2014-2015

News Release

REF NO.: 170

SUBJECT: What kind of province do we want? Memorial's Harris Centre poses big questions in upcoming public forum

DATE: June 8, 2015

With two elections on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to ask some big questions, such as: “Where are we headed as a province? What sort of place are we creating for future generations?” These are the essential points of discussion at the Harris Centre’s upcoming public forum, Memorial Presents: What Kind of Province Do We Want?

“We wanted to take the opportunity in a year with both a federal and provincial election to assemble a panel of leaders and thinkers to talk about the big questions facing the province,” said Dr. Rob Greenwood, executive director, Harris Centre, Memorial University. “It’s about sparking a good discussion that will get people really thinking about our economy, our society and our environment and engaging in our democratic process.”

The panel for the evening includes Daniel Bennett, local lawyer and board director, St. John’s Native Friendship Centre; Shannie Duff, former deputy mayor, City of St. John’s; Bernadette Dwyer, councillor, Town of Fogo Island; Kim Keating, St. John’s Board of Trade; Bruce Pearce, End Homelessness St. John’s; Michael Walsh, Canadian Federation of Students; and Dr. David Freshwater, professor of economics, University of Kentucky and cross-appointed to Memorial University’s Faculty of Arts (Department of Geography).

The session, which will take place on Tuesday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Innovation Hall (IIC-2001) at the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, is the culmination of the Harris Centre’s Newfoundland and Labrador Forum 2014, a conference held in November to mark the centre’s 10-year anniversary. The conference’s final report, written by Dr. Freshwater, presents the findings of the conference as well as his perspective on the major challenges facing this province and will form the basis for Dr. Freshwater’s opening remarks at the June 9 session.

“For over a decade now, the Harris Centre has connected the research and expertise of the university with the needs of the province, and provided forums for respectful debate and dialogue,” said Dr. Greenwood. “Dr. Freshwater’s report draws from 10 years of analysis and discussion and this forum will launch us into the future – our priorities, our choices, our values. We plan to build on this forum in our planning for the next decade and we hope it helps others to do the same.”

For more information, or to view the report, please visit www.mun.ca/harriscentre.

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