Trent University
MyTrent
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
    • Trent Online
    • Summer Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Study Abroad
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Timetable
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Academic Advising
    • Library
    • Centre for Teaching and Learning
  • Admissions
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Services & Support
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Administrative Departments
    • Alumni Services
    • Athletics
    • Campus Security
    • Careerspace
    • Colleges
    • Communications
    • Conferences
    • Financial Aid
    • Financial Services
    • Health & Wellness
    • Indigenous Services
    • Information Technology
    • International Students
    • Learning Support
    • Parking
    • Printshop
    • Recruitment
    • Registrar's Office
    • Residence & Housing
    • Student Clubs
    • TrentU Card
  • Research
    • Research at Trent
    • Research Centres
    • Find an Expert
    • Resources
  • Give to Trent
  • About Trent
    • About Trent
    • Careers
    • Giving to Trent
    • Governance
    • How to Find Us
    • Media
    • News & Events
    • President's Office
    • Staff Directory
    • Trent Facts
    • Contact Us
  • Campus Locations
    • Peterborough
    • Durham GTA
    • Online
  • Future Students
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • Trent Forward: COVID-19 Info
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Give
  • Map
  • Careers
  • Directions
  • Library
  • Site Map
  • Bookstore
Skip to main content Home
  • Peterborough
  • Durham GTA
  • Online
  • MyTrent
MENU
Trent University

Gender & Social Justice

  • Welcome
  • The Experience
  • Program
  • Faculty & Research
  • Community
  • Contact
A sketch of multiple different people walking with a white background

Gender & Social Justice

  • Welcome
  • The Experience
  • Program
  • Faculty & Research
  • Community
    • Gender and Women's Studies Statement on BLM and State-Sanctioned Racism
    • News & Events
      • Margaret Laurence Lecture Series
        • 2020 Lecture: Cherie Dimaline
        • 2017 Lecture: Dawn Lavell-Harvard
        • 2015 Lecture: Martha Friendly
        • 2014 Lecture: Audrey Macklin
        • 2011 Fall Lecture: Rosemary Ganley
        • 2011 Winter Lecture: Roberta Jamieson
        • 2009 Lecture: Marina Nemat
        • 2008 Lecture: Jane Urquhart
        • 2007 Lecture: Eden Robinson
    • Alumni
  • Contact
TRENTU.CA / Gender & Social Justice / Community / News & Events / Margaret Laurence Lecture Series

Margaret Laurence Lecture Series

History of the Margaret Laurence Lecture Series

a black and white photo of Margaret LaurenceThe Margaret Laurence Lecture is an annual lecture in honour of Margaret Laurence, organized by the Gender & Social Justice Department, and funded by a combination of a generous endowment from the Bennett Family Foundation and matching funds from the Canadian Studies Directorate, Heritage Canada (formerly the Canadian Studies Programs, Secretary of State). The founding Chair of the Gender and Women's Studies Department, Prof. Christl Verduyn was instrumental in helping to raise the matching funds which now constitutes the funding base for the lectures. This annual lecture honours Trent's fourth chancellor, and acknowledges her contributions to literature, feminism, ecology, and the peace movement. Margaret Laurence lived in nearby Lakefield.

The establishment of this lecture funding was announced by former President Donald Theall in a memo to the University's Senate on 14th May 1987. The first lecture was held in the 1987/88 academic year. The inaugural Margaret Laurence Lecture was delivered on Thursday, 10 March 1988 at 8:00pm by writer Adele Wiseman, long time friend and colleague of Margaret Laurence to open the "Tribute to Margaret" which was organized by the Chair of English Department (Prof. Orm Mitchell) and Chair of Canadian Studies Department (Prof. John Wadland) to honour her memory.

The Canadian Studies Department at Trent generously offered to assume the expenses involved in bringing the first Margaret Laurence speaker to Trent as the funds proceeding from the Bennett foundation were not operational before 1988-89. The original poster for the tribute and the lectures was designed by the famous Canadian artist, Harold Town who was a friend of Margaret Laurence. This lecture is intended to bring a distinguished speaker to Trent to address a topic related to Laurence's interests (in particular peace, ecology, literature, and feminism). Traditionally, a dinner with invited guests from the university and the community precedes the lecture, and a free public reception follows. 

The Margaret Laurence Lecture Committee is responsible for advertising for nominations selecting and inviting the speaker, and for making all necessary arrangements for the speaker's visit including arranging accommodation and advertising the lecture, dinner and reception arrangements to name a few. The Committee originally consisted of the Chairs (or delegates) of Gender and Women's Studies (Chair of the Committee), Canadian Studies, Environmental Resource Studies, English, Project Ploughshares and Trent Student Pugwash.

Check out the full list of speakers who have delivered the Margaret Laurence Lecture.

Community

  • Gender and Women's Studies Statement on BLM and State-Sanctioned Racism
  • News & Events
    • Margaret Laurence Lecture Series
      • 2020 Lecture: Cherie Dimaline
      • 2017 Lecture: Dawn Lavell-Harvard
      • 2015 Lecture: Martha Friendly
      • 2014 Lecture: Audrey Macklin
      • 2011 Fall Lecture: Rosemary Ganley
      • 2011 Winter Lecture: Roberta Jamieson
      • 2009 Lecture: Marina Nemat
      • 2008 Lecture: Jane Urquhart
      • 2007 Lecture: Eden Robinson
  • Alumni

Related Links

  • Canadian Studies
  • English
  • International Development Studies
  • Political Studies
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
Trent University logo
Challenge the Way You Think

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

Peterborough

1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough, ON Canada, K9L 0G2

Toll Free: 1-855-MY-TRENT

Campus Map

Durham Greater Toronto Area

55 Thornton Road South
Oshawa, ON Canada, L1J 5Y1

Phone: 905-435-5100

Campus Map

Social Media Directory
  • Contact
  • Directions
  • Site Map
  • Accessibility
  • @ Copyright 2023 Trent University