We Are Not The Others: Stories of Integration

Presented by: Peterborough Immigration Partnership, New Canadians Centre, and WUSC-Trent in partnership with the Department of International Development Studies at Trent University

Reception & Light Dinner (6:00 – 6:30pm)

WUSC at Trent Documentary (6:30 – 7:00 pm)

Earlier this year, Trent University’s World University Service of Canada (WUSC) student refugee program was honoured as the Local Committee of the Year. The award recognises the student-led group’s achievements in recruiting, supporting, and transitioning student refugees into university and Canadian life. The Local Committee of Trent WUSC developed a documentary which highlights the experiences of student refugees in Peterborough and the role the organisation plays in supporting the education and transition of these students. The documentary aims to put a human face on refugees by highlighting the challenges, successes, and rewards of refugee integration.

We Are Not The Others performance (7:00 – 8:00 pm)

McMaster University Associate Professor of Social Work, Dr. Mirna Carranza collaborated with Toronto based, Persian-Canadian playwright Izad Etemadi to explore the experiences many newcomer women face in Canada. Based on a two-year research project by Dr. Carranza on the intersections between immigration, integration, trauma, and mental health, We Are Not The Others highlights the experiences of immigration, trauma, loss, mental health, assimilation, resiliency, disappointment, and hope for a better life in Canada.

Cast of “We Are Not The Others,” Rashaan Cumberbatch, Heath V. Salazar, Sima Sepehri, and Angela Sun

Created by Izad Etemadi & Dr. Mirna Carranza

Directed by Izad Etemadi

Cast: Nickeshia Garrick, Heath V Salazar and Angela Sun

Panel Discussion (8:00 – 9:00 pm)

Moderated by Dr. Colleen O’Manique, Associate Professor, International Development Studies & Gender and Women’s Studies (Trent University)

Panelists:

Clifford McCarten, McCarten Wallace Law

Emmanuel Gasore, Trent University Student

Dr. David Firang, Professor of Social Work (Trent University)

Dr. Carmen Teeple Hopkins, Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies (Trent University)

Dr. Mirna Carranza, Associate Professor of Social Work (McMaster University)

Sponsored by Trent University Departments of Political Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Master’s Program in Sustainability, School of Business, Office of the Deans of Arts & Sciences, Office of the Provost, Trent Central Student Association, and Peter Gzowski College.