Thank you for an outstanding first edition of the Canaire Conference on Pilgrimage Studies: The Ecstatic Journey

The Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and the Theological Studies Department at Concordia University hosted for the first time ever, their joint Canaire Conference on Pilgrimage Studies.  The two-day event took place on May 3 & 4 in rooms H-767 and SP-S110, in both SGW and Loyola Campuses. We were honoured to host a total combined audience of 119 people, with members of the academic, artistic and student communities.  The keynote speaker for the conference was Dr. George Greenia from the College of William and Mary, Virginia. 

We look forward to hosting other editions of this great initiative!

'Commiting Sociology' in Fairy Tale Canada by LCDS Professor Anna Liisa Aunio

The Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability wishes to make mention of Faculty Member Anna Liisa Aunio's recent op-ed on Global News entitled "'Commiting Sociology' in Fairy Tale Canada".  The article can be found here.

Another Successful Concordia-Siena Conference on Globalization

LCDS Students, faculty and staff joined their colleagues at Siena College (New York) for the 8th consecutive edition of the Annual International Concordia-Siena Conference on Globalization.  This year's theme was "Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice", and students and faculty delivered papers to stress the need for more attention on matters of sustainability.  The keynote speaker of the conference was Robert Freling.

Loyola Sustainability Research Centre Director Peter Stoett published an op-ed in The Gazette on governance in environmental issues.  The piece was published on February 18, 2013. The piece can be found here. The LSRC continues the College's increased exposure in the media, along with a well publicized article in Le Devoir, which was published on November 17, 2012.

Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability (LCDS - formerly known as Loyola International College or LIC) is an interdisciplinary college at Concordia University, and home of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre. Our students delve into some of the most complex and challenging issues facing humankind in the 21st Century, examining their area of study from global, multicultural perspectives. Our courses may be taken either as stand-alone electives, or as part of our offered Minors. With just three LOYC courses, a student is granted membership to the College.

The College's academic program offers an integrative, interdisciplinary education in the arts and sciences. The educational philosophy of the college incorporates several objectives:

• the need to integrate international and global perspectives into higher education;
• to foster understanding of how the individual and one's society can operate more effectively in a global context of increased inter-cultural interaction;
• the need to balance discipline-based instruction with interdisciplinary inquiry and cross-disciplinary communication;
• the need to prepare students to excel in further education, professional training, and employment, through the development of communication skills (including speaking as well as advanced writing), interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and the ability to use current information technologies;
• the need to develop oneself both as a person and for responsible citizenship and leadership in the 21st Century.

Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability is located on Concordia's Loyola Campus. All of our courses are taught in the same building that houses the College's offices and student space. The College has a student study and lounge areas, a small library and conference room, as well as a few practical amenities like a fridge and microwave, to which all College members have access. The facilities are intended to complement the College's role as a community where students have the opportunity to pursue both their academic and extra-curricular interests in a supportive and stimulating environment.