Art of Hosting

The Land

Our first and primary host is always the land. This gathering will be taking place on the beautiful and unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation.  Historically, Tiohtià:ke/Montréal has been a cherished meeting place where First Nations have gathered in relationship with these lands for generations, long before the present day. In the squirrels, the trees, the community garden at Concordia University's Loyola Campus we are reminded of our deep connection to each other in nature.

In the Dish with One Spoon agreement, the dish symbolizes shared territory and all of the resources indicating that people all eat out of the single dish, so we have a shared responsibility to leave enough of the resources for others to use to meet their needs now and in the future. It also means that we have a responsibility to keep the dish clean. The spoon indicates that when we come together to share these resources there are not to be weapons or sharp words used against one another, but to come together in kindness and with a good mind.

Cedric Jamet

Cédric (he / him)  joyfully teaches Human System Intervention at Concordia University, building capacities of change practitioners. He weaves his 10+ years experience in the innovation sector, leveraging dialogue and complexity-based approaches to help teams, organizations and communities as they invent new ways to think, do and live together. A seasoned Art of Hosting practitioner, Cédric is thoughtful in all his work, be it with indigenous communities or emerging non-profits. Cedric’s daughters are his inspiration to reimagine education.

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer (she/her) is a community-minded and forward-thinking educator and facilitator. She is passionate about helping people uncover passions, build confidence, and explore what it means to be human. A formally trained teacher, Jennifer has spent the past 15 years working beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom on tall ships, leading youth polar expeditions and running other experiential learning programs typically connected to environmental education, leadership training and social emotional learning. Jennifer believes in the possibilities that live within the Art of hosting practices to reimagine how we engage with our education systems.

Rehana Tejpar

Rehana Tejpar M. ED is a facilitator, trainer, mediator and coach with 20 years of experience designing transformative learning programs for leaders, with a focus on social justice, equity and sustainable change. Born into an intercultural home of immigrants from an East-African Indian Muslim father and a Uruguayan mother, she is passionate about creating conditions for multiple perspectives to co-exist in equitable and inclusive conditions, creating restorative conflict cultures, shared leadership, and using innovative processes for personal, interpersonal, and systems change.

She has a Master's in Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education. She is a trained mediator in Dialogue for Peaceful Change and a practitioner of the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter, Non-Violent Communication and Social Presencing Theatre. She is a dancer, a clown student and a lover of play living with her partner and daughter in Montreal.

Annik Davignon

Annick grew up on Quebec's North Shore (Côte-Nord). Her background blends international development work, community service, and the playful, transformative art of social clowning. This diverse experience has ignited a passion for creating dynamic learning spaces that foster creativity, spark innovation, and nurture deep, meaningful connections. She is fascinated by the intricate interplay of systems, how they influence one another, and how we can work within them to create positive change. A firm believer in the power of imagination, she sees it as the driving force behind shaping both our present reality and the future we aspire to create. As a new lecturer at Concordia University, she is actively exploring ways to empower students to unlock their full potential to contribute to a more vibrant learning community within the higher education system. Annick is driven by a desire to make a positive impact and leave the world a little brighter than she found it.

Concordia University Loyola Campus

This event will take place on the unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, a historic gathering place where First Nations have nurtured deep relationships with the land for countless generations. 

Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre

Art of Hosting will take place in the Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre, a warm and inviting venue. Its blend of modern and traditional design—blonde wood floors, dark wood accents, and a cozy fireplace—creates a welcoming atmosphere. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Loyola Campus, this space invites us to connect with the land, one another, and the purpose of our gathering.