– Aaleya Waslat, staff

Wilfrid Laurier University is giving back to the community through a new intimate and engaging method that allows professors to speak with community members and create a public dialogue about important topics.

The Brantford Public Library is offering the first-ever “Laurier Brantford Lecture Series” to promote public discussion. Wilfrid Laurier University has partnered with the Brantford Public Library and together they hope to encourage community members and students to join public dialogues and share their knowledge of important topics as presented by the faculty of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Irene Tencing, a librarian who attended Dr. Robert Feagan’s lecture about local food says that, “the lecture was very interesting and the interaction between Dr. Robert Feagan and the participants was very comfortable and informative.”

Tencing says that the topics presented by the faculty include something of interest to people of all ages.

Feagan is a research partner with the Federal Bureau of Agriculture, which focuses on raising awareness about the food grown in the Brant Region.

Paula Thomlison, Manager of the Marketing and Communications and Development Department of Brantford Public Library, knows that Brantford has changed and will continue to change because of the university.

“The partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University and the Brantford Public Library works very well”. Thomlison hopes to highlight some intellectuals in the university and invites everyone to join the lectures.

Laurier professors prepare these lectures voluntarily and there is no charge to participate in the discussions.

“We welcome anyone who has interest in learning and sharing their knowledge. We try to plan the lectures according to the market of interest for students and for adults,” Thomlinson said.

Dr. Feagan emphasized that Thomlison, “recognizes the fact that a library is a place of information and knowledge and I like to take the responsibility to share my knowledge and my research with as many people as possible.”

The Brantford community will have the opportunity to get together with students as well as meet with the faculty of the university. The discussions within the lectures will be broad and reach a wider horizon.

The final lecture was held Monday. Dr. Kathryn Carter discussed Thomas Cowherd, who was a Canadian tinsmith and poet and associate of Alexander Graham Bell.