About this Event
Toronto Public Library presents newly appointed City Librarian Moe Hosseini-Ara and University of Toronto President Melanie Woodin in conversation with writer and professor Randy Boyagoda at the Toronto Reference Library's Beeton Hall.
Libraries and universities across North America are under pressure. Campus protests have shut down classes. Book bans are spreading. International student enrollment is collapsing. AI is upending how we create and verify knowledge. Misinformation spreads faster than facts. And increasingly, people across the political spectrum are questioning whether these institutions can be trusted to pursue truth rather than push agendas.
Meanwhile, these same institutions have never been more essential. As social media fragments into echo chambers and the rising cost of living pushes people apart, where else can Torontonians from different backgrounds actually encounter each other? Where else can young people access credible information without a paywall? Where else are democratic habits of open inquiry, intellectual freedom, civil disagreement, and shared discovery still practiced? This conversation happens at a pivotal moment: both leaders are new to their roles, giving them fresh mandates to reimagine what's possible. But they also inherit institutions facing existential questions. Can universities prove their value when fewer students can afford to live in the cities where they study? Can libraries keep pace as technological change accelerates exponentially—and what core purpose must libraries serve that remains independent of whatever technology comes next? How do you defend intellectual freedom when both the left and right want to narrow what can be said or studied?
Together, Hosseini-Ara and Woodin will grapple with what it means to lead institutions of learning in 2026 and beyond—when "expertise" itself is contested, when international collaboration faces new barriers, when operating budgets are shrinking, and when Toronto's explosive growth demands more from public institutions, not less. What happens when gathering places disappear? What does Toronto lose if its library and university become less open, less accessible, less trusted? These institutions remain vital—but what would it take to keep them at the centre of public life?
Question and answer session to follow.
About this event's guests:
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This event is part of our signature On Civil Society series, where we host local and international authors, activists and academics in conversation about the most critical topics of our time. Generously supported by the McConnell Foundation and also by Chris M. Reid.
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PLAN YOUR VISIT:
Location: Beeton Hall, Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street), 1st floor
Time: Doors open 6:00pm, Event starts 7:00pm.
Tickets: Free registration required.
Ticket policy: We oversell these events to make sure that the greatest number of people have an opportunity to attend. Tickets are guaranteed until 6:45pm or until capacity is reached. Any remaining space will be opened up to the rush line beginning at 6:45pm. Seating first come, first served. Tickets do not guarantee seats.
Accessibility: TPL is committed to accessibility. If you are Deaf or have a disability and would like to request accommodation for this event, please contact [email protected] or 416-393-7099 at least three weeks prior to the event.
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Information Collection Notice: The personal information on this form is collected by the Toronto Public Library under the Public Libraries Act, sections 20(a), 20(c), and 20(d). The information will only be used for event and program registration, delivery and evaluation. Registrants may be contacted to fill out a brief survey following the program. Questions about how the library handles your information can be directed to Answerline staff at [email protected], 416-397-5981, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4W 2G8.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Beeton Hall, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Canada
USD 0.00
