News release details

Two dozen young adults from across Canada and France arrive at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) on Sunday for a week‐long immersion in École des droits (School of Rights), a partnership between the CMHR, the Institut international des droits de l'Homme et de la paix (2idhp) in Normandy, France and the Université de Saint‐Boniface (USB).

With the theme of diversity and inclusion, promoted as part of Canada 150 activities, the intensive program offered during École des droits is intended to generate cross‐cultural sharing and understanding, while helping the French‐speaking participants develop plans to take action for human rights. From February 18 to 25, 12 students from Canada and 12 from France will participate in classroom education, Museum programming, informal learning opportunities and enriching cultural activities.

St. Boniface‐St. Vital Member of Parliament Dan Vandal officially welcomes the students on Sunday with a question‐and‐answer session. The Consul General of France to Canada, Marc Trouyet, will travel from Toronto to host a session on Wednesday about diversity and inclusion.

Examples of other sessions include:

• USB Professor Maria Fernanda Arentsen speaking on battling stereotypes and working towards inclusion of the disability community.
• A theatre workshop by Yan Dallaire, coordinator of cultural activities at the USB.
• Professor Dominique Clément from the University of Alberta and Professor Catherine‐Amélie Chassin from the Université de Caen in France on principles of equality.
• Media personality Laura Lussier, actor and facilitator, on linguistic rights and inclusion.
• CMHR researcher‐curator Armando Perla on legal aspects of equality and inclusion.
• Visits to Festival du Voyageur and Fort Whyte Alive Centre.

For more information, and to arrange interviews (in French or English) and photo opportunities, please contact: 

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights. It is the first national museum in Canada to be built outside the National Capital Region. Using multimedia technology and other innovative approaches, the Museum creates inspiring encounters with human rights appropriate for all ages, in a visitor experience unlike any other.

The International Institute for Human Rights and Peace (in Caen, France) is a non‐profit association that works to promote and defend human rights, international humanitarian law and peaceful settlement of disputes.

Université de Saint‐Boniface is Western Canada's French‐language university, offering both university degree and college diploma programs that are personalized, of high quality, and that respond to the needs of students in educating the leaders of society.