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Leading Activist to Talk During Citizenship Awareness Week
War Child Canada founder will discuss social responsibility
The Canadian medical doctor and political activist who founded War Child Canada will speak at U of G Jan. 15 as part of Citizenship Awareness Week and the Positive Social Action Conference.
Dr. Samantha Nutt will discuss “Social Responsibility — Acting Upon Our Responsibilities as Citizens” at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. The talk is free and open to the University community, but people must register in advance online. Fifty tickets will also be available for the general public at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m.
Nutt founded the Canadian chapter of War Child in 1999 and currently serves as its executive director. Operating in 10 war-torn countries, War Child Canada partners with local organizations to do innovative humanitarian work supporting women and children.
Nutt has more than 10 years' experience working in war zones and has helped children around the world. She was recognized by Maclean's magazine as one of “12 Canadians Making a Difference” and was named one of “Ten Outstanding Canadian Women” by Hello! Canada. Time magazine declared her “One of Canada's Five Leading Activists,” and she was honoured with the Globe and Mail's “Top 40 Under 40” award.
A specialist in child and family medicine and public health, refugee health and women's health, Nutt is on staff at Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre and is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Citizenship Awareness Week runs until Jan. 18 and is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs in collaboration with a number of other University organizations.
“We've organized events that look at different aspects of citizenship and civic engagement, from volunteering to chatting with your members of provincial and federal Parliament to developing a deeper appreciation and understanding of what it's like for new immigrants in our country,” says Janet Doner, co-ordinator of citizenship and community engagement in Student Life.
The week's activities include a mock citizenship exam and a coffee hour with Guelph's MP and MPP. For more information and to register for Nutt's talk, visit www.studentlife.uoguelph.ca/lce/CCE_caw.shtml.
Related to Citizenship Awareness Week is the third annual Positive Social Action Conference running Jan. 17 and 18 at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. Presented by Student Volunteer Connections and the Central Student Association, it aims to engage students around issues of becoming involved locally and internationally.
This year's theme is “Creative Resistance, Social Resilience.” The conference will feature panel discussions, hands-on activities and seminars Saturday, and participants will volunteer in the community Sunday. The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration required. More information is available at www.uoguelph.ca/~svc.