Top 10 events at Ryerson this October

As we settle into the fall semester and find ways to engage with our community online, tune into these can’t-miss events that address some of the most pressing issues of our time. You can also visit the Ryerson Today website to keep up with hundreds of exciting events coming up this fall, including more than 40 just this month.  

Ryerson Democracy Forum (external link) 
The Faculty of Arts is launching its virtual Democracy Forum series with three events in October, hosted by Toronto Star columnist and Ryerson Visiting Practitioner Martin Regg Cohn.

October 1: Ontario’s NDP Black Caucus: Why it matters. This pioneering group of elected Black representatives in the Official Opposition came together in a historic first to fight anti-Black racism and discrimination in Canada’s biggest and most diverse province. Find out what drove them to speak out on injustices as they take your questions about police abuses, systemic racism and the marginalization of racialized communities.

October 6: Premier Doug Ford at Ryerson: Recovery in the time of COVID-19. In his first appearance (virtual) at Ryerson as premier, Doug Ford addresses Ontario’s challenges under his Progressive Conservative government — economics, politics, pandemics. Bring your questions!

October 8: Donald Trump and Canada: How he changed politics (external link) . Canada’s former ambassador to Washington, David MacNaughton analyzes the unprecedented challenges of the Trump presidency — from hyper-polarization to racial injustice — in a conversation with Naheed Nenshi, the outspoken mayor of Calgary.

Reflect and Resist 2: Anti-Black racism - bringing real world to the classroom via live actor simulation
October 1: Reflect and Resist 2 delves deeper into understanding how anti-Black racism can be addressed in the classroom and how to approach this crucial discussion (and other critical topics) through live actor simulation. At the end of the workshop, you will have a deeper understanding of how live actor simulation can be a valuable tool for advancing critical discussions and bringing learning to life.

The Canadian Vote Summit
Join innovative nonprofit, academic and public sector leaders from across the country at the Canadian Vote Summit, organized by the Democratic Engagement Exchange and Professor Michael McGregor. The summit brings together cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary decision makers to share insights and experiences from the 2019 federal election.

October 6: Engaging infrequent and first-time voters. How can we encourage first-time voters to get out there and take the leap? What are the barriers for young people and new Canadians voting in Canada for the first time? What engagement strategies work and which are counter-productive? Where and when is the best time to engage new voters? Hear from leading academics sharing the latest research, community leaders with firsthand experience engaging young people on campus and new Canadians in the community.

October 14: Lessons from the frontlines of democracy: How to run an inclusive voter engagement campaign. As political polarization and authoritarian regimes threaten core democratic principles in established and emerging democracies around the world, join us for a conversation with PhD candidate Semra Sevi, Kojo Damptey from the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, and Doha Suliman, Canadian Muslim Vote, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for building a vibrant and inclusive democracy in a Canadian context.  

October 21: One year later: Reflections on the one-year anniversary of the Canadian federal election. At a moment when delivering safe, secure and accessible elections is as challenging as it has ever been and confidence in election administration is being actively undermined around the world, join Prof. Andre Blais, Canada’s preeminent scholar on voting behaviour and electoral systems, as he reflects on the latest scholarship on what motivates individuals to vote. 

Academic integrity in space: Live demonstration and Q&A
October 6: Promote Academic Integrity and Policy 60 education through game play with the Academic Integrity Office's new resource: Academic Integrity in Space. Students go head-to-head with Captain Plague and the League of the Unearned to learn about academic integrity and earn certificates from the planets Ethica, Originon, and Independus. Produced in collaboration with Digital Education Strategies at The Chang School, the game covers a variety of topics including academic integrity, plagiarism, cheating on tests and exams, unauthorized collaboration and institutional support services. Join us for a live demonstration of the game and learn how you can best incorporate the game into your classroom this fall semester.  

Understanding stress and the utility of mindfulness
October 6: Hosted by psychology professor Alexandra Fiocco, this one-hour session will provide an overview of stress, how it impacts the body, and why mindfulness meditation may be one tool to help manage stress and cultivate resilience. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their experiences of stress and how these experiences are embodied. Evidence supporting the utility of mindfulness training will be introduced in this session to prepare participants for subsequent sessions of the RU Mindful workshop series.    

Ryerson's 5th Annual Health Policy Virtual Conference
October 7-8: Given everything going on in the world, this year’s topical theme for the conference is Crossing the Divide Between Health and the Social Determinants. The conference will explore the impact, and the policy and programming challenges and solutions associated with bridging the gap between health and the social determinants. It will also examine the intersection of health and housing, aging, racism, poverty and COVID-19.

Musicians during COVID 19: Collaboration, connection & cacophony
October 8: With music communities physically cut off from one another, collaboration and creation has greatly shifted. The pandemic has restricted the avenues for sharing work, but technology has allowed us to continue to connect, create and use our voices during social isolation. At the same time, technology continues to affect the economic well-being of musicians at a time of increasing precariousness. Through a series of live streamed performances and discussions, six musicians and educators explore the complexities of creating music and culture intertwined with technology.

Caffeinated Innovators: #MentalHealthWeek: Maintaining your mental health during a crisis
October 9: This year, Mental Health Awareness Week comes at a uniquely challenging time for many of us. People are feeling the effects of the pandemic in a multitude of ways — whether it’s through their health, business operations, personal relationships, or personal resilience. Join the Social Ventures Zone for an open conversation to mark World Mental Health Day as we empower our community to prioritize their mental health in the face of a crisis. Share your stories of resilience throughout the hardships brought on by the pandemic, exchange helpful mental health resources and connect with others who may be facing similar struggles.

How I Dress Is Never A Yes
October 19-30: This pop-up gallery underlines the principle that no matter how we dress, it is never a yes. The event challenges the pervasive rape myth that someone’s outfit, attitude or actions cause sexual violence. It will feature student stories of resilience, healing and resistance, from across Canada. The clothing and affirmations will be displayed with an image caption by student survivors. No names or other identifiers will be included.

Break the ceiling: Women's and gender non-binary people networking session
October 28: Join the Ryerson Career & Co-op Centre and Consent Comes First for this networking and mentorship session for women and gender non-binary people. Discussion topics include learning from failure, mental health, mentorship, negotiating pay and promotion, personal branding, setting boundaries and assertiveness.