Franco-Ontarian Supreme Court Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin named honorary president of 91st ACFAS conference

Justice O’Bonsawin’s dedication to the Francophonie and knowledge sharing makes her an ideal honorary president for this signature gathering of top researchers and members of the next generation of French-language scientists.

Born in the small Francophone town of Hanmer in northern Ontario and an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation, O’Bonsawin has strong ties with the University of Ottawa, of which she is a proud alumna. Besides having taught Indigenous law at uOttawa, she sat on the University’s Board of Governors and on the Board of Directors of Indigenous Legal Services at the Legal Aid Clinic.

O’Bonsawin has had an exceptional career spanning more than two decades. She is especially interested in mental health law and the Gladue principles, which address Indigenous overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. Her interests align perfectly with the ACFAS conference, a forum for discussion on recent discoveries that relate to major issues in society.

“We are absolutely delighted to have Justice O’Bonsawin as honorary president of the 91st ACFAS conference. Her personal and professional background makes her an exceptional ambassador, not only for access to justice, but also for knowledge dissemination—the crux of our mission and that of ACFAS,” said University of Ottawa president and vice-chancellor Jacques Frémont.
 

In this era of normalization of disinformation, a strong and proud Francophone scholarly culture is needed, thus the choice of knowledge mobilization in French as the theme of this major scholarly gathering.

O’Bonsawin enthusiastically agreed to serve as honorary president, as she says ACFAS conventions are a springboard for Francophone researchers, amplifying their research. In her view, in a knowledge-based economy such as ours, disseminating Francophone research outcomes is now more important than ever:

“The way I see it, promoting knowledge in French also fits within the broader context of promoting other linguistic minorities in Canada, including First Nations. It’s a noble undertaking, and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

“It’s a great privilege to welcome Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin to our 2024 conference,” said Sophie Montreuil, ACFAS executive director. “This tireless pioneer embodies an ideal for researchers across the country, and particularly for those in minority settings. A leading figure in the Indigenous community and a woman belonging to many groups, she is the living proof that our diverse identities can co-exist and flourish in contact with one another.”

The 91st annual ACFAS conference will be held on the uOttawa campus from May 13 to 17, 2024. More than 6,000 attendees from across Canada and abroad are expected on campus for the event, the first time ACFAS has come to the nation’s capital since 2009.

More than 200 symposia, hundreds of contributed papers and scholarly outreach activities will be taking place over the week of the conference, enabling scholars to share their recent discoveries. The University of Ottawa will be capitalizing on this prestigious event to highlight the richness and diversity of its scholars and the next generation of Francophone researchers.

Registration for the 91st ACFAS convention is now on. See the convention program for more information about the numerous topics to be discussed.
 

ACFAS has been central to the great endeavour of francophone scholarship in Canada for the past 100 years. With a strong focus on the future, ACFAS is a powerful vector for democratization and scholarly communication. It shines a spotlight on researchers across all disciplines, and on excellence in research.

Rooted in our bilingual and Francophone DNA, we live at a crossroads of many cultures. Located in Canada’s capital, a gateway to the world, we use our unique platform to respond with energy, creativity and impact to the global challenges and opportunities our world offers. With an active focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, we will thrive like never before.