OTTAWA, November 6, 2015 – The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of its 75th anniversary celebrations, which will span a full year and include a variety of online and programming initiatives.
This month, 75 years ago, a small group of scholars met at the Château Laurier in Ottawa to dream about how research & teaching in the humanities and social sciences could contribute to Canada’s future: an understanding of who we are, where we came from and where we might go.
The Federation has launched today a new interactive digital timeline on its website that showcases a rich history, including findings from a recent archival research project at Library and Archives Canada. The timeline contains dozens of stories, photographs and digitized archival documents that illustrate the diverse contributions made and initiatives undertaken by the organization over time. Over the commemorative year, the Federation’s programming at its annual conference, Big Thinking and Congress 2016 events will reflect the highlights and lessons of 75 years of history, while taking on the challenges of building a more prosperous, democratic and inclusive Canada.
“Today, as we look forward to our next 75 years, we must in our new context, take up the challenge of building the society we want,” said Stephen Toope, President of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. “It is my honour to be a part of celebrating the history and future of an organization so dedicated to enhancing the ways in which the humanities and social sciences are able to advance understanding of peoples, cultures and social relations in Canada and around the world.”
“We invite the wider community to join us as we kick off our 75th anniversary year at an evening reception on November 16 at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, where it all began 75 years ago. Join dignitaries, members, partners and esteemed alumni as we toast the future of humanities and social science research and learning,” said the Federation’s Executive Director, Jean-Marc Mangin.
75th Anniversary Reception
Monday, November 16, 2015
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Adam Room, Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel
RSVP: www.fedcan-association.ca/event/en/47/110
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Media inquiries:
Nicola Katz
Manager of Communications
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
613-238-6112, ext. 351
nkatz@ideas-idees.ca
About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences has been promoting research, learning and an understanding of the contributions made by the humanities and the social sciences to a free and democratic society for 75 years. Established in 1940, with a membership now comprising over 160 universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 85,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year. For more information about the Federation, visit www.ideas-idees.ca.