media landscape by Swidda Rassy and Gordon Lambie, parliamentary commissions by Royal Orr, and the rights of English-speaking communities in Quebec by Alexandre Renaud will follow.
– Sunday, Aug. 11: Topics such as women in leadership, sustainable development, the lawyer’s handbook, and student success will be covered by speakers including Kate Shingler, Allison Saunders, Ayanna Alleyne, Chris Adam, Maître Fritz-Gerald Morisseau, and Katie Bibbs.
– Monday, Aug. 12: Focus will shift to community building with sessions on radical community building by Aishah Seiwright and Tamara Medford-Williams, and youth engagement by Adrienne Winrow and Adrian Smith. Guy Rex Rodgers will screen “What We Choose to Remember.”
– Tuesday, Aug. 13: Andrew Caddell will discuss the internationalist’s perspective, followed by a fireside chat with Minister Eric Girard and a session on communication fundamentals by Tim Duboyce.
– Wednesday, Aug. 14: The forum concludes with a session on parliamentary committees, featuring Charles Taker, Chad Bean, Députée Christine Labrie, Eric Maldoff, Karen Macdonald, and Sonny Moroz.
