Cultural and Legal Convergences between Canada, France, and Louisiana
Cultural and Legal Convergences between Canada, France, and Louisiana
Discussion
with Jean-Francois Gaudreault-DesBiens, lawyer and vice-rector at the University of Montreal, moderated by Joseph Dunn, specialist in
linguistic issues of the Francophonie in Louisiana.
The event is part of the Le mois de la francophonie (Francophone Month,) a month-long festival highlighting the diversity of the French-speaking world.
March 3 | 6:00 pm | 1519 Jackson Ave. | Free and open to the public | Outdoor if
weather permits
Jean-François Gaudreault-Desbiens, Speaker
Constitutional lawyer Jean-François Gaudreault-Desbiens is a professor
in the Faculty of Law, where he served as Dean from 2015 to 2019, and Canada Research Chair in North American and Comparative Legal and
Cultural Identities from 2006 to 2016. Before teaching at Université de Montréal, he was a professor at McGill University and the
University of Toronto. In recognition of his contribution to the advancement of knowledge and law, he was elected to the Royal Society of
Canada in 2015 and the Barreau du Québec awarded him the title of Avocat émérite in 2013.
Joseph Dunn, Moderator
Joseph Dunn’s understanding of Louisiana’s distinct cultures, languages, and heritage has led him to work at the highest levels of the state’s tourism and cultural industries, including positions at CODOFIL, the Consulate General of France in New Orleans; the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development; the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association; and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.
After three years as Executive Director CODOFIL, Joseph began work as an independent tourism & cultural entrepreneur in 2014. Currently, his primary role is to oversee the public relations and marketing efforts at Laura: Louisiana's Creole Heritage Site, among other projects and collaborations. He has presented in English and French at conferences, workshops, and political, tourism, and economic trade missions in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Joseph is an outspoken advocate for the development of social, professional, and economic opportunities for Louisiana’s franco-créolophone heritage language communities and is particularly interested in the concepts of minority language rights and identity.
A recognized leader in Louisiana’s French language movement, Joseph Dunn was named a Chevalier dans l’ordre national du Mérite in 2021.