Algonquin College Speaker Series Presents . . .

The Algonquin College Speaker Series at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus has been attracting some of Canada’s most interesting speakers for more than 25 years. To register for any of our Speaker Series events please register online using the Eventbrite links below. This series is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s new Horizons for Seniors program.

Upcoming Events

Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging: Unleashing the Power of Belonging

Embark on an inspiring journey with Kwame Osei as he shares personal stories that shed light on the transformative influence of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. With authenticity and passion, Kwame recounts his own experiences of facing the damaging effects caused by a lack of diversity and inclusion, illustrating the profound impact it had on his mental, social, and emotional well-being. In this captivating presentation, Kwame delves into the essence of an inclusive workspace, providing a comprehensive understanding of what it entails and why it is crucial. Drawing from his own insights and experiences, he equips the audience with practical knowledge and actionable steps to foster a diverse workplace culture & workforce that cultivates cultural competence and understanding.

Kwame unveils strategies and practices that promote an inclusive culture, allowing individuals to flourish and contribute their unique strengths. Through his engaging delivery, Kwame empowers participants to embrace diversity, dismantle barriers and foster a sense of belonging for all. Kwame Osei shares his enlightening journey and learns how to create a culture that celebrates differences and welcomes everyone. Discover the immense value of building an inclusive environment that boosts productivity, creativity, and empathy. Unlock the potential of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging within your organization, fostering an atmosphere where every individual thrives and achieves remarkable success through an inclusive, diverse & accepting environment.

Biography

Kwame Osei is a dynamic professional host & keynote speaker for seminars, corporate & school events, youth & charitable events & non-profit organizations. Kwame Osei was awarded a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pin for his significant contribution as a teacher and mentor to inmates of maximum security in his community by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Kwame Osei’s presentations focus on inspiring change, action and growth, pushing people to broaden their perspective and take control of their personal growth. After being exposed to the street culture of Rexdale, Toronto, Kwame used the power of sport and the sports mindset to overcome all obstacles to become a CFL player, teacher, football coach, entrepreneur and community leader. Kwame Osei is a dynamic keynote speaker who teaches fundamental tools he learned throughout his life to empower others through a diverse lens.

Gwynne Dyer’s WAR – The Great Forgetting

As William Faulkner said, ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past.’

It was the Americans, after the Second World War, who led the way in creating a new international system in which aggressive war became a crime and it was illegal for even the greatest powers to change borders by force. And it worked: no great power has directly fought any other great power for the past eighty years. Their proxies have clashed occasionally and lots of little countries have fought little wars, but no nuclear weapon has been used in war since August 1945. Few people alive then would have dared to believe we could do so well. Alas, it is also the Americans who are leading the way back towards the undead, perpetually violent, rule-free past.

From tragedy to farce – from George Bush invading Iraq to Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine to Donald Trump stumbling around in Venezuela – the old ways are coming back and the new rules are being trampled into the dirt. Whether we blame just a few foolish leaders or an entire generation that has forgotten the bitter lessons of the 20th century, we are in deep trouble now. The global cooperation that is needed to cope with climate change is sliding out of reach, and great-power war is thinkable again. We can still change course, but the key thing is to understand the nature of war. We inherited it from our human and pre-human ancestors, but Einstein was right: nuclear weapons have already changed everything except the way we think. We could always change our minds, too

We are engaged in an involuntary planet-wide experiment. Can the human species, which evolved to live only in small groups but now lives in groups up to a billion strong, eliminate the deeply rooted and universally shared cluster of behaviors involving territoriality and violence that we call ‘war’? Those behaviours were functional for hunter-gatherers, but now they threaten our future. Human beings recognised that problem in the mid-20th century and came up with some useful responses. Some high-profile major players are now seeking to destroy the ‘international rule of law’, but not all is lost. The great majority of countries and of people still support it, and the outcome is still in doubt.

Biography

GWYNNE DYER has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for most of his adult life, but he was originally trained as an historian. He was born in Newfoundland and received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities, finishing with a Ph.D. in Military and Middle Eastern History from the University of London. He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before giving up the day jobs in favour of a twice-weekly column on international affairs that is published in more than 20 countries. His first television series, the seven-part documentary ‘War’, was aired in 45 countries. One episode, ‘The Profession of Arms’, was nominated for an Academy Award. His more recent television works include the Gemini Award-winning series ‘The Human Race’. He has written eleven books (most of them Canadian best-sellers) on war, international politics and climate. The most recent ones are ‘The Shortest History of War’ (2022) and ‘Intervention Earth’ (2024). He has spoken in most BC high schools, some of them many times. Dr Dyer lives in London. In 2010, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada.

Past Events

The Apology – A Film Screening and Discussion

Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7 p.m. (In person and online through Zoom)

Tickets: $0-$20

As we approach National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, we invite you to a special screening of The Apology, the first in a two-part documentary series by Métis filmmaker Matt LeMay and Inuk filmmaker Crystal Martin of Indigenous Geographic.

The Apology offers an unprecedented and emotionally charged portrait of a pivotal moment in Canada’s journey toward truth and reconciliation. Granted exclusive access, LeMay and Martin were the only film crew in the world to follow the Indigenous delegation to the Vatican—a historic visit that led to Pope Francis’s apology for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system.

But the story does not end in Rome. The filmmakers continue their journey across Canada during the Pope’s visit, following Survivors, Elders, and Indigenous communities as they gather to witness the apology delivered on their own lands. Through intimate reflections and powerful public ceremonies, the film captures the full spectrum of emotion—grief, anger, hope, and resilience—that defines this chapter in our collective history.

This landmark documentary provides rare, behind-the-scenes access to history in the making. It shines a powerful light on the enduring strength and spirit of Indigenous Peoples in their pursuit of justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Join us for this impactful screening and stay for a facilitated discussion afterward, as we reflect on what it means to listen, learn, and walk forward together in the spirit of reconciliation.

This event is part of Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark & Renfrew’s Culture Connect.

Register for the Speaker Series event here.

Biographies

Matt LeMay, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, Indigenous Geographic

Matt is a Citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario and his root ancestors are the Clermont Dusome family that originally hails from the Red River region of Manitoba, later settling in Penetanguishene Ontario. Matt currently lives in the Ottawa Valley with his wife Jennifer and his daughters Ella and Noa.

Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University and recently received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his impactful work uplifting and celebrating Métis culture and heritage.

Crystal Martin, CO-FOUNDER & CAO, Indigenous Geographic

Crystal is an Inuk originally from Sanirajak, Nunavut. She is a creative professional with expertise in Inuit-specific project management. She brings a unique and artistic perspective shaped by her extensive experience across Inuit Nunangat. She is a storyteller, filmmaker, and soulful throat singer. Her creative endeavours extend beyond the traditional, enriching the narrative surrounding Indigenous issues and culture.

Her commitment to community needs is evident in policy and community development and her imaginative approach to addressing challenges and fostering positive change.

Director Statement

Co-Directors’ Statement – The Apology

“The Church’s path toward atonement for the generations lost has barely begun.”

The Apology is a deeply personal and urgent film. As Indigenous filmmakers, we carry the stories of our ancestors and the responsibility to shine a light on the truths that have long been denied or ignored. This film is born from the pain, resilience, and unwavering strength of Inuit and Métis Residential School Survivors who continue to fight for recognition and justice.

For too long, apologies have served as headlines without substance words offered without the accountability or meaningful change they promise. The Church’s path toward atonement has barely begun, and for many Survivors, the harm is not in the past it is ongoing.

Through The Apology, we follow the courageous journeys of Survivors who travel across Canada and Europe in search of answers, justice, and healing. Their voices are clear: reconciliation cannot exist without truth, and truth demands more than gestures it demands action.

This film is our way of honoring those who have spoken up and those who still carry the silence. It is a record of resistance, a challenge to the institutions that caused generational harm, and a space for Survivors to be seen, heard, and believed.

We are proud to share this story with the world not as a conclusion, but as a continuation of a much-needed conversation. The work of atonement is only just beginning.

Watch our speaker series with Jamie Bramburger on the 1942 Almonte train wreck. Based on his book, Sudden Impact-The Almonte Train Wreck of 1942, Jamie presents the tragic stories of the crash which killed 38 people and injured more than 150 others when a troop train slammed into the back of a Local passenger train on December 27, 1942.

Watch our speaker series with investigative journalist Julian Sher on the Steven Truscott case. In 1959, Truscott was only 14 years old when he was charged and convicted in the murder of a 12-year old classmate, Lynne Harper, at the Clinton Air Force Base in Southern Ontario. He spent ten years behind bars and then lived under an assumed name until he was acquitted of the crime in 2007 when the Ontario Court of Appeal called his call a “miscarriage of justice.”