Notice Board

The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) features a presentation by Harsha Walia on the current global refugee crisis and its implications for Canada.

Undoing Border Imperialism: What are the Systemic Barriers?

Date:           Thursday, May 19, 2016
Time:           12 - 1:30 p.m. (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A)
Location:     Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S
Cost:            $11 (includes lunch) or $2 (includes coffee/tea)

The speaker will be discussing the current global refugee crisis and its implications for Canada. What are the root causes of the refugee crisis and how are governments responding? What are the limitations of the current government's announcement to welcome Syrian refugees?

What are the systemic barriers to inclusion, access, permanent residency and full rights and dignity for all migrants, refugees, and migrant workers in Canada?  How can we oppose all forms of displacement and affirm the inherent human right to stay, freedom to move, and right to return.

Speaker:      Harsha Walia

Harsha Walia is a South Asian author and activist, currently residing in Vancouver, on unceded Coast Salish territories. Harsha is a cofounder of the migrant justice group, No One Is Illegal and the progressive South Asian network Radical Desis. She attended law school at UBC and currently works at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre.

Haesha is the author of Undoing Border Imperialism, which is currently in its second print run and she has won the CCPA Power of Youth Award, the Westender's Best of the City in Activism and been called "one of Canada's most brilliant and effective organizers" by Naomi Klein.

Moderator:   Sage Strobel

As part of her speaking tour in Lethbridge, Harsha Walia will also talk about her work to a Women and Gender Studies class on Thursday, May 19 from 2 – 3:30 pm in room AH117 at U of L’s Anderson Hall. On Wednesday, she will talk about her book, Undoing Border Imperialism, at the Lethbridge Public Library’s Theatre Gallery from 7 – 9 pm, followed by an after-hours event at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. As well, she will give a workshop, called Allyship and Organizing, in the Theatre Gallery at Lethbridge Public Library Thursday evening 7 pm.

Harsha Walia’s speaking tour to Lethbridge is sponsored by Amnesty International Lethbridge, Lethbridge Public Library, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, U of L Women and Gender Studies, LPIRG, CKXU and SACPA. 

For more information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA website.