Robarts Centre hosts lecture series on history of environmental change in Canada

The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies will host a lecture series in 2011-2012 centred around the theme of “Transforming Canada: Histories of Environmental Change.” The series reconsiders the transformation of the northern half of the continent through time as a foundation for sensible engagement with the environmental challenges facing Canadian society in the 21st century.

The first lecture will take place on Monday Oct. 3 from 11am to 1pm in 305 York LaneMatthew Evendens. Professor Matthew Evenden (right) from the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will present his lecture titled “Of muskrats and minerals: The Second World War and the Canadian environment.” Evenden’s talk will focus on the processes of economic and environmental transformation in Canada during the Second World War through an examination of commodities such as aluminium, timber, wheat; even muskrats have a part in the story.

Other speakers in the series include geography Professor Arn Keeling and history Professor John Sandlos from Memorial University, and geography Professor Graeme Wynn, history Professor Tina Loo and Professor Emerita of geography Julie Cruikshank, all of UBC.

The series is run in conjunction with a series at UBC’s Green College with additional support from Networks in Canadian Studies and the Environment (NICHE) and the UBC Canadian Studies Program.

The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies is located on the seventh floor of the York Research Tower.

For more information, visit the Robarts Centre website, or contact Laura Taman, Robarts project coordinator, at llt@yorku.ca.