Chateau Frontenac towers over the houses of Quebec City. (Source: U.S. CIA)

Michigan State University's Canadian Studies Center is an open door to all who hold interest in Canada. The Center fosters an understanding of Canadian society and its relationship with the United States, as well as its rich contribution to a global culture.

CN Forum "Border Trade, Travel and Security"

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 8 a.m.-noon

Attention Policy, Business, University Leaders and Students are Welcome. The CN Forum welcomes open discussion of policy relevant issues concerning Canada and U.S. relations among government and business leaders, the university community and media professionals, as well as the general public. The Forum is intended to increase awareness of common concerns among residents of the Great Lakes region. The Forum will be held in the Centennial Room, Kellogg Center on the campus of Michigan State University. For more information and to register

Center News and Activities

Core Faculty - Updated and Growing - The Core Faculty list has been updated but is never complete. CSC invites new faculty members and encourages those who are on the list to enlist participation of colleagues who are working in an area that impacts Canada. The Center will continuously build its list of Core Faculty to be consistent with the teaching and researach priorities of the Center. To learn more about that role, send an email to CanadianStudiesCenter@isp.msu.edu. A current core faculty list is posted here.

Continuing Brown Bag Series - Thanks to Michael Unsworth, Canadian Studies Librarian who presented a brown bag session demonstrating several online databases for Canadian Studies. Having been MSU's Canadian Studies librarian since 1995, Mike is most familiar with MSU's wealth of resources in Canadian Studies.

Speaking of Students - Students Trent Pysarchik (Teacher Education), Adam Raczkowski (Political Science), and Qifan Wu (Business) are building the Canadian Studies Student Organization. The group recently attended a RED WINGS vs. Vancouver Canucks hockey game at the Joe and are planning a Curling lesson and competition for later in the year. Contact them through FACEBOOK. They are registered as MSU Canadian Studies Student Organization.

Meeting with Toronto Spartan and Alumni Club President - Toronto Spartan Club President David Schmalz recently visited CSC Director and International Alumni Director Claire Brender. Discussion centered on student and faculty support including internships, scholarships and travel.

Roundtable Report Continues Discussion - The summary report of the 2009 Roundtable hosted at Michigan State University continues to draw feedback and extended commentary. The report is generally seen as a provocative think piece on contemporary issues in Canada and related to the U.S. - Canada connection. It calls for research and enlightenment of public opinion on the dynamics between these two countries and other parts of the world. Access it here or contact the Center for a printed copy. Report (PDF)*

Ambassador's Visit Sets Protocol - Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Wilson, joined business leaders, scholars, association executives and political leaders in a forum on trade, an issue central to Michigan's economy. Cosponsored by CSC and the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, the Ambassador joined in by video conference. The follow up report on the process and the outcome has become a helpful reference. Read the Ambassador's address (PDF)*

Former CSC Directors Retire from MSU - Recently William Joyce, College of Education and Fredric Bohm, MSU Press, both having served as director of CSC, retired from MSU. While their work in academic disciplines is well noted and appreciated, their service to CSC has also been recognized. Help us to acknowledge these two contributors to Canadian Studies.

CSC Hosts Film Director - The Center teamed up with the MSU American Indian Studies, Indigenous Law and Policy Center, MSU College of Law, and East Lansing Film Society to host Windsor International Film Festival Director Peter Coady, WIFF Board Member Denise Deziel and Robin Rhodes of Film Circuit, an arm of the Toronto International Film Festival. An audience of more than 120 watched a showing of "Ce Qu'il Faut Pour Vivre" (The Necessities of Life). The award winning film tells a story about an ailing Inuit hunter.

Canadian Poet visits MSU - CSC and Center for Poetry in the Residential College of Arts and Humanities enjoyed the company of Carolyn Smart, author, mostly of poetry, who lives in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She teaches Contemporary Canadian Literature and Creative Writing at Queen's University. Her poems have appeared in over 100 magazines and anthologies, and her long poem, "The Sound of the Birds" was runnerup for the National Magazine Award in 1993. More

Bordering on Greatness - In this increasingly global economy, Michigan's most important "foreign" relationship is close at hand, with neighboring Canada. This is the first in a regular series of features in which Dome Emagazine explores political, policy and cultural issues between Michigan and Canada and the importance of this relationship to the state's future. More

Canada - U.S. Relations: Half Full or Half Empty? - This year has been a roller coaster ride for Canada-US study programs. Falling endowments, budget cuts, program downsizing has brought into focus how far the economic recession has reached. Read ACSUS Executive Director David Archibald's letter here (PDF)*

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