By Lauren Root – Staff Writer  

The winter semester at Bishop’s brings the opportunity to hear from a variety of guest speakers, from diverse backgrounds and specialties. Guest speakers coming to campus are some of the most special memories a student can make, getting to hear different perspectives from experts in niche fields.   

The Morris House Reading Series is just one of many programs inviting speakers onto campus, giving students insight into the lives of successful authors. In the latest edition of the Morris House Reading Series, Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashi) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman visited Bishop’s to speak about their lives and histories. Sanderson is a Fulbright Scholar and also holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Sanderson has also served as a senior Advisor to the Ontario government, in the offices of the Attorney General and Aboriginal Affairs.  

Sniderman is a scholar, lawyer, and author from Montreal whose writing has been featured in the Globe and Mail, New York Times and Maclean’s. Sniderman has also argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as serving as the human rights policy advisor to the Canadian minister of foreign affairs. This edition of the Morris House Reading Series was sponsored by the Indigenous Decolonization Circle, Academic Enrichment (the Dean’s Office), and the Ogden Glass Lecture Series.  

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will be speaking on campus from 7-9pm in Centennial Theatre. Duvernay-Tardif has been called “the most interesting player in the NFL,” since after a Super Bowl win on the Kansas City Chiefs and a nine-year-long NFL career, he retired and enrolled in medical school. At the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, 

Duvernay-Tardif left his football career behind and joined the medical front lines. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is now the only NFL player to also earn a medical degree.  

During his Bishop’s talk, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will discuss the incredible highs of being an NFL player and winning a Super Bowl, to the difficult transition of being a burnt-out orderly. Duvernay-Tardif offers insight into career changes and demonstrates that a person is not limited to a single path.  

The many different speakers giving talks at Bishop’s provide students with abundant opportunities to learn more about their community and inspiring figures from Quebec and across Canada. These talks offer a chance to learn, connect, and be inspired. Don’t miss out!