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Headshots of Bob Rae and Lloyd Axworthy side by side.

Venerable Canadians visit Winnipeg for the 40th anniversary of the J.W. Dafoe Political Studies Students’ Conference

Hon. Bob Rae and Hon. Dr. Lloyd Axworthy present keynotes to celebrate the UN at 80

January 23, 2025 — 

2025 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the Faculty of Arts’ premier student led events – the J.W. Dafoe Political Studies Students’ Conference (PSSC). The PSSC holds the distinction of being the longest standing student conference of its kind in Canada. Perhaps you have attended a session or two attracted by one of the eminent speakers who have participated over the years such as Hon. Roméo Dallaire, Greg Selinger, Jan MacLatchy, William H. Barton or Catherine Chatterley?

On January 29th and 30th, all are invited to revisit the past while engaging in important topics of the present. The 2025 conference features keynotes from two venerable Canadians along with a number of scholars and practitioners as the conference presents The UN at 80.

Stretching over two days, this conference commemorates the 80th anniversary of the United Nations offering expert insights into the UN, it’s history, the significance of the 80-year milestone, and critical current and future UN-related topics.

On January 29, the conference begins at 6:00 p.m. with the Paul Buteux Memorial Lecture, delivered by Hon. Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York. The keynote is followed by a Davos style Q&A with Hon. Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and longtime Winnipeg advocate. This event takes place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Register for this event.

The second day of the conference (January 30) offers two panels of experts plus keynote speaker Hon. Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. Day two events take place in the MPR, 2nd floor UMSU University Centre.

  • Panel One: UN Peacekeeping, 10:00 am – 11:15 am
  • Panel Two: UN of the Present and Future, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
  • Keynote: Hon. Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, The UN at 80: Reflections, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (includes Q&A). Register for this keynote.

The PSSC is the leading Manitoba-based forum on international affairs, defence and security which regularly leaves marks not only in Canadian strategic thinking but more broadly on the continent. Created by Dr. Paul Buteux and organized by the students of the Department of Political Studies at UM, the conference aims to challenge conventional wisdom in the field and present policymakers with alternatives for the future. Since its inauguration in 1985, the J.W. Dafoe PSSC has proudly hosted a multiplicity of academics, activists, government officials, media and students from across Canada, the United States and Europe. It is free and open to the public.

Student organizers for the 2025 PSSC are: Madlin Murad (political studies undergraduate), Cooper Roy (political studies undergraduate), David Sopotyk (political studies MA), Lindsay Speirs (political studies MA) and Sasha Tiaglei (political studies and Central and East European studies undergraduate). The group is guided by Dr. Andrea Charron, professor of political studies and director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies.

Attendees can reserve their free tickets to PSSC events and find more information on the speakers and sponsors on the PSSC conference webpage. Questions may be directed to PSSC@umanitoba.ca or visit them on Instagram or X @umpssc.

Start the new year off with important and timely political and international affairs discussions at these upcoming events.

 

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