A Note from the Director

After what felt like the longest January on record, February absolutely flew by — and what a month it was at the Ronning Centre.

Our Philosopher Café opened with a rich discussion on "The Loss of Culture and Civil Life." We then welcomed Kimberly Carfore and Christiana Zenner for a generative dialogue on women's leadership, ecological wisdom, and ethical responsibility in a time of social and environmental crisis. And to close out Black History Month, Shad (Shadrach Kabango) joined us for a wide-ranging conversation on hip-hop, faith, and the art of meaning-making. Each event brought insight and good community vibes, which is exactly the warmth we need in a Prairie winter. Links to watch or revisit each conversation are included below.

We’re moving into March with the same momentum. March 5 is our next Philosopher Café on "The Values of Our 24th Prime Minister." It feels especially timely, and we hope the conversation offers both clarity and a measure of comfort. As always, we're grateful to Mainstreet 1908 Café for their gracious hospitality.

On March 13, we're thrilled to present UPU, a collective from Aotearoa (New Zealand), who are bringing their celebrated theatrical performance of Pacific poetry and storytelling to life here on Treaty 6 territory. A 30-minute moderated discussion with the artists will follow.

We're also launching a new research initiative, "Farmer Relationships to Land in Central Alberta," inviting local farmers to explore how they relate to the land where they live and work—with particular attention to religious and nonreligious perspectives in rural communities. More information below.

If February taught us anything, it's that meaningful conversation makes the season pass quickly. We hope to see you in March.

Joseph R. Wiebe
Director, Chester Ronning Centre
Associate Professor of Religion and Ecology Faculty Website 

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