Culture Shock

Envisioning Futures

Culture Shock 2026 will take place from October 24 to November 5!

The theme of this year’s Culture Shock centers on refusing annihilation, interrupting hegemonic trajectories, and envisioning futures liberated from structures of domination and oppression. In a time of televised genocides, increasing deportations, and an urgent climate crisis, it is imperative to intentionally come together to build alternative systems. Seeking to learn from Afro- and Indigenous futurist thinkers, this year’s Culture Shock seeks to offer spaces to uplift people from feelings of hopelessness and to work towards building collective power. How can we challenge capitalist narratives about the future? What role does anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle have in the path to a liberated future? How do we bring imagination and action into our communities to work towards another vision of the future? 

Schedule

Culture Shock is an annual event series on anti-racism, migrant justice, and Indigenous solidarity. It seeks to bring together racialized communities to discuss issues relevant to their lives, as well as to allow those who do not belong to these communities to learn more about struggles against racism, colonialism and border violence. Every year, QPIRG brings panels, workshops, film screenings, performance nights and fundraiser parties to McGill students and broader Montreal communities.

These events take place on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka people. The island called “Montreal” is known as Tiotia:ke in the language of the Kanien’kehá:ka, and it has historically been a meeting place for other Indigenous nations, including the Algonquin people. We believe that it’s not enough just to acknowledge the keepers of this land. We encourage everyone to learn about and actively resist colonialism in the many forms these ongoing oppressions take, and in the diversity of forms that resistance embodies.

All events are free or pay-what-you-can, and open to the public. Further accessibility details are available on the accessibility page.

Accessibility

This section is intended to provide basic information about accessibility measures for Spring into Action. If you have any additional accessibility needs or specific questions about these measures, please do not hesitate to contact us.

• All events are free and open to the public
• Information on wheelchair access and the locations of the nearest wheelchair accessible bathrooms are specified for each event.
• Whisper translation between English and French will be available for all events with 72 hours notice, please email info@qpirgmcgill.org to request.
• We will do our best to provide alternate lighting to avoid strong, fluorescent lighting overhead. There will be no intentional flashing lights at events.
• If you have any particular needs around lighting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email at info@qpirgmcgill.org, or find QPIRG staff and volunteers at events!
• Masks and social distancing are strongly recommended for all of our in-person events. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at the door.