Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture

The 2023 Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture featured speakers Frank Fagan, Assistant National Director and Brian Foster, National Manager, Policy and Resource Development of Ready, Willing and Able. The First Voice Panel featured speakers Will Brewer, Andrew Bryant, Kendra Larade and Jennifer Richardson, with job coaches Justin Smith & Gillian Fuller. The evening’s program also included a performance by the Inclusion Choir and a display of artwork from local artists with diverse abilities. This inaugural event took place on November 16, 2023 at the Tupper Building, Dalhousie University. The event was also livestreamed.

The Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture Series

Dr. Brian Hennen (1937-2021) was a family doctor and a tireless supporter and advocate for persons with disabilities, focusing on developmental disabilities.

Following his retirement as a family physician and academic leader, Dr. Hennen remained focused on advocating for the right of people of all abilities to be heard and supported, and to live happy, fruitful lives.

He worked tirelessly to build a support system that provides continuity of care for persons with developmental disabilities, working with many community groups and partners including Autism Nova Scotia, Independent Living Nova Scotia, the Community Homes Action Group, and the Club Inclusion Choir. He collaborated with other experts in the field to create Canada’s Consensus Guidelines for Primary Care of Adults with Developmental Disabilities. He also helped to establish the Dalhousie Family Medicine Adult Developmental Clinic.

In honour of the memory of Dr. Hennen, the Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture Series was established in 2023 at Dalhousie University, where he was a professor and head of the Department of Family Medicine from 1974 to 1987 and returned to teach from 2004 to 2019.

To honour Brian's memory and advocacy work, the Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture Series is a lively, challenging, inclusive, joyous and interactive annual forum. First-voice and family members, advocates, medical and social service professionals and the wider community come together each year to learn and grow new ways of improving the quality of life for those with disabilities. Because Brian valued the healing potential of the arts, these events also include elements of art and music, hands-on demonstrations and performances.

Donate Now

The Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture Series is supported annually by generous donations in memory of Dr. Hennen, and in honour of his tireless work as a disability advocate. To contribute to this event, please visit giving.dal.ca/drbrianhennen.

To learn more about how you can support the Brian Hennen Inclusive Community Lecture Series fund, contact:

Jennifer Pierce
Associate Development Officer, Annual Giving

Email: jennifer.pierce@dal.ca
Phone: (902) 233-9275