Two New Nominations and a New Publication for Dr. David Webster

Dr. David Webster (Department of History) was recently named Associate of the Wilson Institute for Canadian History. “Located in every province of Canada, the Wilson Associates have been selected as scholars who are pushing the field of Canadian history in exciting new transnational directions. Each of these dynamic scholars is asking new questions and bringing new perspectives to the writing of Canadian history. Each will be entitled to contribute to the selection of the most boundary-breaking publication in Canadian history and to benefit from the support and services of the Institute.  The Wilson Institute hopes, through building a network of fellows and associates, to create a community of scholars inside and outside Canada exploring transnational history.” (https://wilson.humanities.mcmaster.ca/associates/)

Dr. Webster was also named one of nine members (and is the only Canadian member) of the International Advisory Council of the Centro Nacional Chega! (National Chega! Centre) in Timor-Leste. The CNC is the follow-up body to Timor-Leste’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Finally, Dr. Webster has just co-edited a collection of essays entitled Flowers in the Wall: Truth and Reconciliation in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Melanisia (University of Calgary Press, 2018). This bookseeks to “connect local communities and international audiences. […] [It is an] integrative narrative about truth and reconciliation processes in a part of the world sprawling from Sumatra to Solomon Islands, from the islands of Southeast Asia into the islands of the Melanesian Pacific.” These essays were written by scholars, human rights practitioners, engaged academics and informed advocates who reflect on truth and reconciliation as a “process that goes before and comes after truth commissions.” Former Bishop’s University student and research assistant Sarah Zwierzchowski has authored an essay in this publication.