Thematic Series

As the Dunning Trust lecture series moved away from the model of a single speaker delivering multiple talks over the course of several weeks, thematic series that brought a variety of speakers together to consider different aspects of a topic became more common. You can explore a selection of these series below.

鈥淔reedom, Responsibility, and Political Ideology鈥 (1969-1970)

This series featured lectures by Milton Rokeach, Michael Swann, Harry Street, and Gordon Brown.

 

The poster for the series 'Freedom and Responsibility in Contemporary Society'.
View a text version of the Freedom and Responsibility In Contemporary Society poster.

 

The 1969 White Paper and Indigenous Peoples (1970-1971)

This series began with a panel of Indigenous leaders from across the country, including Walter Currie, Arthur Manuel, Donna Tyndall, Herbert Strong Eagle, and Isaac Beaulieu. One week later, Jean Chr茅tien, who was then the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, spoke on the Trudeau government鈥檚 Indian policy in the wake of the 1969 White Paper.

The poster for the 1969 White Paper and Indigenous Peoples lectures.
View a text version of the 1970 - 1971 Dunning Trust Lectures poster.

鈥淪ocial Problems in Environmental Recovery鈥 (1971-1972)

In this series, held from October 23 to 26, Ian McHarg, Raymond Moriyama, and Garrett Hardin explored the attitudes and values that could contribute to the establishment of harmony between humans and the natural world amid extensive environmental harm. These lectures were published in the March 1973 issue of the Ontario Naturalist.

 

Cover of the Ontario Naturalist issue containing the Social Problems in Environmental Recovery lecture series transcripts. The cover displays a detail of colourfull birds and small human forms taken from the centre panel of Hieronymus Bosch's tryptic painting, Garden of Earthly Delights.
Cover of the Ontario Naturalist issue containing this series鈥 transcripts

 

鈥淗uman Dignity and the Experience of Women鈥 (1974-1975)

This series marked the beginning of International Women鈥檚 Year in January 1975. Featuring lectures by Juliet Mitchell, Elizabeth Hardwick, and Doris Anderson, the series also sponsored a 鈥淟iberation Film Festival鈥 on campus.

The posters for the 鈥淗uman Dignity and the Experience of Women鈥 series.

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A press release about the series. Courtesy of the Canadian Women鈥檚 Movement Archives.

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鈥淐anada towards the Year 2000鈥 (1975-1976)

In this series, speakers imagined what the country might look like 25 years in the future. Lectures were given by Donald Creighton, Harold Town & Louis Applebaum, Eric Kierans & Keith Davey, John White, and Keith Spicer.

The brochure for the series 鈥淐anada towards the Year 2000".
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鈥淰iolence, Politics and the State鈥 (1976-1977)

In this series, Robin Bourne, Hugh McCullum, and George Rud茅 provided three contemporary and historical perspectives on the problem of violence from the perspective of the state, Indigenous nations, and the working class.

A poster for this series in the Queen鈥檚 Journal.
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鈥1984: George Orwell鈥檚 and Ours鈥 (1983-1984)

In this series, Julian Symons, John Meisel, Ivan Illich, and Marilyn Ferguson reflected on the theme of individual responsibility through the lens of George Orwell鈥檚 1984 and its relevance in the present.

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The posters for the series 鈥1984: George Orwell鈥檚 and Ours.鈥

鈥淗ealth and Human Dignity鈥 (1984-1985)

This series featured three healthcare professionals: Henry Morgentaler, Richard Selzer, and Mary O鈥橞rien. Each lecture examined a different aspect of medicine, from its literary significance, to working conditions, to its role in women鈥檚 liberation.

The poster for 鈥淗ealth and Human Dignity".
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