Canadian Studies Announcements
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In this issue:
- Big Give: Early results show a blowout success!
- Call for nominations: ACSUS Awards
- In the news: How Quebeckers are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in 2021
- In the news: The Irish heritage of Prince Edward Island
- “Canada Now” offers US residents access to Canadian film and television
- Upcoming event: Is Canada’s healthcare system a model for the US?
- External event: Virtual St. Patrick’s Day happy hour
- External event: Canadian films at the Sonoma International Film Festival
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An “Unprecedented” Big Give – Thanks to You!
Canadian Studies is thrilled to announce that this year’s Big Give was our most successful of all time. Tabulation is ongoing, but early results show that we raised at least $65,800. That’s more than most departments at Berkeley – pretty impressive for a small program!
At a time when private philanthropy is more crucial than ever for programs like ours, you support sends a strong message to the university about the value of Canadian Studies. We’re incredibly grateful for your support. Look out for new efforts to support and share our research, knowledge, and events in the coming months!
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Call for Nominations: ACSUS Awards
The ACSUS Awards Committee invites you to submit your nominations for the following awards. These awards aim to encourage new scholars in Canadian Studies in the United States. Details on the awards and the submission deadlines are provided below.
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St. Patrick’s Day Revelers Get Creative in Quebec
For the second year in a row, the COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled St. Patrick’s Day festivities across Canada, including Montreal’s traditional parade. However, that’s not stopping a group of determined Quebeckers. Although only 5% of the provinces’ inhabitants identify as Irish, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are a cherished tradition for many. CBC News reports on how groups across the province are adapting to the times with small – and safe – alternatives to the traditional public parties. Image: 2017 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
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Prince Edward Islanders Celebrate Irish Roots
On Prince Edward Island, a family connection to Ireland is never far away: about 30% of residents trace their ancestry to the Emerald Isle. Many Irish people came to Canada to escape grinding poverty at home, particularly during the Great Famine of 1845-1852. Today, many Islanders are proud of their Irish roots. CBC News reported on the story of once such immigrant family, the McKennas, as told by a 21st-century descendant. Image: Charlottetown Benevolent Irish Society, 1917. (Sara Fraser/CBC)
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“Canada Now” Offers Monthly Curated Canadian Films
A new online portal offers US residents access to a collection of Canada’s best films and television programs, updated monthly. March’s arrivals include Antigone, which translates the Ancient Greek drama to a refugee family in Montreal; White Lies, about one woman’s online fraud, and the stylish gangster film Mafia Inc. The site also offers themed collections, such as “Mosaic: Women Create”, holiday themes, and Francophone productions. The project is funded by Telefilm Canada, the Consulate General of Canada in New York, and the National Film Board of Canada. Learn more and sign up here.
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Panel Discussion: The Canadian Healthcare System:
A Model for the US?
Most Canadians are proud of their national healthcare system, widely considered one of the best in the world. But when it comes to US healthcare reform, the Canadian example is much more divisive. A growing number of Americans view Canada as a model for a potential US single-payer system. However, for many others a “Canadian” system conjures images of long waits and rationing. Join Canadian Studies for a special panel exploring how Canada’s healthcare system really works, and why its perception in the US is so polarized.
Gregory Marchildon is a professor of comparative healthcare at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. He specializes in Canada’s healthcare system and has written extensively on comparative policy.
Amanda Aronczyk is a journalist and co-host of the NPR show Planet Money. Her recent episode “Frame Canada” explored the US insurance lobby’s long-running PR campaign against Canada’s healthcare system to block major healthcare reform.
Daniel Béland is the director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and James McGill Professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University. He studies social policy and health care reform, and their relationship to fiscal policy.
Image: Woman protests for healthcare reform in Connecticut, 2009. Credit: Sage Ross on Wikimedia Commons.
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Affiliate/External Events
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St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour
Our friends at the Digital Moose Lounge invite you to a virtual St. Patrick’s Day happy hour. Celebrate with green beer, Guinness floats, fun games, and great company along with your fellow SF Bay Area Canadians! As part of the celebration, Augie’s Montréal Deli in Berkeley is offering a St. Patrick’s Day special menu: 8oz smoked meat, parboiled red potato & parboiled cabbage for $17. Order in advance for curbside pickup.
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Sonoma International Film Festival
The Sonoma International Film Festival will be showcasing a number of independent Canadian films during its run from March 24-28. Selections include Death of a Ladies’ Man; Nadia, Butterfly; Escape from Extinction; First We Eat; and The New Corporation. All films will be available to stream online. View the entire film guide and order tickets here.
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Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
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Royal Canadian Legion, US Branch #25 