UCalgary partners with The Confluence on symposium reflecting on impacts of colonialism

Press Release

Apr 09, 2025

The University of Calgary and The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland have announced their partnership on The Confluence Symposium planned for Oct. 3, 4 and 5, 2025. The symposium is part of a larger event series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the North-West Mounted Police establishing Fort Calgary on the land at The Confluence in 1875.

As part of the partnership, UCalgary history professors Dr. Nancy Janovicek and Dr. George Colpitts have joined the Symposium Planning Committee and are helping determine symposium themes and select keynote presenters, session speakers and breakout session facilitators.

The Confluence president Jennifer Thompson said UCalgary’s partnership will provide added expertise, credibility and access to academic thought about history and the impacts of colonialism.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the University of Calgary to bring together scholars, community leaders, and Indigenous voices to reflect on the legacy of Fort Calgary,” said Thompson. “UCalgary’s involvement will deepen conversations about our past and inspire meaningful dialogue, education, and reflection. Together, we are planning the symposium to make big ideas accessible and connect community to diverse ways of understanding our history and our future.”

According to Dr. Aoife Mac Namara, dean of UCalgary’s Faculty of Arts, The Confluence Symposium presents an effective platform to reach community with broadened perspectives that will engage Calgarians in discussions that push beyond conventional narratives.

“At the University of Calgary, we recognize the importance of engaging with our shared histories—honestly, respectfully, and in relationship with community. Supporting The Confluence symposium is one way we can help hold space for that work. It’s an opportunity to listen, to learn, and to bring forward the diverse voices and perspectives that challenge and expand how we understand the past and its ongoing impacts,” says Mac Namara. “This kind of dialogue is central to the Faculty of Arts’ commitment to reconciliation, to thoughtful scholarship, and to building meaningful connections across communities. We’re honoured to be part of the conversation.”

Open call for symposium contributors

The call for symposium speakers and breakout session facilitators is open until May 12, 2025, and invites proposals from diverse backgrounds. Academics, community members, professionals, and even youth are all invited to apply with proposals to explore the impacts of post-confederation colonialism and modern expressions of colonial power.

“This event is for all community, so all community has the opportunity to submit ideas for making The Confluence Symposium a meaningful experience for everyone who attends,” said Thompson.

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