The 2026 Social Science Festival aimed at Empowering Youth

“The festival was a great success, and many conferences attracted over one hundred participants. All week long, students could listen to guest speakers providing interesting and insightful information to empower Gen Z,” stated Kimberlee Desormeaux, Vanier Sociology teacher and organizer of this year’s Social Science Festival.

Lifelight Program creator, Laura Young, launched the week with a personalized talk encouraging students to see resilience as a capacity they can build. “Focus on living rather than trying to control everything in order to feel safe,” she urged. The same day, Kimberlee Desormeaux explored what matters for individual and collective well-being and discussed strategies for turning powerlessness into agency. 

Later in the week, clinical psychologist Dr Sarafina Metellus presented studies on how social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook and text-based communication influence romantic relationships among young adults. She addressed social media jealousy, electronic partner surveillance, and the management of romantic conflict through text messaging. 

A roundtable discussion gave students the opportunity to discuss how to make Vanier better. They talked about teaching abilities, the complexities of course choices during registration, the desire for more study spaces and spots for outdoor sitting, better salting of outdoor paths between buildings, and more large social events. 

Finally, Vanier history teacher, Eric Lamoureux presented the Ron Charbonneau Memorial Lecture on how the Third World got to be third, while Vanier teacher and economist Niloufar Entekhabi guided students toward financial literacy by explaining compound interest, the present and future value of money, and the importance of timing in financial decisions.