Media Releases

(Halifax, NS) – This year, Dalhousie University has reached its 200th anniversary, and it is an opportunity for the university community to pause, reflect and celebrate all those who have made the past 200 years possible. The year-long bicentennial program includes activities across all campuses, throughout the community and across Canada. Today the university is announcing its second round of signature events planned for 2018.

“A bicentennial is extremely rare — only a handful of other Canadian universities have marked this milestone,” says Catherine Bagnell Styles, assistant vice-president of Communications and Marketing and 200th planning chair. “We look forward to welcoming our community with a variety of programming on and off campus. There really is something for everyone – from thought-provoking speakers and thinkers to original performances and community partnerships.”

As part of the anniversary, the Belong Forums, have been kick-starting conversations around belonging both on campus and in the greater community, by bringing internationally respected thinkers to campus to share their perspectives. The university has already had the pleasure of hosting forums with award-winning MIT historian Craig Steven Wilder and famed Indigenous singer-songwriter and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie. Dalhousie is honoured to welcome four more critically acclaimed thinkers, humanitarians and activists to campus to round out the *Belong Forum speaker series:

Mark Tewksbury (May 17): A Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist, Mark Tewksbury is an LGBTQ advocate, the Chair of Special Olympics Canada, Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee and co-founder of the consulting firm Great Traits.

Senator Murray Sinclair (September 5): Senator Murray Sinclair began his legal career in Manitoba in 1980 with a focus on civil and criminal litigation, Indigenous law and human rights. He was the province’s first, and Canada’s second, Indigenous judge. Senator Sinclair served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He was appointed to Canada’s Senate in 2016.

Temple Grandin (Sept 27, Faculty of Agriculture Campus, Truro): Dr. Temple Grandin is one the world’s most famous animal scientists. She has used her unique perspective as a person with autism to change the face of animal welfare and give hope and inspiration to millions of people and families living with autism spectrum diagnoses.

Angela Davis (October 16) – Angela Davis is an activist and scholar well- known for her work in combatting oppression. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and she is the author of nine books. Today she is Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies Departments at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 



Ms. Davis’s October Belong Forum will serve as the launch for the Viola Desmond Legacy Lecture Series — a four-year series celebrating diversity and inclusiveness. The series takes its name from Viola Desmond, an African Nova Scotian businesswoman who fought systemic racism.

On November 5th, join us and MC Jay Ingram for The Great Debate as some of the world’s greatest minds in oceans science and space exploration debate: “What is the final frontier: space or the ocean?” Taking part to share their expertise and insights in space and sea exploration are:

· Kathryn Sullivan, American Geologist and Former NASA Astronaut
· Antje Boetius, Marine Biologist
· Mark Abbott, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
· Christian Marois, Canadian Astrophysicist
· and Dalhousie’s own Boris Worm, Marine Conservation Biology

Beginning April 21, Dal will be travelling Coast to Coast, visiting cities across the country, to recognize the impact and influence of alumni and friends. A Dalhousie branded bus will be crossing Canada to share the 200th anniversary milestone with our alumni communities.
· April 21,23,25,26,27: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg
· June 5-7: Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
· September 13,14,17, 27: Saint John, Charlottetown, St. John’s, Truro.

The bus arrives back in Halifax in time for the first Homecoming celebration of Dal's third century, featuring Ignite: Dal’s Third Century (Sept. 28)— an evening of celebration and imagining our third century together.


For more details on Dalhousie’s 200th Anniversary, please visit: dal200.ca and Dal News.

* Fall Belong Forums registration will be opening throughout the summer. Those who previously registered for the Belong Forum with Senator Murray Sinclair, will need to re-register for the September 5th event. Registration will be opening this summer.

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Media contact:
Janet Bryson
Senior Communications Manager
Dalhousie University
902-494-1269

Lindsay Savelle
Communications Officer – Media Relations
Dalhousie University
902-494-4189

Great things are rarely done alone. Dalhousie University would like to extend a special thank you to its 200th anniversary sponsors: Air Canada, Canadian Tire, Clearwater Seafoods LP, Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., Scotiabank, CBC, The Chronicle Herald, The Globe and Mail and our Coast-to-Coast sponsors: TD Insurance and Discover Halifax.