York University Conference to Consider Pierre Elliott Trudeau's Just Society at 30: Promises Fulfilled or Legacy Plundered?

TORONTO, September 11, 1998 -- Thirty years ago, Pierre Elliott Trudeau introduced Canadians to the Just Society, a sweeping vision of a new, more commanding and compassionate country. To provide a commemorative and comprehensive examination of the man and the mood of those times, York University is hosting a conference Oct. 22-24, 1998, entitled The Trudeau Era -- Media, Politics and Culture.

The Trudeau Era will analyse the ideals and ambitions of that dynamic age, and place Trudeau's legacy in a political, historical and social context. The conference will seek to foster a fuller understanding of Canada's history and the possibilities of a new millennium.

"We will concern ourselves with the promise of Canada," says author Bruce Powe, Academic Advisor to Winters College at York University. "The purpose of the conference is to review and re-evaluate Pierre Trudeau, his aspirations and accomplishments, and to examine the political and cultural heritage of the Just Society. It's our ambition to re-ignite the debate about what liberalism means for Canada."

Among the invited speakers will be such noted scholars, journalists, and authors as keynote speaker Stephen Clarkson; Michael Bliss, Andrew Cohen, Carole Corbeil, Richard Gwyn, Derrick de Kerckhove, Mark Kingwell, Linda McQuaig, Kenneth McRoberts and CitÈ Libre editor Max Nemni.

Special guest participants include former Trudeau principal secretary Jim Coutts, former cabinet minister Hon. Iona Campagnolo, award-winning writer Ron Graham, actress Linda Griffiths of "Maggie and Pierre" fame, and York University President and former senator Dr. Lorna Marsden.

Addressing such topics as the competing visions of Canadian and French Canadian nationalism, speakers will also focus on Trudeau as a leader, a philosopher, an icon and as a catalytic figure of Canadian society. Journalists will have an opportunity to interview speakers during the conference.

The Trudeau Era will also serve as the launching pad for two new books following the keynote address Thursday evening. The Essential Trudeau, published by McClelland & Stewart and edited by Ron Graham, is a selection of excerpts from Trudeau's writings, speeches, and interviews -- many appearing for the first time in book form. It features introductory notes to each chapter and occasional commentary by Trudeau. Trudeau's Shadow, published by Random House Canada and edited by Andrew Cohen and J.L. Granatstein, is a collection of essays by leading Canadian writers, journalists, novelists, philosophers and former politicians.

The Trudeau Era is jointly sponsored by four York University colleges: Winters, Vanier, McLaughlin and Calumet, with support from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, the Departments of Political Science and English, the York University Bookstore, Offices of the President and Vice-Presidents, Canadian Studies, Random House, and McClelland & Stewart.

For ticket and agenda information, please visit the conference website at http://www.yorku.ca/org/pet, e-mail: trudeau@yorku.ca., or call Cecily Bahar at (416) 736-5493.

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For more information, please contact:

Bruce Powe
Winters College
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 77446
email: bpowe@yorku.ca

Patrick Gossage
President
Media Profile
(416) 504-8464

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca
YU/060/98