FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2009
Canada’s leading genocide experts to join local activists for Rwanda Week at the University of Toronto
TORONTO, ON – The University of Toronto’s New College is hosting an important series of events next week entitled Rwanda’s Recovery: Commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the Tutsi Genocide.
Organized by Toronto’s Rwandan community, University of Toronto alumni, and survivors of the 1994 genocide, the retrospective is an opportunity to acknowledge and reflect on the political and social unrest that led up to the genocide, and explore the development of human rights and social activism in the region since 1994.
The events of “Rwanda Week” run from April 7 to April 11 and are free and open to the public. All events will be held at the William Doo Auditorium at 45 Willcocks Street. They will also be webcast live on the New College web site.
The opening ceremony will begin on Tuesday April 7th at 6:00 p.m. with a candlelight vigil and speeches from Rwandan Ambassador to Canada Edda Mukabagwiza, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science Meric Gertler, Principal of New College Rick Halpern, City Councillor Gord Perks, and two genocide survivors, Sharangabo Ntare and Axelle Karera.
On Wednesday, April 8th at 6:00 p.m., there will be a panel discussion entitled “Canada, Genocide and the Media”. Moderated by John A. Honderich, the incoming chair of Torstar Corp., panelists will explore how both Rwandan and international media have contributed to educating the public about genocide. Panelists include Allan Thompson, journalism professor and editor of The Media and the Rwanda Genocide, and Rwandan journalism intern George Kagame.
Thursday, April 9th will feature personal accounts from James Orbinski, former president of Doctors Without Borders, genocide survivor Dada Gasirabo and genocide witness Natacha Nsabimana. On Friday, April 10th New College will be showing a video interview with Gerry Caplan, author of Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide, which will be followed by a live commentary from Pauline Ngirumpatse, founder of Humans Above All.
The closing day events will begin on April 11th at 2:00 p.m. with a discussion on justice and reconciliation by Jean De Dieu Mucyo, former Minister of Justice in Rwanda and author of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into France’s Role in the Tutsi Genocide. At 5:00 p.m. there will be a closing ceremony with poetry readings and a musical performance by Mighty Popo, a Rwandan/Burundian refugee and survivor whose music is steeped in African tradition.
Rwanda Week is made possible through the generosity and support of New College and The Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office at the University of Toronto. For additional information and links to the webcasts visit www.newcollege.utoronto.ca.
Contact:
Krishan Mehta, New College Advancement
Telephone: 416.978.0310
Email: krishan.mehta@utoronto.ca
Sharangabo Ntare, Event Organizer
Telephone: 647-298-3653
Email: sharangabontare@hotmail.com