Donna Brazile, Céline Galipeau, Mark Kingwell, Nancy Huston and Robert Darnton among the leading voices to address Canada's largest academic gathering

Montreal - April 29, 2010 - Top researchers in the humanities and social sciences will converge on Montreal next month when Concordia University plays host to Canada's largest annual multidisciplinary academic conference.

"Our disciplines are attacking the major issues of our time - generating knowledge and understanding of our environment, economy, politics, culture and human behaviour," says Noreen Golfman, President of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. "Congress brings together researchers from across the country and around the world to debate critical issues and discuss their work. It is also an important opportunity to connect users of research with some of today's best academic  talent."

Organized by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences brings together thousands of scholars, students, practitioners and policy makers in a different city each year to share innovative ideas and enrich their research. Congress 2010 will feature a marquee line-up of keynote speakers including Donna Brazile, former strategist for Al Gore; Robert Darnton, a leading voice on the digital future of knowledge; Mark Kingwell, one of Canada's top thinkers on democracy; Céline Galipeau, respected journalist and Radio-Canada anchor; Nancy Huston, renowned writer and translator; and Lawrence Hill, one of Canada's best-known literary powerhouses.

"Concordia's multilingual reality and cultural diversity will bring an added dimension to Congress," says Judith Woodsworth, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia. "For the first time, simultaneous translation will be provided for all of the keynote speeches. We approached four of our sister institutions in Montreal who eagerly agreed to co-sponsor this initiative with Concordia and the Federation."

The  79^th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences takes place from May 28 - June 4 2010.   The full Congress program can now be found online at www.congress2010.ca.

As part of the Congress program, Concordia University is organizing a series of events highlighting local arts, culture and research talent. Visit www.concordia.ca/congress2010/concordiaactivities to access the full program.

For more information, interview requests or media accreditation, contact:

Ryan Saxby Hill
Media Relations
Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
email
613-238-6112 ext 303
613-894-7635 (mobile)

Christine Mota
Media Relations
Concordia University
chris.mota@concordia.ca
phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 4884