It is hard to believe that 2018 is almost over. With such significant and positive program developments, this year has passed by swiftly. On behalf of my colleagues at the Secretariat and our alumni, I would like to wish you, members of the Fulbright Canada community, a happy holiday season.
I also want to let you know about the work we simply could not have accomplished without your engagement and support.
As many of you know, the Foundation is at a transformative moment as we continue to expand our traditional Fulbright programs and network of partners and create new and innovative educational exchanges between the people of Canada and the people of the United States. We continue to focus on key thematic areas such as, public diplomacy, STEM, the arctic, indigenous issues, and, in a collaborative fashion, build capacity and increase access to opportunities for those who are underrepresented.
A key focus of ours is to further ensure we are offering promising youth, students, and scholars exceptional enrichment experiences through conferences, professional development, and community engagement, with the aim of supporting and positioning current and future leaders as they look to share their perspectives and take action by contributing to communities, our collective advancement, mutual understanding, and – at least in a small way – to a more peaceful, healthy, equitable, and prosperous world.
We were pleased to support another inspiring group of students and scholars, as they take up Fulbright Canada Awards, conduct pertinent research, and experience innovative international opportunities. Beyond our traditional programs, several highlights come to mind this past year, just to name a few:
- We hosted the second cohort of Fulbright Arctic Initiative scholars, from across the Arctic Circle, in Ottawa and Iqaluit. They met for their inaugural meeting to inform their efforts to conduct collaborative research that builds resiliency and sustainability in Arctic communities.
- The Canada Colloquium 2018, “Indigenous Peoples, Canada, and the United States: Sovereignty, Sustainability, and Reconciliation,” hosted by Fulbright Canada, the Center for the Study of Canada at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, and the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.
- The Fulbright Regional Program Enhancement Seminar, “Securing our Future: Innovation, Action, and Entrepreneurship,” with the support of the U.S. Department of State, hosted exceptional American graduate students on Fulbright grants in Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, eager to compare their research and exchange experiences.
- I am sending you my sincerest thanks for your ongoing engagement and, above all, my best wishes for a happy holiday season for you and your loved ones. I am looking forward to all that we can continue to accomplish in the new year, as we do our part to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future.
Michael K. Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada