3 - 5 p.m. | Opening remarks and guest panel discussion
Hybrid event | Harriet Irving Library | Research Commons Event Space | 3rd floor, room 318
Register to attend
The conference will open with a panel discussion featuring students, staff, faculty, and community members. The panel discussion will focus on our theme "Learning through community: Collaborative approaches to creating and knowing".
Connor Blanchard, UNB Faculty of Arts student
Connor Blanchard: Creatively engaged and remindful of his roots, Connor Blanchard is a proud French-Acadian to the core. With a lengthy background in daytime radio, talk-show spaces, and in committing to any trivia-related competition, he carries a host’s essence in various ways.
Through his community experience in Shediac with Radio Beauséjour/CJSE and now in Fredericton with C-médias, he seeks to bring levity on the air waves.
Currently in his 2nd year at UNB, he has his sights on a double major in Film and French in the Faculty of Arts. Hailing from far from his native city of Moncton, New Brunswick, once again, Connor Blanchard.
Matthew Gwathmey, UNB Department of English
Matthew Gwathmey lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on Wolastoqey Territory. He has published three poetry collections: Our Latest in Folktales (Brick Books, 2019); Tumbling for Amateurs (Coach House Books, 2023); and Family Band (The Porcupine’s Quill, 2024).
He is a professor at both the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.
Nish Kutty, UNB Faculty of Arts student
Nish Kutty is an international student from India pursuing an Honours in Media Arts and Cultures with a minor in Business at the University of New Brunswick.
Passionate about advocacy, she is actively involved in community initiatives and diversity efforts, working to create empowering spaces. With experience in resource building, project management, outreach, engagement and support work, she strives to make meaningful, real-world impacts through her work.
Outside of work, she is a multidisciplinary artist who uses their craft — whether through writing, music, design, or media — to express herself freely and connect with others. Rooted in her values and lived experience, she aims to combine her creative and strategic abilities to make the world a more vibrant and inclusive place for everyone.
Emily Paul, UNB Faculty of Arts student
Emily Paul (she/her) is a fourth-year student doing a Joint Honours in Law and Society with Criminology. Born and raised in Oromocto, Emily has always called the University of New Brunswick her home.
Emily's academic interests include critical sociolegal studies and reconciling our nation at the individual and institutional levels, which she plans to bring into her post-graduate journey pursuing a Juris Doctor at the University of Ottawa. She believes strongly in the power of education and hopes to always represent her community with pride.
Select achievements Emily has chosen to highlight are being named a Dean's Scholar, receiving the Barbara Pepperdene Prize for Substantive Inquiry and Ted Rogers scholarship, speaking as a panellist on the Governor General of Canada's Building a Safe and Respective Digital World initiative, working as a Peer Assisted Learning mentor, and advocating on local news networks for Indigenous rights.
Outside of her education, Emily is an avid lover of baked goods and cats, and she is beyond grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Arts Matters Annual Conference.
Yusuf Mohamed Shire, President of the New Brunswick African Association Inc.
Yusuf Mohamed Shire is a passionate and dedicated individual originally hailing from Somalia, with over 16 years of residence in Fredericton. As a firm believer in the power of Pan-Africanism unity, he has committed himself to working tirelessly as a racial justice advocate and community organizer for all people of African descent.
Currently serving as the esteemed President of the New Brunswick African Association Inc, Yusuf plays a pivotal role in leading this volunteer-driven organization. Through their collective efforts, they offer unwavering support to African immigrant communities in New Brunswick, striving to uplift, empower, and foster a sense of belonging for those seeking a new life in the region.
Furthermore, Yusuf's visionary spirit led him to establish the African Fusion Catering Group, a venture that not only tantalises taste buds with delectable cuisine but also celebrates the richness and diversity of African culinary traditions. This venture serves as a testament to his entrepreneurial acumen and commitment to showcasing the vibrant cultural tapestry of the African diaspora.
Throughout his journey, Yusuf Shire continues to be an inspiring force for positive change, bridging gaps, and fostering understanding between diverse communities. His work exemplifies the embodiment of shared liberation and progress for people of African descent, leaving an indelible mark on the path towards a more inclusive and equitable society
