Ian Campeau will come to McMaster to talk about the Journey to Success


As a musician and advocate, Ian Campeau is familiar with the winding roads that lead to success. From achieving fame as a founding member and DJ of the award-winning music group, A Tribe Called Red, to speaking out against injustice as an Indigenous Advocate and using his art as a tool of resistance, leadership, and engagement, Ian is someone who has found success through many different paths.

At McMaster University, one goal is to challenge students to think of their learning in the big picture, including their own notions of what it means to be successful. The Student Success Centre and Indigenous Student Services are pleased to welcome Ian to campus to help further this conversation. His visit will include DJ performances and interviews about this journey, as well as a chance for audience members to ask questions. Tickets are free for students, staff, and the Hamilton community.

“Ian Campeau has been a leader in the performing arts both as a founding member of A Tribe Called Red and as a solo artist,” says James Knibb-Lamouche, associate director of Indigenous Student Services. “He is part of a rich tradition of Indigenous artists that combine traditional and contemporary art forms to create unique and cutting edge performances. His work has been described as decolonizing, radical, and activist and we are happy to help provide the McMaster community with the opportunity to see a great performance and hear his compelling story as a leader on the stage, on social media, and in the community.”

Making It – featuring Ian Campeau is a signature event taking place during #Goals Week, a week dedicated to helping students set and achieve their goals for the new semester; this is the first time the week will feature a prominent guest speaker.

The event is an opportunity to help students think of the journey to success as something to be celebrated. The event is more than a conversation – between DJ sets, interactive art and Ian’s phone call to a celebrity, his visit is an opportunity for students to have that conversation through music, storytelling, and connection.

As Gina Robinson, associate dean of Student Affairs and director of the Student Success Centre, says, “How we define success is very personal and individual. The lessons we learn and how we grow from the process of trying to achieve that success is what’s really important. It is inspirational to have Ian come to McMaster to motivate us to share our journeys.”

“Indigenous Student Services is excited about the opportunity to share in this great event,” James adds.

Other featured events taking place during #Goals Week include larger experiences like MacQuest 2.0., a popular Welcome Week event, and the Game of Life: IRL, where upper year students can play the game (in real life) to learn about supports on-campus, as well as smaller workshops and panels focused on academic, personal, and professional success. Workshop topics include a Fourth Year Advice Panel, Setting Financial Goals, and an Exchange Student Mix and Mingle.

For those interested in attending Making It featuring Ian Campeau, register for a free ticket here.

For those interested in learning more about #Goals Week, visit the website.

Making It featuring Ian Campeau is a proud partnership between the Student Success Centre and Indigenous Student Services. This event is sponsored by the McMaster Centre for Continuing Education.

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