George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
In a historic first, George Brown College (GBC) is set to host the 94th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences from May 30 to June 6, 2025, marking the first time a college has hosted this prestigious annual event. In partnership with the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, GBC will welcome nearly 7,000 scholars, apprentices, students, policymakers, and community builders to its St. James and Waterfront campuses in downtown Toronto.
This landmark occasion represents more than just a venue change—it signifies a paradigm shift in academic collaboration, deliberately bridging the traditional divide between colleges and universities. The 2025 Congress promises to be a catalyst for transformative discourse through its commitment to inclusivity, diverse perspectives, and meaningful community engagement.
Honouring Indigenous presence and knowledge
Central to Congress 2025 is acknowledgment of and partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, on whose traditional territory the events will take place. GBC is honoured to host Chief Claire Sault, who will deliver remarks at the opening ceremony on May 30, with a blessing provided by Daniel Secord.
A highlight of the Congress will be the live exhibition by the Spring Creek Dancers on June 4, at GBC’s new mass-timber, net-zero building, Limberlost Place. This performance, featuring regional dances rooted in the land, represents more than cultural expression—it embodies the transfer of ancestral memory into contemporary presence.
"By centring Indigenous knowledge systems and nurturing genuine relationships with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, we are acknowledging that meaningful academic exchange must be grounded in respect for the land on which we gather and the traditional knowledge keepers of this territory,” explains Dr. Margrit Talpalaru, Academic Convenor for the 2025 Congress. “We are delighted to be able to feature the Spring Creek Dancers and honoured to welcome Chief Claire Sault to Congress this year.”
Amplifying Black voices and experiences
Aligned with GBC's commitment as an original signatory of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education, this Congress will feature programming centred on Black scholarship and community.
"Congress is a pivotal opportunity for GBC to centre Black intellectual traditions, applied practices, and community-rooted frameworks that have been historically excluded from academic spaces," said Mary Ola, Senior Manager of Black Futures Initiatives at George Brown College.
"We're not just creating networking opportunities—we’re cultivating spaces for collective action and community-led change that challenge institutional norms and create new pathways for Black flourishing
The "Black Researchers Chill and Chat" networking event, organized by Black Futures Initiatives in collaboration with the National Black Graduates Network, will create space for Black researchers to connect, engage in artifact creation, explore transformative pedagogies and methodologies.
Another notable session, "Queer Marronage as a Strategy for Black Liberation," will feature academics and artist-scholars exploring the intersection of queerness and marronage—originating from the historical act of enslaved people escaping and forming independent communities. This panel discussion will examine radical Black place-making and strategies for Black queer and trans liberation through the lens of resistance and community-building.
Celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
Coinciding with the beginning of Pride Month, GBC will host a vibrant kick-off celebration honouring Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and Aromantic (2SLGBTQIA+) communities. The event will showcase GBC 2SLGBTQIA+ students and feature activities designed to foster connection and celebration.
In a simple yet meaningful gesture toward inclusion, all Congress attendees will receive bilingual or blank pronoun stickers, created by GBC design students, upon registration, reaffirming the College's commitment to respecting diverse gender identities.
A new chapter in academic discourse
By bringing Congress to a college campus for the first time, GBC is not only making history but also modelling new possibilities for inclusive academic engagement. The programming reflects GBC's commitment to cross-cultural dialogue and creating spaces where diverse ways of learning, knowing, and being are valued.
As Congress 2025 approaches, these events serve as a testament to what is possible when institutions intentionally create space for voices that have historically been marginalized in academic settings, helping to reshape the landscape of academic discourse in Canada and beyond.
