For Your
Information

LECTURE and REFLECTION by Dr. MICHAEL W. HIGGINS
Tuesday, 9 May, 7 to 8:30 pm
$10.00 at the door
Harcourt Memorial United Church
87 Dean Ave., Guelph
Presented by the GUELPH SEMINAR

The Guelph Seminar is presenting BROKEN TRUST/REBUILDING TRUST with Dr. Michael W. Higgins who will be using Jean Vanier as a case study.  Religious institutions have been wracked by trust issues with the revelations most recently of unmarked graves at Residential Schools and sexual abuse by clergy over the past decades.  Recently the Jesuits issued a list of priests and brothers who had credibly been indicted of such offenses, some of whom worked in Guelph.

Trust has also been an issue over COVID although Global News reported in February that more Canadians are trusting governments as the COVID pandemic fades.  In March a CTV poll suggested that most Canadians trust the federal election results but want an interference inquiry.  Is trust in religious institutions and their leaders improving in the same way?  If not, what would it take to do so?

Jean Vanier was a highly trusted Canadian religious leader known world-wide through his founding of L’Arche in 1964 for persons with intellectual disabilities.  He died in May 2019 and soon after there were revelations that he sexually abused a number of women over many years.  The news was devastating to many but L’Arche as an organization responded to the news forthrightly which may shed light on how trust can be rebuilt.

Dr. Michael W. Higgins is a documentarian having produced many for the CBC, an author of over a dozen books, columnist with various newspapers including most recently The Globe and Mail and a scholar having taught and worked as an administrator at a number of universities.  He has written a biography on Jean Vanier as well as on Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton.

The Guelph Seminar is a collective of individuals who are committed to bringing speakers of note and encouraging conversations on significant topics that are open, engaging and respectful.  It has sponsored many events since 1997 but has been less active recently. 

This winter, Eden Mills Writers Festival is again offering free online book clubs for Seniors. Each of the three books was carefully selected by our Artistic Director, and each event features the book's author in conversation with a host. For those interested in discussing the book with fellow readers, the Guelph Public Library is providing a post-event discussion the week following each event.

We Spread: Author Iain Reid in conversation with Steven W. Beattie
February 15 at 7pm ET
https://edenmillswritersfestival.ca/emwf-book-club-we-spread/
GPL Post-Event Discussion: February 22 at 7pm ET

Kinauvit? What's Your Name? The Eskimo Disc System and a Daughter's Search for her Grandmother
Author Dr. Norma Dunning in conversation with Mary Ito
March 1 at 7pm ET
https://edenmillswritersfestival.ca/emwf-book-club-kinauvit/
GPL Post-Event Discussion: March 6 at 7pm ET

In the Upper Country: Author Kai Thomas in conversation with Bee Quammie
March 22 at 7pm ET
https://edenmillswritersfestival.ca/emwf-book-club-in-the-upper-country/
GPL Post-Event Discussion: March 28 at 7pm ET