Radical Readings: Anne Leahy, Renée Dupuis and Antigone, by Jean Anouilh
On March 14th 2016, the Research Chair in Legal Pluralism and Comparative Law had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Anne Leahy in the context of its final conference of the Radical Readings series for the year 2015-2016.
Commented by Me Renée Dupuis, Vice-President of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, this session enabled Professor Leahy to share with the audience the text that has most radically influenced her: Antigone, by Jean Anouilh.
Professor Leahy opened the conference with the following thought: “Antigone by Anouilh has always stayed with me. I studied Antigone at the Ursulines of Québec and it had struck me. What I remembered was a character who did not compromise, who was faithful to herself. As I reflect on it today, my adult perceptions are not the same as those I had back then.”
Listen to Professor Leahy’s and Me Dupuis’ conversation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF-ikywRvc&feature=youtu.be!
Born in Québec City, Professor Leahy trained as an economist and is a career diplomat who served as Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See (2008-2012), to Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan and Belarus (1996-1999), to Poland (1993-1996), and to Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic (1989-1992). She currently teaches the Catholic Social Thought course in McGill’s Catholic Studies programme. She has been honored multiple times and has been the recipient of many distinctions, including an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of St. Thomas in Fredericton, NB (2010), the Women’s Y Foundation of Montreal/Advancement of Women Award (2004), and the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (1996).
Me Dupuis has devoted her career as a lawyer to defend First Nations rights. During her six-year tenure as President of the Indian Specific Claims Commission, she has contributed to the transformation of this federal institution in an independent tribunal. Me Dupuis is currently Vice-President of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse. She was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2005. In June 2012, Me Dupuis was awarded the Quebec Bar Medal (the Bar’s highest honour) and received an honorary doctorate of law from Laval University.
The Radical Readings series hosts personalities from the academic, artistic, political and journalistic world in order to discuss the text that has most radically influenced their way of thinking and their personal journey. The Radical Readings series will resume during academic year 2016-2017.
[huge_it_slider id=”18″]
