Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012

Location: Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb Street West, Waterloo

Time: 6:00 pm - Punch, 6:30 pm - Dinner

Keynote address: " What We Claim to be True: Reflections on Vulnerability and Resiliency".

 

This year marks the 25th anniversary of MCRS. Since 1987 MCRS has been supporting refugee claimants through the dedication of staff, volunteers, churches and the community. Join us April 21st to celebrate this milestone. For more information on the history of MCRS visit our History page.

 

 

What are your memories of MCRS?

Have you been connected to MCRS as a past refugee claimant, staff person, board member or volunteer? We would love to hear from you! Please click here to send your memories, pictures and stories about MCRS to us by email, or click here share them on our Facebook page.

 

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Ginette Lafrenière, WLU Faculty of Social Work Professor and Director of the Social Innovation Research Group.

Academic Background

 B.A. (Laurentian), M.A. (Université de Sherbrooke), M.S.S (M.S.W.) (Laurentian), Ph.D. (McGill).

 

Biography

Dr. Lafrenière teaches Master's and Ph.D. level courses in research methods, diversity, community and social change. She is the founding director of the Social Innovation Research Group (S.I.R.G) which is a research and training incubator comprised of a multidisciplinary group of researchers and community practitioners dedicated to  university/community collaboration. Currently S.I.R.G interfaces with over forty health and social service agencies throughout Ontario. Her current research interests focus on gaps in services for survivors of war and torture, experiences of racism within health care systems, economic integration of immigrants and refugees through the social economy and gaps in services in the area of domestic violence work. Ginette also works with video and photography mediums within arts based social development projects.

The guiding philosophy behind her work through SIRG is etched in the belief that universities should be of service to the communities in which they operate. To this end, Dr. Lafrenière has recently written a book on the merits of university-community development based on her experiences of organizing a community garage sale within the FSW which won an inclusion award by the Festival of Neighbourhoods in 2010.

 

Check back for more information!