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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CHESTER RONNING CENTER
A Note from the Director
Greetings!
As we dive into the month of February, I’m excited to share what’s happening at the Chester Ronning Centre. This month is not only a time of reflection but also a celebration of unity, diversity, and significant achievements.
January was a month filled with optimism and engagement. We had an immersive evening at Shaun Boothe’s Unauthorized Biography Series, where we were able to celebrate the world’s greatest cultural icons through biographical raps songs. Thank you all who attended this excellent event! Your participation in the Ronning Centre is what makes our community vibrant and dynamic.
We also sat with David Goa for another Philosopher's Cafe on Natality: Thinking about Birth-Giving, where we explored the life and philosophy of Hannah Arendt.
Our next event is right around the corner and you’re going to want to make sure you mark your calendars for this one.
On The River is a video ballad that tells the story of the Cree, Dene and Métis peoples from the Fort McKay First Nation. March 15th at 7:00 p.m.!
As we move through February, anticipate more engaging events, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities for connection.
Thank you for your continued support, and here's to a February filled with celebration, unity, and meaningful interactions.
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Wiebe
Director, Chester Ronning Centre
Associate Professor of Religion and Ecology Faculty Website
Have you met...
Shelisa Klassen, Ph.D.
2024 - 2025 Postdoctoral Fellow
Shelisa Klassen is a historian of immigration and settler colonialism in Canada. Her work primarily addresses the way that ideas about nation, identity, and ethnicity were discussed in nineteenth century newspapers in Manitoba.
Shelisa received her doctoral degree from the University of Manitoba in 2023 and her work has been published in the Journal of Mennonite Studies and the Prairie History Journal. She has also spoken at a number of community events in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba, engaging various settler communities with the early history of her province.
Shelisa looks forward to engaging in dialogue about settler colonialism and religion during her time at the Ronning Centre.
Latest News
Co-presented by the Chester Ronning Centre and the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre.
On The River
March 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM
On the River is a video ballad that tells the story of the Cree, Dene and Métis peoples from the Fort McKay First Nation. This 60-minute live performance combines original compositions by award winning musicians Asani and Maria Dunn with video interviews of the late Chief, Dorothy McDonald-Hyde, her family and community (video filmed and edited by Don Bouzek of Ground Zero Productions).
Harmony in Verse: Hip-Hop and Faith Unveiled in Black History Month
In the symphony of Black culture, hip-hop is a powerful narrative intertwining resilience, identity, and faith. Its convergence with faith is a captivating journey aligning with the essence of Black History Month.
Chester Ronning Centre Community Report
What do religious organizations need in Camrose and Edmonton? How can the Chester Ronning Centre and the U of A engage and be informed by these needs?
On Our Bookshelf
The Land is Not Empty
Recommended by Shelisa Klassen, In The Land Is Not Empty by author Sarah Augustine unpacks the harm of the Doctrine of Discovery—a set of laws rooted in the fifteenth century that gave Christian governments the moral and legal right to seize lands they “discovered” despite those lands already being populated by indigenous peoples.
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