As we head into the holidays, it is only natural to pause, think about the past year, and look forward to the new year. It is fair to say that we have been through some interesting times of late. And, while the world is slowly but surely opening up, we are still dealing with some concerning trends. Political polarization, challenges to liberal-democratic systems, and economic instability are all on the rise. In moments like this, we need to come together to encourage mutual understanding, create opportunities for positive change, and do our best to strive for the future we hope to see.
For a little more than seventy-five years, the core mission of the Fulbright Program has been to facilitate connections and promote mutual cultural understanding in a complex world through the creation of international exchange opportunities – an aim that is more pertinent today than ever.
Fulbright Canada welcomed a double cohort of incredible students and scholars this past year. We were honoured to play a modest but important role in supporting bright students, scholars, researchers, and community leaders. Their work addressed some of the most pressing issues of our time, including Indigenous reconciliation, climate change, equal and fair representation … and much more. We are immensely proud of each grantee and their successes, as they reinforced the Fulbright commitment to deepening cultural exchange and fostering mutual understanding in these challenging times.
We also continued to generate more broad mandate program opportunities. The The Fulbright Canada post-COVID Challenge wrapped up this past Spring. Young people from underrepresented populations in Canada and the United States shared brilliant solutions that now contribute to a healthier, more productive, prosperous, and just post-COVID world. We also moved forward with Honouring Nations Canada, an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed Fulbright Canada initiative that aims to uplift Indigenous people, appreciate traditional knowledge and ways of knowing, and honour Indigenous communities. The Indigenous Circle of Advisors has been working closely with members of the Fulbright Canada team, laying the groundwork for an impactful year ahead.
The Fulbright Canada team has also grown. Located in the Harbour Center at Simon Fraser University’s downtown campus, the Fulbright Canada West office officially opened in the fall of 2022. This move reflects our continued commitment to fully engaging with our partners, alums, and the wider Fulbright Canada community across Canada and the United States. We also welcomed five new Fulbright Canada team members: Ashley Deng-Yu Chen, Executive Assistant to Dr. Michael Hawes; Kassandra Sison, Honouring Nations Canada; Hang Lyu, Education USA Advisor (Toronto); Zhaoying Hu, Education USA Advisor (Vancouver); and, Laura Stipic, Public Affairs Officer and Diversity Lead.
As we look ahead to 2023, we will continue to support outstanding students and scholars, work with local communities, support reconciliation, and engage with friends, colleagues, and community leaders… all in aid of a positive, progressive, prosperous, productive, and healthy world.
Our successes this year were only possible due to the excellence demonstrated by the grantees and alumni and the constant support of the Fulbright Canada Board of Directors and our government, corporate, and university partners. The Fulbright Canada community continues to inspire us, and we look forward to collaborating with you in the year ahead.
Michael and the team at Fulbright Canada wish you a happy and healthy new year!