International Conference on Urban Space and Social Life
Date: June 28-30, 2025
Venues: Indigenous Learning and Sharing Center, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
An International Conference to Sudbury to Learn about Sudbury's Success in Environmental and Cultural Restoration
The Sudbury community is invited to participate in the opening ceremony and cultural performances of the International Conference on Urban Space and Social Life
June 28, 9:30am - 12:00pm
Laurentian University’s Indigenous Learning and Sharing Center in Sudbury
Co-organized by the 4C5M Studio, the Centre for Sustainable Business at Toronto's International Business University, and the Nature Positive Universities Committee at Laurentian University, this international conference aims to bring researchers, practitioners and community members together to explore how the diverse ways of knowing can inform sustainable responses to today's pressing challenges.
This annual conference has been held all over the world. It is returning home to Canada this year because of Sudbury's internationally renowned success in environmental restoration and Laurentian University's commitment to environmental education and Indigenous cultural reclamation.
The opening ceremony will include a keynote speech by Dr. John Gunn, distinguished scientist, and former director of the Living with Lakes Center. As a celebration, there will be a multicultural performance beginning with Indigenous ceremony led by Will Morin, then featuring the Jinyu Dance Group from Toronto, Finnish choral singing led by Antti Saari, and Sudbury's virtuoso pianist Dr. Charlene Biggs.
Fun facts:
Some of the delegates from Toronto and other metropolitan areas will enjoy attending their first Pow Wow at Dokis First Nation as part of the conference's program.
The organizers want to promote educational Indigenous tourism for environmental knowledge and have been studying Sudbury for two years.
On the business side, part of the interest in this conference is to learn about "green bonds" -- something new to Toronto, Canada that started only in March 2022.
