His mandate will be to continue to implement the third recommendation of the report submitted by the Working group on the Francophonie at the Faculty of Arts (only available in French).
Beddows, who is a full professor in the Department of Theatre, has contributed to the cultural sector in Canada and the international Francophonie for over 20 years by leading major structuring projects. Along with holding the Research Chair in Canadian Francophonie in cultural practices (2006 to 2016), he has served as: artistic and executive director of Théâtre la Catapulte (1998 to 2010); chair of the Department of Theatre (2011 to 2016), where he designed the first drama conservatory for the Canadian Francophonie; and artistic director and co-executive director of Toronto’s prestigious Théâtre français (2016 to 2021), among others. Recently, he helped found Transfrontaliers, an organization promoting international exchanges between Francophone artists around the world.
As stated in the Faculty of Arts Roadmap 2030, published in March 2018, the Francophonie lies at the heart of the Faculty’s work and identity. In October 2018, the dean of the Faculty of Arts launched a working group on the Francophonie made up of Faculty professors. The working group aims to recommend concrete actions to the Faculty Council that the Faculty could implement in the months and years following the report’s submission.
As Special Advisor, Beddows will work with members of the Faculty of Arts and our communities to improve and strengthen our French-language programs and courses. In addition, he will collaborate with the Francophonie research chairs and his Francophone colleagues to continue to build bridges with Francophone communities and bolster linguistic security and risk taking at the Faculty of Arts.
“Our commitment to the Francophonie, in all its diversity, both in Ontario and elsewhere, is a major source of pride for the Faculty. We are delighted that Professor Beddows will take on these responsibilities so that we can advance the working group’s mandate, which is to enrich and strengthen the French-language courses and programs we offer as well as the quality of the student experience in these courses and programs,” said Kevin Kee, dean of the Faculty of Arts.