The Vanier Institute for the Family is celebrating 50 years of research and change. It all began in 1964, when then Governor General, Georges Vanier and his wife Paulilne, held a conference on the family, and out of that, the institute was created.
In keeping with their example, the Institute held a conference over the last two days, to celebrate the milestone anniversary, and to look to the future and the changing make-up of Canadian families.
What do we know about families today, and what can we learn about families from the past to build opportunities for families in the future?
The mission of the institute is “to understand families in Canada, family life and family experience, expectations and aspirations. We are dedicated to understanding how families interact with, have an impact on and are affected by social, economic, environmental and cultural forces.”
Family is…. love, care and support (and annoying, confusing and frustrating said several young people)
Nora Spinks is the CEO of the Vanier. She said, beginning with Susan Aglukark singing the opening song, a beautiful rendition of her hit, O Siem, an ode to the global family, music was a theme running through the conference. Spinks described the resilience today: “Families may break apart, families may struggle, families may not be able to express that love, or may express it in a very negative way but in fact it really is a core to who we are as human beings and who we are as families in Canada.”
ListenFamilies are unconditional in their love.
George and Pauline Vanier were the parents of Jean Vanier, the man who established L’Arche, the organization that provides a family setting to intellectually challenged people in many locations around the world.
Meanwhile, the spirit of reconciliation that is being nurtured in Canada these days, was evident at the conference when Phil Fontaine, Former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Archbishop Emeritus of Winnipeg, James Wiesgerber,, shared their story of beginning as adversaries and becoming blood brothers today.
Wouldn’t it be great if…
Andrew Solomon, was the keynote speaker. He is the American author of, ‘Far from the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity’, which the New York Times describes as, “a book everyone should read… there’s no one who wouldn’t be a more imaginative and understanding parent – or human being – for having done so… a wise and beautiful book.” An advocate of LGBT rights, and a father in a same-sex marriage, he is at the vanguard of the new reality of family life, one that is part of the social fabric of Canada in this new millenium.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.