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September 13 Commemorations

From September 13 – 21 Dawson College will be hosting a series of events as part of Peace Week. Get your tickets for both our keynote speakers: Dr. Samantha Nutt and Dr. Abdennour Bidar.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 marks 10 years since a senseless and violent act took the life of 18-year old first-semester student Anastasia De Sousa and gravely injured 16 others at Dawson College in Montreal, shattering the peaceful existence of a vibrant learning community of thousands.

Since that day, Dawson College has refused to be defined by that tragedy and has, as a community of scholars with thousands of new and returning students filling classrooms year after year, made a conscious shift toward peace and nonviolence.

In these 10 years, curriculum has evolved within a new context, bold initiatives espousing peace and sustainability have taken root, including a magnificent Peace Garden that has flourished as a living memorial to Anastasia, and as a testament to the courage and perseverance of everyone whose life was touched.

Today, the Peace Garden serves as an organic classroom for a variety of disciplines. In this Garden on September 13, we will pay remembrance to a remarkable young woman, but we will also celebrate the campus life that has taken inspiration from the lessons learned and all that we have achieved since September 13, 2006.

Mardi, le 13 septembre 2016 marquera le dixième anniversaire depuis l’acte de violence insensé qui a enlevé la vie d’Anastasia De Sousa, toute nouvelle étudiante âgée de 18 ans et qui a aussi blessé gravement 16 autres personnes a bouleversé du même coup une collectivité dynamique de plusieurs milliers de personnes.

Depuis ce jour, le Collège Dawson a refusé d’être défini par cette tragédie et a résolument choisi la voie de la paix et de la non-violence avec l’appui de notre communauté académique et des milliers d’étudiants remplissant nos salles de classe année après année.

Au cours des dix dernières années, les programmes d’étude se sont renouvelés et de nouvelles initiatives ont vu le jour, tel notre magnifique jardin écologique de la Paix qui contribue à nourrir la mémoire d’Anastasia et témoigne du courage et de la persévérance de ceux et celles dont la vie a été marquée par le triste événement.

Aujourd’hui, le jardin sert d’espace écologique où sont enseignées plusieurs matières. Dans ce jardin, nous célébrerons la mémoire d’une jeune femme; nous célébrerons aussi notre vie de campus inspirée des leçons du passé et tout ce que nous avons réalisé ensemble depuis ce 13 septembre 2006.

Peace Week Schedule

September 13

8 to 10 a.m. Community Breakfast for Faculty and Staff 3C.1
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Exhibit Warren G. Flowers Art Gallery
Everyone welcome
11 a.m. to 12 :15 p.m. Commemorative Service Peace Garden
Everyone welcome

September 14

7 p.m. Dr. Samantha Nutt, Community Engagement 5B.16
Open to the public, but a ticket is required. Ticket information will be posted shortly.

September 15

7 p.m. Abdennour Bidar, Réparer ensemble le tissu déchiré du monde
(with simultaneous translation)
5B.16
Open to the public, but a ticket is required. Ticket information will be posted shortly.

September 21

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Peace Studies Event Conrods
11 a.m. City of Montreal announcement with Mayor Denis Coderre City Hall
5:30 pm to 10:00 pm YMCA Peace Medals The Parquet, Centre CDP Capital, 1000 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal


Last Modified: April 24, 2019