Inauguration of Ikeda Studies Centre

To all SGI Canada members and friends,

On April 19, 2022, the inauguration of the Ikeda Studies Centre for Education in Global Citizenship, Dialogue and Peace took place at Université Laval in Quebec City. This is the first such centre in the French-speaking world.

Rector Sophie D’Amours opened the ceremony, explaining the history of Laval’s relationship with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University and Soka Schools. In May 2010, former Rector Denis Brière led a delegation to Japan to confer an honorary doctorate on President Ikeda, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Université Laval and Soka University. Rector D’Amours expressed her hope that Dr. Ikeda’s philosophy of connecting people will take root at l’Université Laval.

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda sent a message of congratulations. He praised the university as a brilliant beacon of erudition and humanistic education, fostering an untold number of global citizens who can step out into the world to make a difference. He expressed his conviction that education is a fundamental force that unleashes the boundless potential of youth, and that dialogue above all else enables us to transcend our differences. Having arrived at a momentous crossroads in human history, the opening of the Centre—with its pursuit of global citizenship, dialogue and peace—represents a message of hope that education, as a united endeavour, will prevail over whatever violence or division riddle the world.

Dr. Fernand Gervais spoke on behalf of the three deans who are leading the Centre: Dr. Gervais, Faculty of Education; Dr. Guillaume Pinson, Faculty of Arts and Humanities; and Dr. Guy Jobin, Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences.

Mr. Mikiya Takanashi, General Director of the Makiguchi Foundation for Education, delivered greetings and congratulations. Min-On Institute Director Olivier Urbain gave the keynote address. Both speakers presented online from Japan.

The Centre is offering an undergraduate course rooted in the study and pursuit of global citizenship, dialogue and peace, drawing on the ideas and works of Dr. Ikeda. The first course began in January of this year, led by Dr. Vincent Fauque, who was also emcee for the ceremony. Three of his students made presentations at the ceremony, based on their studies of Daisaku Ikeda’s writings. 

The Ikeda Studies Centre’s website is https://www.ikeda.ulaval.ca/ , which includes a video recording of the inauguration ceremony (French language only).

• Front page coverage from the April 22 edition of Seikyo Shimbun.