Lecture Series
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Tuesday, May 15th at 7:30PM
The Founding and Development of St. James Anglican Church in Paris -
Tuesday, June 12th at 7:30PM
The Struggle for Civil and Political Rights in Canada from WWI to the Present
Is planning and building a church a simple procedure? It certainly wasn't for St. James Anglican Church. Steve Pinkett and Marg Deans will take you back to the 1830's.
Enjoy a humourous journey through the complications caused by the challenges of the earliest days in Paris and the drama between two of the leading proponents.
Over the years from the early 20th century till well after World War II, numerous cases of political and religious discrimination occurred as a result of both federal and provincial
governmental bigotry. Women, labour organizations, various ethnic and racial groups and a number of religious movements suffered. Thus a strong movement for an embedded bill of
rights on the American model developed particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s.
This was led, rather surprisingly, by the unpopular Jehovah's Witnesses. Eventually, under the John Diefenbaker government, it brought
the enactment of the Canadian Bill of Rights which was not embedded, and under the Pierre Trudeau
government, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which was embedded in the Canadian Constitution. But the struggle for freedom of speech and due process of law in Canadian courts still goes on.
Hosts for the Lecture Series will be Eric Gibson, Marg Deans, Steve Pinkett and James Penton.
Eric Gibson:
Originally from Wales, Eric studied engineering at Derby College of Technology in Derby, England before emigrating to Canada. Most of his career was spent in the aircraft engine business, mainly as a designer. Eric has a long-time interest in local history; he is a life member of Heritage Mississauga with whom he volunteered for more than 30 years and is a past-president of Mississauga South Historical Society. Among his other interests are photography, philately and, being Welsh, choral singing.
James Penton:
James Penton, PhD is a native of Saskatchewan who has taught history and religious studies at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Northern Michigan University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge. He now holds the position of Professor Emeritus at the University of Lethbridge. He has written four books and many articles published in scholarly publications. Some of his works have been translated into German, Portuguese, and Spanish. At present he is working on a book on the persecution of religious communities in Canada. He has also served as a Metis elder and is a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario.
Marg Deans:
Marg Deans is a long-time member of the Paris Museum and Historical Society. Always interested in preserving the history of the community, her passion is genealogy and research.
Steve Pinkett:
Steve Pinkett is an architectural graduate who has worked as a building contractor and consultant and as a building official for the County of Brant. He is a County of Brant Heritage Committee member, a County of Brant Community Improvement Plan committee member and a member of the research team at the Paris Museum and Historical Society.
Location:
The Paris Museum & Historical Society,Syl Apps Community Centre,
51 William Street,
Paris, Ontario.
(Enter directly from the parking lot)
Directions
Admission to lectures is free. Donations would be appreciated.
