
February 4, 2025 – The second Charlottetown Forum will explore topics that are top of mind for people in Canada, including healthcare, climate change, and restoring dialogue in polarizing times.
Meeting at Confederation Centre of the Arts next to the site of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the Charlottetown Forum seeks to promote open learning and sharing of diverse perspectives about important issues in Canada. The Forum is part of the Centre’s revitalization plan, which includes the creation of a national cultural leadership institute housing new spaces for public discourse, the creation of art, and cultural learning.
The inaugural Charlottetown Forum took place in 2023 and featured discussions on immigration, economic reconciliation, and finding shared national narratives in a fractured time. The second edition will explore new topics, with discussions led by experts, artists, and leaders in journalism, healthcare, and climate advocacy.
“This year’s Forum will provide a space for these conversations in an arts context, with each discussion including at least one artistic or cultural perspective,” says Francesca Perez, the Centre’s director of arts education and heritage. “The schedule will also include complementary programming from the Centre, such as a thematic exploration of the Art Gallery, a choral music workshop, and a historic tour of downtown Charlottetown.”
Forum speakers will include Owais Lightwala, professor, artistic producer, and tech entrepreneur; Stephanie Arnold, climate specialist at CLIMAtlantic; P.E.I. Poet Laureate Tanya Davis; and Dr. Megan Miller, P.E.I.’s first chief physician recruiter.
“At a time of increasing divisiveness, Confederation Centre has a duty to provide opportunities for meaningful discussion so that people in Canada can make real progress on real issues,” says Centre CEO Steve Bellamy. “The Charlottetown Forum is an occasion for listening to experts and leaders and considering multiple perspectives on important issues. We are welcoming an impressive group of speakers from several provinces and are thrilled to be hosting these engaging conversations.”
The 2025 Charlottetown Forum will be held at Confederation Centre of the Arts on May 23 and 24. Passes are on sale now to Centre members, and to the public on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Student pricing is available.
For more information or to purchase a pass, visit confederationcentre.com/charlottetownforum, or contact the Centre’s box office via phone at 1-800-565-0278.
2025 CHARLOTTETOWN FORUM PANELS
Restoring Dialogue in an Age of Polarization
In an era of growing polarization, unreliable information, and the clash between opinions and facts, how can we engage in meaningful discussions on issues that impact us all? Panellists will explore the diminishing practice of civic discourse and offer insights on how we can rebuild dialogue and foster collaboration in society.
Panellists:
• Sabreena Delhon, CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy (ON)
• Owais Lightwala, professor, artistic producer, and tech entrepreneur (ON)
Additional speakers for this panel to be announced at a later date.
Responding to Climate Change
As a small island on Canada’s East Coast, Prince Edward Island is uniquely positioned to experience the immediate impacts of climate change. This panel will bring together Islanders to explore the pressing issues of rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and coastal erosion. With a focus on artistic responses, the discussion will highlight how creative practices on PEI are engaging with these environmental challenges, reflecting the island’s climate realities, and inspiring action. Through art, Islanders are not only documenting the changes but also shaping conversations around climate resilience and sustainability, both locally and globally.
Panellists:
• Stephanie Arnold, PEI Climate Specialist for CLIMAtlantic (PE)
• Kim Griffin, Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Communications at Maritime Electric (PE)
• Melissa Peter-Paul, award-winning quill artist from Lennox Island (PE)
Moderator: Anna Keenan, Sustainable Transportation Officer for the City of Charlottetown and climate advocate
A Collective Approach to Canadian Healthcare
This panel brings together four doctors from across Canada to discuss the systemic challenges that affect equitable care, and how the arts can contribute to a more holistic approach to care. Join us for an insightful conversation on how we can improve healthcare access and outcomes for all Canadians by bridging disciplines and thinking beyond traditional solutions.
Panellists:
• Dr. Paula Cashin, Mi’kmaw physician whose advocacy work looks at systemic barriers that prevent equity-seeking groups from entering the medical profession (NL)
• Dr. Megan Miller, P.E.I.’s first chief physician recruiter and palliative care physician (PE)
• Dr. Eberhard Renner, former head of the liver transplant program at Toronto General Hospital, retired professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba, artist (MB)
Moderator: Dr. Jillian Horton, award-winning medical educator, writer, musician, and podcaster (MB)
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Media Contact:
Emily McMahon, Communications Manager, Confederation Centre of the Arts
[email protected] | 902-628-6135