Research team members attending COHDS annual general meeting on September 18th, 2026. From left to right: Bernice Djaballah, Katherine Diamond, Samara O’Gorman, and Evita-Marie Di Falco. © 2026 Canadian Irish Migration Preservation Network.
On September 18th, 2026, members of the Canadian Irish Migration Preservation Network’s research team visited the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling (COHDS) headquarters at Concordia University, Montréal. The early afternoon event was not only organized for COHDS’s affiliates to attend the research centre’s annual general meeting, but also to hear from Professor Ioana Radu, who delivered this year’s keynote speech. This visit was supported by a grant from the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise (SRQEA).
The event began with a greeting by COHDS’s co-director, Dr. Steven High, who founded the centre. Dr. High then formally introduced keynote speaker Ioana Radu, professor at the School of Indigenous Studies at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). Radu’s work currently focuses on research-creation and knowledge mobilization with Indigenous communities in the James Bay region of Canada. Her keynote speech, entitled “Nurturing worlds of care and belonging: Indigenous Kinscapes and Oral History”, not only encompassed the various projects she has been exploring with Indigenous communities during her time as a researcher, but also the strong relationships she constructed with individuals and families over the years. Radu highlighted the massive importance of placing knowledge and relationships at the centre of any and all historical projects.
The afternoon ended with the centre’s annual general meeting, which promoted several of the centre’s upcoming events, including their upcoming four-day-long Storytelling Festival. From October 6th to October 9th, a diverse group of community members, oral history practitioners, and storytellers will gather at Concordia University to share their most recent works. From podcasts to film screenings, and even cooking demonstrations, the Storytelling Festival will be one of the biggest events of COHDS’ twentieth anniversary year.
The CIMPN extends a sincere thanks to the COHDS team for undertaking the organization of such a successful event.
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