In response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Canadian government in 2015 created a unique opportunity for Canadian citizens to privately sponsor Syrian refugees. The need was great. Churches, service groups and private citizens in our own community responded immediately.  

Today, there is a thriving community of those families from Syria in our schools, in our neighbourhoods, in our places of business. Their lives have changed, certainly, but they have also changed and enriched our lives. Their stories are remarkable and diverse, and we need to hear them.

On Monday, December 6, Illuminating Conversations will be hosting a small panel with members of that Syrian community, and their sponsors, to talk about their experiences and challenges, and, perhaps, to help us understand just a bit better.

Nancy Quinn (PhD) is a physiotherapist, member of Health Science Teams for multiple international events, including as Chief Therapist for Canada at two Winter Paralympic Games, spokesperson for Changing Minds, Changing Lives (CMCL), and multiple award winner for making a difference, is a long-time advocate for high-performance athletes and the broader population of people living with a disability.

Nancy will update us on the research project she is currently leading to assess, support and develop physical activity and para-sport opportunities for people living with disability in the Americas and the Caribbean.

This interview will stimulate conversations and promote a greater understanding of the challenges facing people living with disabilities and ways we can create more inclusive and accessible communities for all.

This Illuminating Conversation will also be available in ASL.

Have you ever wondered why birds don’t crash into trees?
Is the term ‘bird-brain” politically incorrect? How do you attach a camera to a crow?
Can you possibly count fast and accurately enough on bird-count days?
Is the ice on Kempenfelt Bay really lasting a shorter and shorter time? All this and more will be revealed as we interview Dr. Alex Mills, York University Associate Professor of Evolution, Population Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Animal Migration, lifelong birder and observer of Mother Nature.