Twenty-twenty-five was, by any measure, an interesting year. At Fulbright Canada, we focused our attention on advancing our core mission of fostering cross-border collaboration and enhancing mutual understanding through impactful academic exchange and community engagement. Through our long-standing merit-based programs, participants at every stage of their educational journey explored new ideas and engaged with new communities. Our goal is straightforward: to position our grantees for success. By doing so, we aim to foster a more secure, connected, and prosperous world.
Realizing our mission, as always, meant prioritizing impactful research and community engagement. Fulbright students and scholars, Killam Fellows, Mitacs interns, our Honouring Nations partners, and alums were connected through orientation activities, seminars, community projects, and exchanges that encouraged learning beyond the classroom and had an impact across disciplines and borders. Whether through academic study, cultural immersion, or youth exchange, these experiences broadened perspectives, fostered lifelong networks, and deepened understanding.
This commitment to engagement and innovation was further reflected in the launch of the 2025 Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative (FCEI), in partnership with Alacrity Canada. By supporting entrepreneurs, we were able to help address critical challenges in health, education, and social enterprise. The initiative highlighted the power of entrepreneurship as a tool for social and economic good. At our Ottawa summit, founders, researchers, and leaders from industry, government, and the research community came together to explore how knowledge, technology, and collaboration can be leveraged to create meaningful impact, bridging academic insights with real-world applications.
I would like to extend a special thank you to our Board of Directors, donors, and partners in both countries. Without their leadership, support, and wise counsel, none of this would be possible.
As we look ahead to 2026, I am inspired by the achievements of our grantees, partners, and supporters, as well as the communities they are helping to shape. In a world of increasing complexity and rapid change, Fulbright Canada remains committed to expanding access to opportunity, celebrating excellence, and nurturing connections that transcend borders and disciplines.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the Fulbright orbit a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with peace and prosperity. We all need to invest heavily in our future and find ways to support our mission and our societal aspirations.
Dr. Michael K. Hawes