After two years of social distancing, scholars, students, and community members came together for the 13th annual Centre for Interdisciplinary Justice Studies (CIJS) conference hosted at The University of Winnipeg. This year’s theme, Consuming Justice, created a lively dialogue about how justice intersects with food, media, research, Indigenous struggles, colonialism, sex, and contesting the police.
This conference allowed me to meet academics from across the world who specialize in what I am interested in.
Janae Dandewich
This year’s conference attracted scholars and community members from Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Scotland, and France.
“Many of the participants are first-time visitors to this conference from places all over the world and Canada,” said Dr. Katharina Maier, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice. “It was a great opportunity to make connections and share interdisciplinary research on important themes of environmental justice, green justice, food security, human rights, and more.”
Presenters engaging in a lively dialogue on Power and Politics: Challenges and Barriers to Researching the Winnipeg ‘John School’.
Five keynote speakers gave thought-provoking talks on Canadian policies on the treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy, lessons learned from the regulation of alcohol and gambling over COVID-19, the negative impacts of prison farm programs, and the intersection of agriculture development in the 21’st century and antiquated policies.
In addition, 32 individual paper presentations were delivered by scholars, students, and public advisors on a wide array of issues from food injustice in long-term care and prisons, to barriers in data gathering within our hometown of Winnipeg.
Attendees engaged in Vanessa Slater’s presentation titled: From Retribution of Restoration: Emotionally Intelligent Approaches To The Law.
In the evening, participants had the opportunity to discuss the topics further with colleagues and friends at a networking event at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
“It’s nice to be able to see people again. We are excited to be back in person and to eat, drink, and connect with one another.” Said Janae Dandewich, a conference volunteer and graduate student in the Department of Criminal Justice. “This conference allowed me to meet academics from across the world who specialize in what I am interested in.”
CIJS is now working on developing next year’s theme fulfilling its mission of “commitment to public and community education in law and justice issues outside of the professional school environment.”
Learn more about CIJS and view our Flickr album to look back on the recent Consuming Justice conference.
