The University of Ottawa made a signal contribution to the Entretiens du Centre Jacques Cartier, held in December 2005 in Lyon, France.
Established in 1987, the Entretiens (“conversations”) alternate annually between Lyon and Quebec. The event is attended by some 600 researchers, academics and representatives of the economic, financial, political and cultural communities from both sides of the Atlantic.
One of the best-attended seminars, on secularism in public affairs, was organized by Danièle Letocha, professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy. Letocha was able to secure the participation of Iranian-born lawyer and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. It was also at Letocha’s suggestion that Université Jean Moulin in Lyon awarded an honorary doctorate to Ebadi.
University of Ottawa researchers also took part in the seminar, in particular Guy Lafrance, from the Department of Philosophy, and Joseph-Yvon Thériault, director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Citizenship and Minorities, along with former professor Sylvain Simard, now a PQ member of the Quebec National Assembly.
Also on the European scene, the appointment of University Chancellor Huguette Labelle to head Transparency International caused a stir, not least in the pages of the Paris daily, Le Monde, which published a profile of Labelle in its December 8, 2005 issue.
