PACS

The Annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

Ndagire Brendah — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:30:10 +0000

The Annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest Ndagire Brendah Tue, 01/30/2024 - 14:30

The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest, established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust, offers Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) students and Grebel residents/associates an opportunity to discuss peacebuilding and social justice issues on campus and beyond. The intercollegiate competition is administered by the Peace and Justice Ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Undergraduate students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America, including Canada, are eligible to participate.

Henry Smith was an American Mennonite historian and professor at Mennonite colleges and the University of Chicago. Overall, he taught history for nearly 50 years at the collegiate level. He is well-known for his many books on Mennonite history and his attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

On March 12, 2025, from 7 pm to 8 pm at Grebel, the PACS Department and the Grebel Chaplaincy’s Offices are organizing a speech performance and inviting you to participate. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of this peace speech competition, and for that reason, we have increased the cash prizes for the winners. The stakes have never been this high! The contest winners will be rewarded with cash prizes of $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $300 for third place. For more information, reach out to the PACS Academic Advisor.

To learn more about the contest and meet previous PACS or Grebel resident participants, visit this link here.

Application deadline - February 28, 2025

PACS Society Make a Difference Holiday Market

Ndagire Brendah — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:01:14 +0000

PACS Society Make a Difference Holiday Market Ndagire Brendah Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:01

Make a Difference (MAD) Market is a one-day artisan and craft holiday market held at Conrad Grebel University College on December 2, 2023. Hosted by the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) Undergrad Society, all funds collected from participating vendors, the silent auction, and the suggested $2 entry contribution will be donated to A Better Tent City, ��ݮ��Ƶ. Fill your car with family and friends to make a difference while shopping for this holiday season!

Details

Suggested at the door donation: $2

Free parking.

All organizational profits (entry donation, silent auction, vendor fees) will be donated to A Better Tent City.

Call for Vendors & Silent Auction Donations

Are you a local artist or craftsperson who would like to participate as a vendor?

Now taking vendor applications! All interested should contact Isabella by November 3rd for a vendor application package. Space is limited.

Donate to the Silent Auction!

Would you like to contribute items to the silent auction, or sponsor a basket? Contact Isabella for more information.

A Better Tent City

From the A Better Tent City website:

ABTC began as a low barrier/housing first approach to provide an opportunity to move people experiencing homelessness from dangerous conditions on the streets into a more safe and supportive community with protection from the environment, access to hygiene and sanitation facilities, and connection to services and healthcare on a path to stable housing.

Learn more about A Better Tent City. II View on YouTube

Grebel and University of ��ݮ��Ƶ fall open house

Ndagire Brendah — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:50:11 +0000

Grebel and University of ��ݮ��Ƶ fall open house Ndagire Brendah Wed, 11/01/2023 - 16:50

Explore the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and Grebel

Grebel is home to a vibrant residence and academic community made up of students across all faculties and programs at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.

Prospective students, families, and teachers are invited to visit Grebel to meet current students, staff, and faculty to learn about the residence and academic programs. Learn about student life at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and tour the wider campus.

Take a tour of the residence, learn about your faculty of interest, and sample the famous Grebel cookie!

Register in advance and receive information on in-person sessions, presentations, and how to plan your time on campus. (Coming soon)

Free Parking

Grebel's convenient parking is free for the day! Enter off of Westmount Road North.

Stop by for lunch

Get a taste of Grebel's menu by purchasing an all-you-can-eat lunch ticket for $10.

Tours with current students

Let current students show you around the Grebel campus, including residence rooms and facilities.

Meet Faculty

Meet Grebel faculty in Peace and Conflict Studies, Music, and Mennonite Studies. They are happy to answer your program questions!

Academics

Music program
Ensembles & choirs
Peace & Conflict Studies
Mennonite Studies

Residence

Student life
Grebel’s great food
Chapel
Student support

Grebel Gallery: Artist Meet and Greet

Ndagire Brendah — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:39:48 +0000

Grebel Gallery: Artist Meet and Greet Ndagire Brendah Wed, 11/01/2023 - 16:39

The Grebel Gallery invites the public to meet artist Mary Kavanagh as she presents her exhibition, Trinity, Then and Now. This stirring exhibition examines the long-lasting impacts of the Trinity atomic bomb test, which took place on July 16, 1945, in the desert of New Mexico. Mary has dedicated her work to the investigation of the legacy of nuclear testing.

Come to the Gallery on November 8 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm to join Mary and the community for an evening of conversation, connection, and reflection.

Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

All are welcome. Doors open from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Grebel Gallery is located on the 4th floor of Conrad Grebel University College, in the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement.

Bridge 2023: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People

Ndagire Brendah — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:22:54 +0000

Bridge 2023: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People Ndagire Brendah Wed, 10/25/2023 - 09:22

Please participate in Bridge: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People, an annual installation for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.

Opening Ceremony on Friday, October 27 at 10:00 AM
Closing Ceremony on Friday, November 10 at 10:00 AM

Both ceremonies will take place at the Ceremonial Fire Grounds and the bridge between Environment 3 and United College and will be followed by a catered Soup Lunch and Creative Reflection.

All are invited to stay for a Soup Lunch hosted by the Shatitsirótha' ��ݮ��Ƶ Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) and supported by the Department of Communication Arts after the Opening and Closing Ceremonies from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Al McDonald is returning as the Ceremonial Fire Keeper.

Working with Shatitsirótha' ��ݮ��Ƶ Indigenous Student Centre (WISC), the Office of Indigenous Relations (ORI), the Sexual Violence Prevention Response Office (SVPRO), and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Dr. Sorouja Moll initiated Bridge in 2015 to create a space for all University community members to learn about the crisis as they reflect upon their responsibilities and share in speaking the names of the lives taken to honor and remember as the red fabric is tied to the bridge between Environment 3 and United College.

For the Opening Ceremony, we are requesting volunteers to read the names — please contact Sorouja Moll.

The gesture to name, remember, and honor the 5000+ missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People across the many Nations in Canada is an active engagement in learning about the depth of the crisis in Canada while resisting and (en)countering the existing silence that continues to shroud it. Originally installed in Montreal in 2009, as The Writing Names Project, Moll's research-creation initiative is a counter-memorial and is part of a meaningful and sustained collaborative intercultural praxis between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Watch the Bridge: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People 2019 video.

CPA Exhibit Opening: Your Wall Can(not) Divide Us

Zoe Beilby — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 18:01:08 +0000

CPA Exhibit Opening: Your Wall Can(not) Divide Us Zoe Beilby Fri, 01/20/2023 - 13:01

This exhibition includes photos of street art pieces from a range of conflict-affected societies and an opportunity to leave your own ‘mark’ on the gallery walls as part of an interactive portion of the gallery. Come explore topics of resistance, political communication, commemoration, and identity expression.

Street art makes an important contribution to understanding local conflict-dynamics and visions of peace. Art created on public walls, signs and structures can reveal narratives about everyday concerns and opinions. It expresses multiple and often contradicting narratives by different artists and communities, which is especially valuable in situations of conflict and censorship.

This exhibit will be open until April 30, 2023.

The Annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

Ndagire Brendah — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:10:01 +0000

The Annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest Ndagire Brendah Fri, 01/20/2023 - 10:10

The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest, established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust offers PACS students an opportunity to discuss peacebuilding and social justice issues on campus. The intercollegiate competition is administered by the Peace and Justice Ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Undergraduate students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America including Canada are eligible to participate.

Henry Smith was an American Mennonite historian and professor at Mennonite colleges and the University of Chicago. Overall, he taught history for nearly 50 years at the collegiate level. He is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

On March 8, 2023, at 7 PM in the Grebel Gallery in the Kindred Center for Peace Advancement (CPA), PACS and Grebel Students Services are organizing a speech performance and are inviting PACS students and Grebel residents to participate.

The contest winners will be rewarded cash prizes of $400 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place. For more information, reach out to the PACS Academic Advisor.

To learn more about the contest and meet previous PACS or Grebel resident participants, visit this link here.

Application deadline - February 28, 2023

MCC United Nations Seminar

Timothy Saari — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:54:09 +0000

MCC United Nations Seminar Timothy Saari Fri, 09/16/2022 - 09:54

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) United Nations Office hosts an annual students' seminar at their office in New York City. Each year has a different theme emphasizing a current issue or topic, such as peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other regions, refugee resettlement and internally displaced persons, armed conflicts, nonviolent peacekeeping, and more. The seminar features a variety of speakers, from experts in the field to NGO workers, peacebuilding professionals, peace practitioners, government officials, and UN representatives.

Funding is available to assist with travel costs for students attending this event. This is a great opportunity to visit the UN, meet like-minded students from other peace institutions, and engage in peace issues.

Registration is currently open and the application deadline is October 12, 2022. For more information, contact Ndagire Brendah.

Not Traumatic Enough for a Shock Blanket

Ndagire Brendah — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:09:15 +0000

Not Traumatic Enough for a Shock Blanket Ndagire Brendah Mon, 10/25/2021 - 16:09

Where do we go to talk about our everyday traumatic experiences that we do not believe are worthy of sharing?

When creating Not Traumatic Enough for a Shock Blanket, Yasmeen Nematt Alla posed the question to her community: What stories do we begin telling with, “I wouldn’t call it traumatic but...”. Using some of the answers to her question, Yasmeen took narratives that are not seen as worthy of being traumatic experiences and placed them on objects that carried the words’ magnitude and weight while letting the audience bear witness to the truth of these experiences and, by extension, carry some of the weight of the narratives.

This thought-provoking exhibit invites us to consider the importance of trauma-informed community spaces and the ability of art to provide gestures of care. Stay engaged through the Grebel Gallery webpage and on Twitter @GrebelCPA.

From September 7, 2021 - March 7, 2022, audiences are invited to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions of validity while interacting with Nematt Alla's shock blanket installation and the stories behind each piece.

To visit the Grebel Gallery in-person, please submit your request using this form. The staff at the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement will follow up regarding further details and accommodations.

Career Paths in Peacebuilding

Seth Ratzlaff — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 18:44:58 +0000

Career Paths in Peacebuilding Seth Ratzlaff Thu, 08/29/2019 - 14:44

In celebration of Peace Week 2019, the PACS department is hosting Career Paths in Peacebuilding, a panel and Q&A on pursuing a career related to Peace and Conflict Studies. Come out to this free event if you are a student (undergraduate or graduate), worker, activist, entrepreneur, etc., interested in working in the field of peacebuilding. Four panelists with diverse expertise will talk about their experience entering the field, lessons learned, and hear and respond to questions from the audience.

Frances Fortune has worked with several national and international NGOs in Africa. Currently working as Senior Project Manager for MEDA while pursueing a PhD at Balsillie School, Frances specializes in conflict transformation processes, strategy development and program design, with a particular focus on theories of change integrating socio-politiccal processes and media activities.

Cesar Jaramillo is the Executive Director of Project Ploughshares, a peace research institute that works with churches, governments and civil society, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions to prevent war and armed violence and build peace. Cesar's work has focusend on nuclear disarmament, outer space security and conventional weapons control.

Eric Boynton is a constable working in the Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity branch of the ��ݮ��Ƶ Region Police Service. Eric holds a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies and is currently a doctoral candidate at Royal Roads University.

Julie Friesen is the Director of Programs Conflict Resolution and Mediation Services at Community Justice Initiatives, a non-profit organization that addresses conflict and crime with restorative justice principles. Julie holds an MA in Sociology and has many years experience as a practitioner, facilitating mediation and restorative responses to conflict and crime.

Snacks and refreshments provided. Please let us know you're planning to attend by registering online.