On Sept. 26, the first talk of the PUBlic Professor Series featuring Dr. Rebecca Schiff gets underway at the Sandman Signature Lodge. The topic will be “Ending Homelessness.”
The annual lecture series, presented by the University of Lethbridge, is designed to spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, while bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and in the community.
“At its core, PUBlic Professor has always been about community outreach and allowing the broader community the opportunity to engage with our faculty members and tap into their insight and expertise,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge’s vice-president of research. “This year’s lineup of speakers is diverse in subject matter and extremely topical. We have some very difficult issues that will hit close to home for many people and others that are more light and extremely fascinating. I think it shows the breadth of study at ULethbridge and the opportunities our students enjoy.”
Schiff has an important message. Even though the rate of homelessness has exploded across Canada, hope is not cancelled. For nearly two decades, Schiff has worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as homelessness agencies and organizations across the country on diverse research and action-research projects to understand how we can move towards a society where everyone is safely housed.
“Unfortunately, over the past two to three years, homelessness has doubled, tripled or more in most communities across our country,” says Schiff. “In my talk, I’ll share ideas, thoughts, solutions and actions we can take to ensure we can end homelessness in Canada.”
These free talks will also take place in October and November of this year and January, February and March 2025. The series will also be held at some new venues, including the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre, the Slice Bar and Grill and The Owl.
