Conference theme
The City as a Place of Belonging
Cities are places where people converge — to live, to learn, to work, to dream, and to build futures together. Yet the experience of belonging in the city is unevenly distributed. For many, urban spaces offer opportunity, safety, and community; for others, they present barriers shaped by history, policy, and inequity. The City as a Place of Belonging invites us to examine how cities can become environments where all people feel recognized, valued, and at home.
Hosted on Treaty One Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis, this conference begins by grounding participants in the responsibilities and relationships that come with being guests on Indigenous lands.
This context frames our central question:
- What does it mean to belong in a city, and how can we collectively shape urban spaces that honour diverse identities, histories, and aspirations?
Conference Program
November 24 to 27, 2026
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
At the Winnipeg Art Gallery: Registration for participants followed by an opening address by Professor Niigaan Sinclair and an opening dinner.
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
The day will begin with the official opening of the conference, followed by a keynote presentation on the role of the university in the city and the first plenary panel. The afternoon will highlight a presentation on housing challenges, followed by breakout sessions. The day will then conclude with a networking reception at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Thursday, November 26, 2026
The day will focus on themes of belonging, equity, and home in the urban context. It will open with a plenary presentation on building inclusive cities for newcomers, followed by breakout sessions addressing homelessness, reproductive health, sustainability, and creative practice. In the afternoon, a plenary panel in a storytelling format will explore urban Indigenous–settler relations, followed by an informal conversation aimed at reshaping narratives around homelessness. The day will conclude with a keynote and closing dinner at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, as well as a closing ceremony led by an Elder.
Friday, November 27, 2026
Participants will leave following breakfast.
SPEAKERS and moderators
meet the speakers
Want to know more about the experts who will be leading the conference? Their diversity, their thought-provoking ideas, and their contributions in their respective fields promise an inspiring and stimulating event.
