BRIDGESTHATUNITE Calendar of Events
From January 28 to February 28, BRIDGESTHATUNITE will be presented at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, and from March 7 to 26 at Concordia University in Montréal.
As part of the exhibition, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) presents a series of free special events including lectures, panel discussions, film screenings and performances. Please visit www.bridgesthatunite.ca for event updates.
Unless otherwise stated, all events will be held in the BRIDGESTHATUNITE exhibition at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology.
Film Screening of "Giving Peace a Chance"
Daily
“This film is not about politics or war, but about what Afghans, with the help of Canadians, are doing with the peace.” With this simple statement, Richard Phinney, award-winning journalist and film-maker, begins a tour of an Afghanistan not often seen in Canada, one in which insecurity and despair are being replaced with opportunity and hope. Giving Peace a Chance profiles the social, economic and cultural initiatives being undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network, in partnership with Canadians and Afghans. No registration required.
View a clip from "Giving Peace a Chance":
School Program
Daily, upon request
The exhibition will engage youth in thought‐provoking dialogue on global issues and quality of life around the world. The interactive exhibit challenges youth to re‐think typical assumptions about development by highlighting Canada’s successful experience in helping communities to address the root causes of poverty and to mobilize their own resources to find solutions. Moving beyond charity, students will explore how collective action can raise the standard of living in vulnerable communities around the world.
BRIDGESTHATUNITE supports elementary and secondary curriculum in the following areas: Canada and the world; Global citizenship; Democracy, action and participation and World geography, cultures and economies. AKFC has also developed an innovative new teaching resource for use in Grades 5 ‐ 8 Social Studies, Social Sciences and Geography. To download a copy please visit http://www.classroomconnections.ca/en/btu.php
The school program is geared for students from grades five through twelve, and is a free 60‐minute program in the exhibit, exploring various themes through hands‐on activities, scavenger hunts, and group activities. To book a class trip please contact info@bridgesthatunite.ca, or (613) 237-2532.
Dialogue on Enhancing Equality and Human Development
Monday, January 25, 2010, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
BRIDGESTHATUNITE and Canada’s World will host a dialogue session that will bring together a cross-section of citizens to reflect on the question of Canada’s role in enhancing quality and human development. For the last year, Canada’s World has toured the country and engaged Canadians in dialogues on pressing global issues. In March 2009, Canada’s World launched the findings of these citizens’ dialogues, entitles Back on the Map: A New Vision for Canada in the World.
Registration is free, however seating is limited. To register please contact Sarah Van Borek at sarah@canadasworld.ca.
Past Events
“Canada’s Unique Global Position: Bridging divides and forging partnerships” - A breakfast conversation with Khalil Z. Shariff, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation Canada
e when the world is in flux, Canada and Canadians have the potential to forge a new vision of global lea dership premised on closely held values such as pluralism, competent democracy, and vibrant civil society. Khalil Z. Shariff, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation Canada, will explore how Canada's unique global position has enabled us to bridge divides and forge partnerships between the developed and the developing world, bringing tangible improvements to the lives of millions of women and men. These quiet achievements constitute a brand of leadership of which the world stands in dire need, and promise to provide a new vocabulary and set of aspirations for Canada and Canadians in a troubled world.Daily Events
Film screenings of Giving Peace a Chance (Daily)
“This film is not about politics or war, but about what Afghans, with the help of Canadians, are doing with the peace.” With this simple statement, Richard Phinney, award-winning journalist and film-maker, begins a tour of an Afghanistan not often seen in Canada, one in which insecurity and despair are being replaced with opportunity and hope. Giving Peace a Chance profiles the social, economic and cultural initiatives being undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network, in partnership with Canadians and Afghans. No registration is required.
View a clip from the film:
School Program (Daily, upon request)
The exhibition will engage youth in thought-provoking dialogue on global issues and quality of life around the world. The interactive exhibit challenges youth to re-think typical assumptions about development by highlighting Canada’s successful experience in helping communities to address the root causes of poverty and to mobilize their own resources to find solutions. Moving beyond charity, students will explore how collective action can raise the standard of living in vulnerable communities around the world. BRIDGESTHATUNITE supports elementary and secondary curriculum in the following areas: Canada and the world; Global citizenship; Democracy, action and participation and World geography, cultures and economies. AKFC has also developed an innovative new teaching resource for use in Grades 5 - 8 Social Studies, Social Sciences and Geography. To download a copy visit http://www.classroomconnections.ca/en/btu.php.
The school program is geared for students from grades five through twelve, and is a free 60-minute program in the exhibit, exploring various themes through hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, and group activities. To book a class trip please contact education@pier21.ca, or (902) 425-7770 ext. 243.
Past Events
From Kabul to Halifax: Musical Performance and Film Screening 
Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
This event will examine Canada's role in Afghanistan from a development perspective and explore how, with thoughtful Canadian leadership, success is possible. The evening will feature a musical performance by renowned Afghan-Canadian musician Vaheed Kaacemy and a special screening of award-winning documentary film-maker Richard Phinney’s documentary on Afghanistan: Giving Peace a Chance.
Special guided tours of the BRIDGESTHATUNITE exhibit will begin at 7pm,
with performance and film screening to commence at 7:30.
About the artist: Vaheed Kaacemy, who presently makes his home in Toronto, is one of Afghanistan’s most popular singers. Born in Kabul into a distinguished family of musicians, Kaacemy is a versatile performer with an extensive repertory, and has researched and collected music throughout Afghanistan and performs ghazals, folk songs, and instrumental tunes as well as his own compositions. His many recordings for Afghan radio and television over the past thirty years have won the hearts of three generations of listeners.
Registration is free, however seating is limited. Please register at http://fromkabultohalifax.eventbrite.com or use the "Register Now" button below.
Watch a clip of Vaheed's performance:
Education for a Better World
Thursday, October 29th, 5.30 - 7.30
Education creates boundless social and economic opportunities, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a more secure and prosperous future for all. This event for educators and those interested in education in the developing world will explore how Canada and Canadians are improving quality and access to educational opportunities at all levels. The presentation will highlight the Madrasa Early Childhood Programme in East Africa, and a film describing the program will be screened.
Registration is free, however seating is limited. Please register at http://educationforabetterworld.eventbrite.com.
Dialogue on Enhancing Equality and Human Development 
Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
BRIDGESTHATUNITE and Canada’s World will host a dialogue session that will bring together a cross-section of citizens to reflect on the question of Canada’s role in enhancing equality and human development. Since last February, Canada’s World has toured the country and engaged Canadians in dialogues on pressing global issues. In March 2009, Canada’s World launched the findings of these citizens’ dialogues, entitled Back on the Map: A New Vision for Canada in the World. Registration is free, however seating is limited.
To register please contact Sarah Van Borek at sarah@canadasworld.ca.
Nocturne: Art at Night
Saturday, October 17, 2009, 6.00 p.m. – 12.00 a.m.
BRIDGESTHATUNITE will be participating in Nocturne: Art at Night, an annual festival bringing art and energy to the streets of Halifax. Come tour the exhibition to learn more about Canada’s global leadership role. Please visit http://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/en/nocturne for more information. No registration is required.
Building Community: A Conversation with Paul Born
Thursday, October 15, 2009, 5.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.
By building community and working together for social change we can make our families, neighborhoods, communities and the world great places to live for all. Join Paul Born, highly acclaimed author, activist and internationally recognized community innovator in a conversation on building community. Hear stories of inspired individuals and communities that are harnessing the power of collaboration. Some questions to be discussed are: What is community and why is it important? What do we mean by a global community and how are we a part of this? How are communities in Canada and around the world coming together to plan their own futures and collaborate to find solutions to their collective problems?
About the speaker: Paul directs Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement, a ten year journey and partnership to advance place-based solutions to entrenched problems like poverty. His work has been recognized with awards from the Conference Board of Canada, Imagine Canada and the Governor General of Canada. An author of three books, Paul is a motivational, inspiring, informative and often humorous speaker who loves the power of stories. He has extensive experience in helping organizations and communities to develop new and sustainable ideas that motivate people to collaborative action. He holds a Masters degree in Leadership, is a Mennonite inspired by Yoga and Buddhism, and a dad who loves to cook.
This event is presented by BRIDGESTHATUNITE and Tamarack - an Institute for Community Engagement. Registration is free, however seating is limited.
Please register by October 13 at http://buildingcommunity.eventbrite.com.
Bringing the World to Canadians: A Panel Discussion on International Journalism
Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 7.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.
This panel discussion will explore the challenges of international journalism and the role of the media in shaping Canadians’ understanding of the world. Panelists Stephen Puddicombe (CBC News National Reporter), Ian Porter (International media consultant) and Zulekha Nathoo (CBC TV Calgary Reporter, formerly Nation TV Kenya Reporter) will also share their own personal experiences reporting from the field and sharing the stories they encounter with Canadians. This event is presented by BRIDGESTHATUNITE and the School of Journalism, University of King’s College.
Registration is free, however seating is limited. Please register by October 5 at http://bringingtheworldtocanadians.eventbrite.com/.
