Round Square International Conference
By Abigayle Strano ’21
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the Round Square International Conference which was hosted by Lower Canada College in Montreal. The theme of the conference was Bring Your Difference! There is something very special about being in a room with people from all over the world.
The first day of the conference was spent getting to know the other delegates through interactive activities and meeting my “billet mom” and my roommate, from Georgia, USA. We went out for ice cream that night and it was delicious. To say I felt welcome in their home would be an understatement. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
Each morning the conference began with a keynote speaker, followed by small group discussion. We discussed culture, gender equality and sexuality. The afternoons were spent doing interactive activities, community service and sightseeing in Montreal.
Day two began with the opening ceremony, and Wade Davis was the keynote speaker. Davis is an ethnobotanist, adventurer, author and professor of anthropology at the University of British Columbia and he gave a vivid account of his decades of world travel and his experience with different cultures. He spoke about how cultures are fading for different reasons and touched on the example of Indigenous cultures and residential schools. One of his most memorable quotes was that, despite how we might view them deep down, people of different cultures are not simply “failed attempts at becoming us.” We later discussed the topics he had raised in small, mixed discussion groups called barazas. Baraza is a Swahili word meaning a “council” or “meeting place.”
The next day, Dr. Amal Elsana Alh’Jooj’s keynote address was about gender equality. She shared her story of what it was like growing up as a young woman within Israel’s Bedouin culture that did not value females. Her determination to overcome obstacles and pursue higher education and a career - she is now Executive Director of McGill University’s International Community Action Network - was inspiring. In the afternoon, we went to Moisson Montreal, the largest food bank in Canada, to do some community service. My group worked together labelling jars for soup.
On the fourth day of the conference, Lisa Dazols’ keynote address was about her experience as a gay woman in today’s society. Dazols shared a film she created with her wife, called “Out & Around”, in which they traveled throughout the world to interview prominent activists, or “super gays” as she called them. When we discussed LGBTQ issue and rights in small groups I was shocked to hear delegates describe the beliefs held about LGBTQ in their various countries. They seemed to be very different from their own personal beliefs, which were much more accepting.
All of the delegates explored Old Montreal and ate at various cafes for coffee and pastries. I was surprised by the European feel of Old Montreal, with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings and cathedrals.
We then stayed at Jouvence, a family camp in Mount Orford National Park, where we stayed in cabins, went canoeing, hiked and enjoyed other traditional camp activities.
Leaving camp on Tuesday was bittersweet as we still had one day left in the conference, but we knew the fantasy world we had been living in the past few days was coming to an end. The theme for the closing ceremony was “Culture Night.” Many delegates performed traditional songs and dances which were very different from those in Canada. They all had colourful costumes - particularly those from Round Square Schools in India - and some sang in different languages.
Looking back, I would absolutely recommend attending a Round Square Conference to any student who might be interested in the future. I had the opportunity to meet people my age from all around the world and to have really meaningful discussions. It was so interesting to learn what was considered the “norm” in other cultures compared to Canada. I explored an amazing city and had incredible experiences, participating in community service and outdoor adventures. This conference has really sparked my interest in exploring different cultures, meeting new people, maintaining an open-mind and accepting others’ differences. Best of all, I made some wonderful new friends. At the beginning of the week, when I began meeting new people, I had no idea how difficult it would be to say goodbye in just a few short days.
Read Making Global Connections - Pre-Conference Tour: South African Visitors Experience the Lakefield difference online
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We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.
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