Theology in the City 2022 Forum

Welcome and Logistics

Marie-France Dion, Professor and Chair, Department of Theological Studies, Concordia University

"Old and Full of Years: Theology, Ethics, and the Negotiation of Aging in an Ageist Society"

Cory Andrew Labrecque, Professor and Vice-Dean, Faculté de théologie et de sciences religieuses, Université Laval   

"From Regret to Hope to Plenitude"

-Karen V. Guth, Professor, Department of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross

-Christine Jamieson, Professor, Department of Theological Studies, Concordia University  

This panel will explore the themes of regret and hope, reflecting on how the human capacity for resilience can lead to a sense of plenitude that could not have been imagined without the experiences of decline or loss. In this discussion, panelists will pay attention to the overarching theme of legacy, especially in the context of aging.  

"Aging and the Lens of Legacy"

Meghan Joy, interim Director, engAGE, Centre for Research on Aging; Professor, Department of Political Science, Concordia University 

"Transitions and Transmission: Cultivating Solidarity Among Generations"

-Jean Oliver Richard, professor, Saint Michael’s College 

-Solange Lefebvre, professor, Institut d'études religieuses, Université de Montréal 

From Knowledge Keepers to Guardians of Traditions, this panel will explore how elders across cultures integrate their wisdom through storytelling and how this practice is evolving through various media. We will explore different forms of interdependence across generations past, present and future. 

"Stories, Generations, and Choices" by Arthur Frank, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Calgary

An exploration of the different relationships between stories, those who tell them, and those who decide how to listen. 

"Achimowina: Today" by Harry Lafond, Indigenous Education Scholar, University of Saskatchewan 

Stories form an integral part of Cree thinking. The people gather at every opportunity to share something of themselves through the telling of stories. Even though the written word has overtaken the communication in social interaction, there is a thriving force, especially during ceremonies, of oral story telling and oral teaching. What can we learn from this about our Canadian settler strong society and the potential for reconciliation.