Berkeley (and US) commit to international engagement: Indigenous arts workshop Thursday

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A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Event next week: Social Diversity, Partisan Identity & the 2019 Canadian Election
  • Important travel update: Negative COVID test now required to enter the US
  • Berkeley unveils new “Principles of International Engagements”
  • US-Canada relations looking up – but challenges remain ahead
  • Last chance to see choral performance Messiah/Complex for free
  • Talk on Indigenous arts with Messiah/Complex co-director Reneltta Arluk
  • Affiliate event in French: “Le système d’immigration canadien”
Event Next Week
Social Diversity, Partisan Identities and the 2019 Canadian Election
February 2 | 12:30 p.m. | RSVP here
Join Professor Allison Harell as she explores the ways in which intergroup dynamics structure vote choice in Canada. Drawing on the 2019 Canadian Election Study, she focuses in particular on how partisan identities and political preferences are anchored in key social cleavages in Canada that structured the way in which the 2019 election campaign played out.
Allison Harell is a professor of political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal and holds the UQAM Research Chair in the Political Psychology of Social Solidarity. She is interested in how social diversity affects the political world, especially the ways in which prejudice influences public opinion formation. Her current research focuses on how intergroup relations influence support for both economic and political solidarity, as well as how intergroup perceptions spill over into electoral politics.
Travel Update: Negative COVID-19 Test Now Required to Enter US by Air
The United States Government has issued an order that as of tomorrow, January 26, all travellers over two year of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test when entering the country by air. The test must be taken within 72 hours of departure, and documentation must be provided before boarding. This order includes travellers who are merely transiting through the United States to another destination. Those authorized to remain in the United States are requested to comply with a 10-day quarantine. Learn more and read the full order here.
UC Berkeley Issues New “Principles of International Engagement”
The UC Berkeley Global Engagement Office has announced a new set of guiding principles that affirm the university’s “unequivocal commitment” to international collaboration and leadership. Under the new principles, the university continues to advocate the free exchange of ideas and people across national borders in a spirit of academic enquiry. The university also commits to creating a welcoming environment for cross-cultural exchange, and to fostering new partnerships and research agreements with international institutions.
The Canadian Studies Program welcomes these new principles, which directly align with our own values and aims.
US-Canada Relationship on Upswing – But Challenges Remain Ahead
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office issued an official statement last week congratulating Joseph Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. The Prime Minister stressed the United States and Canada’s longstanding friendship and values and policy goals shared with the new administration. Both leaders seek a reset of relations that came under heavy strain in recent years, and Biden chose Trudeau for his first official call with a foreign leader. However, policy disagreements persist despite the good feelings – in their call, Trudeau expressed “disappointment” with Biden over the president’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline in one of his first executive actions. Nevertheless, both leaders agreed to meet next month to discuss ways to improve cross-border cooperation, particularly with regards to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, which both governments consider a “fundamental priority”.
Affiliate/External Events
Last Chance to Stream Messiah/Complex for Free
Ends January 31 | Stream here
Toronto-based opera collective Against the Grain Theater’s award-winning Messiah/Complex wraps up its virtual run this Sunday, January 31. Directed by Joel Ivany and Reneltta Arluk, it presents a fresh take on Handel’s classic Messiah that has garnered praise from critics – including our own reviewer! The performance is available to stream free through this weekend on the company’s website.
Ataramik (Always): A Conversation with Reneltta Arluk
January 28 | 3:00 p.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET | RSVP here
The Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge invite you to join their Arctic Environmental Humanities Workshop series, co-convened by Boston University’s Adriana Craciun (a past Canadian Studies colloquium speaker) and Cambridge’s Michael Bravo.
For Thursday’s workshop, they will be joined by Reneltta Arluk (Inuvialuit, Dene, Cree), the Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and director of the Akpik Theatre. She was the first Inuk and Indigenous woman to direct at the Stratford Festival, where she won the 2017 Tyrone Guthrie – Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director’s Award. She also co-directed the award-winning and innovative 2020 performance Messiah/Complex, which highlights Indigenous singers and languages of Canada.
Registration is required and free—once registered, you will receive a secure zoom link to hear the presentation and join the conversation afterwards. Learn more and RSVP here.
Conférence: “Le système d’immigration canadien”
February 3 | 4:30 p.m. PT | RSVP here
Note: This event will be conducted in French.
L’immigration a joué un rôle très important dans l’histoire et le développement du Canada en tant que pays. Dans ce programme virtuel, l’Alliance française de Berkeley accueillera deux experts pour mener une discussion sur le système d’immigration du Canada. Ils présenteront comment le système canadien se compare à celui des États-Unis, les avantages et les possibilités associés à l’immigration, ainsi que les défis potentiels.
Les panelistes seront Irene Bloemraad, une sociologue politique et directrice du Programme d’études canadiennes à l’Université de Californie à Berkeley, et Yves Beaulieu, le consul pour la politique étrangère et la diplomatie au consulat général du Canada à San Francisco.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Bass Drum Donated to a RCL Pipe Band in 1977

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We recently received this request for information.  If any member have any details that they are able to share, please contact Paul Ritchie directly at mbb624-at-shaw-dot-ca.

I am writing to you on behalf of the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Museum and Archives.

To summarize a long story, we have a bass drum, which started life some time before 1917. The period before 1917 is described in a 1940 newspaper article but cannot be verified.

In 1917 through 1918, it was used by a Canadian Army band (17th Reserve Battalion). Following that, it was used by various bands in Alberta during the interwar period. It was given to the Calgary Highlanders in 1940 and used until approximately 1952. The next information I have is that the drum was donated to a Royal Canadian Legion pipe band by James P Gilsenan in 1977. Lastly, it was donated to the Calgary Highlanders by David Maisch on Labor Day weekend 1981. We have retained it since then.

I would like to discover more about the drum during the 1952 – 1977 period. Are there any Legion members who recall anything about this drum, the band it was donated to, the donor (James P Gilsenan) or the circumstances under which it was donated?

Enclosed is a rundown of the information I have on James Gilsenan.

Best regards
Paul

Attachment: Gilsenan, James P Life Events.pdf

Please help us make a Veteran’s 100th Birthday Special

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Another birthday celebration – this one from the folks formerly known as There But Not There.

We Need You to Help D-Day Veteran Tommy Celebrate his 100th Birthday
Former Royal Fusilier Tommy Trotter has been in isolation since March and now he has to celebrate his birthday alone. But you can make his day special. Read on to find out how.

Soon-to-be centenarian Tommy lives in Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. He served in the Second World War, landing on the beaches of Normandy on 6th June 1944 as part of the allied invasion of occupied France. Tommy went on to receive the Legion D’Honour, France’s highest military honour.

On February 10th, Tommy, who now has dementia, is going to celebrate his 100th birthday. Tommy also enjoys telling others of his stories of times gone by as a regular of his local bar, the Don War Memorial Bar in Stockton. He loves nothing more than settling down with a pint of John Smith’s and a Sunday Roast. Bar owner Julia Cooper had organised a fitting occasion for the 99-year-old, including a regimental guard of honour!

Unfortunately, these plans have been scrapped due to the pandemic and hero Tommy faces spending his big day in total isolation. Julia has been forced to take to social media, asking the public to send Tommy a birthday card, to ensure his momentous occasion wouldn’t go uncelebrated.

After hearing of the project from Champions of our Tommy Club, we reached out to Julia to help make his 100th birthday a day to remember. We are now turning to you, our amazing supporters, to help us achieve this.

Send Tommy a Birthday Card to this Address:
Tommy Trotter
The Last Post
Cranworth Street
Thornaby
TS17 7DR
DOWNLOAD TOMMY’S FREE BIRTHDAY CARD

We have even created a birthday card that you can print off and send to Tommy (or feel free to send you own). It can be downloaded for free using the button above.

As our base of loyal supporters, we would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to download the card, write your own message and post it off to Tommy. It would be absolutely amazing for him to receive well-wishing messages from our community to read on the big day.

We’re going to send this email to all of our friends and family. Maybe you can forward it to yours too? Imagine how loved Tommy would feel if all of those people sent a card. Please don’t leave it to others and send your card today!

Tommy’s Card is also on our Shop
Tommy Trotter's 100th Birthday Card
Tommy Trotter’s 100th Birthday Card
FREE
The card is also available through our online shop. You will be given a link to download after checkout. The card is free, so no payment is necessary.
FREE DOWNLOAD NOW
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Our mailing address is:
Royal British Legion Industries Ltd, Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7NL

Recognize outstanding student commitment

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We wanted to make sure that we passed this item along to our members.

Sponsored
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The Vimy Pilgrimage Award

For the next three weeks, students 14 through 17 years of age can apply for the 2021 Vimy Pilgrimage Award.

This award recognizes the actions of young people who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to volunteer work through positive contributions, notable deeds, or bravery that benefits their peers, school, community, province, or country.

More information on terms and conditions can be found on our website.

Deadline: February 15, 2021
Students on an outdoor path touring the site.

Study Abroad

The award consists of a fully funded week-long educational program in Belgium and France to study Canada’s tremendous First World War effort. The program features daily visits to important First World War sites including museums, cemeteries, and historic battlefields.

Learn more about the itinerary.
Students studying artifacts at a table.

Apply Online Now!

Applicants are required to submit an essay describing their volunteer work; an essay on the 1918-1919 Flu pandemic; a motivation letter; a resume and a reference letter. A total of 20 students will be selected for the 2021 program.

Access the online form here.
The Vimy Foundation / La Fondation Vimy [logo]
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You are receiving this email as a member or friend of Canada’s History. / Vous recevez ce courriel parce que vous êtes membre ou parce que vous appartenez à la communauté d’esprit de la Société Histoire Canada.

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Canada’s History

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