Olive Tree Foundation Awards Grant for 25th Anniversary 9/11 Conference
The Olive Tree Foundation has approved a grant to Wilfrid Laurier University in support of a major two-day academic forum examining the profound, enduring impacts of the post-9/11 era.
The conference, titled "Marking the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 and the Global 'War on Terror': Ongoing Legacies and Political Futures," will take place on November 4–5, 2026, at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) in Waterloo, Ontario.
Convened by renowned Laurier scholars Dr. Jasmin Zine and Dr. Kim Rygiel, the forum will assemble leading Canadian and international experts to reflect on a quarter-century of shifting geopolitics, national security policies, and escalating Islamophobia.
Unpacking a Quarter-Century of Geopolitical and Social Shifts
The events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent Global War on Terror fundamentally reshaped international relations, domestic security frameworks, civil liberties, and media narratives. For Muslim communities in Canada and around the world, this era ushered in unprecedented levels of systemic discrimination, heightened surveillance, and social marginalization.
Dr. Jasmin Zine, author of Under Siege: Islamophobia and the 9/11 Generation, and Dr. Kim Rygiel, co-editor of [En]gendering the War on Terror: War Stories and Camouflaged Politics, bring decades of groundbreaking scholarship to the initiative. Together, they aim to bridge the gap between historical analysis and contemporary policy.
"This forum provides a crucial opportunity not only to reflect on the lessons learned over the last 25 years, but to actively shape future policy directives and counter ongoing systemic harms," the organizers noted.
Discussions will explore the multifaceted legacies of counter-terrorism policies across diverse global contexts—including Palestine, India, China, and Myanmar—while critically analyzing digital surveillance, denationalization, migration, and the intersection of gender and Islamophobia.
Engaging the Public: Living with Drones
The forum will open to the public on the evening of November 4 with a staging of Living with Drones, an interactive live-journalism production created by Dr. Sonya Fatah, an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.
The multisensory performance blends live storytelling, war diary narratives, and audio-visual elements to confront the psychological and physical realities of modern drone warfare and aerial surveillance. Centering on the lived experiences of Palestinians under bombardment in Gaza, the performance challenges audiences to interrogate international humanitarian law, digital warfare, and the ethics of conflict journalism. A public catered reception will follow the opening performance.
Mobilizing Knowledge for Lasting Change
Beyond the panel discussions, the initiative incorporates a robust knowledge mobilization strategy to ensure its insights reach policymakers, academics, and the broader community:
Edited Book Project: The convenors are collaborating with McGill-Queen’s University Press on a short, edited volume capturing the forum’s core findings.
Policy Guidance: A comprehensive policy report co-authored by Dr. Zine, Dr. Rygiel, and graduate researchers will be submitted directly to federal ministries—including Public Safety and Canadian Heritage—and published in leading policy journals.
Podcasts & Public Scholarship: The project will produce dedicated episodes for the Displacements podcast series at the BSIA's International Migration Research Centre (IMRC), alongside accessible analytical pieces for mainstream platforms such as The Conversation Canada.
A Shared Commitment to Community and Justice
The Olive Tree Foundation’s support contributes to a collaborative funding coalition that includes Wilfrid Laurier University, the Balsillie School of International Affairs, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Muslim Fund, and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Through its support of this milestone gathering, the Olive Tree Foundation reaffirms its dedication to fostering informed dialogue, combating Islamophobia, and supporting rigorous scholarship that champions social justice and community well-being.