Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Upcoming Event

• Panel: Navigating the Tensions in Canada’s Climate & Energy Policy

News From Berkeley

• New class: “Indigenous Peoples & Transitional Justice in Theory and Practice”

Academic Opportunities

• Canadian Studies research funding available

• Call for papers: Two Days of Canadian Sovereignty Conference

• Call for papers: Association for Canadian Jewish Studies 50th Anniversary Conference

External Events

• Cal Performances Concert: Bruce Liu, piano

JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST SPRING EVENT!

Thurs., Feb. 5 | 2:00 pm | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

Canada has an international reputation as an outspoken proponent of ambitious climate change action. At the same time, Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world, and the petroleum industry represents a critical sector of the Canadian economy, especially in Alberta. Federal policymakers walk a difficult line between economic growth, energy security, and environmental stewardship, and disagreements over hydrocarbon policy have been a frequent source of inter-provincial tension. This panel will explore how the politics of this issue have evolved over time, and how Canada can navigate difficult policy tradeoffs at a time of global and domestic uncertainty.

About the Panelists

The Hon. Alison Redford served as the 14th Premier of Alberta from 2011 to 2014. Before being elected premier, she served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Calgary and as Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General. She currently serves as a permanent board member for Invest Alberta.

Dr. Peter Bevan-Baker has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for over ten years. He was the first Green Party member elected to the provincial legislature, and served as Leader of the Official Opposition from 2019-23, the first Green to ever assume that role at any level of Canadian government.

Michele Cadario is the Executive Vice President of Rubicon Strategy. She has 25 years of experience in federal and provincial politics, and previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Paul Martin and to BC Premier Christy Clark.

Please note that this event starts at 2:00 pm.

This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Bluma Appel Fund, the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco, and The Porter O’Brien Agency.

This event will have a remote attendance option via Zoom. Please select the “virtual attendance” in the RSVP form to receive the link.

If you require an accommodation to participate fully in this event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible by emailing canada@berkeley.edu.

NEWS FROM BERKELEY

New Class: “Indigenous Peoples & Transitional Justice in Theory and Practice”

Tu, Th | 11:00 am | 4 units | Learn more

Canadian Studies is pleased to highlight a seminar that faculty affiliate Cheryl Suzack is teaching this spring that is sure to engage any student with an interest in First Nations issues, or Indigenous studies more broadly. Professor Suzack is a renowned scholar of Indigenous law and literature and a member of the Batchewana First Nation (Ojibwe).

This course explores the global movement for justice associated with the historical dispossession of Indigenous peoples. It analyzes practices of transitional justice and post-conflict reconstruction in the struggle for reconciliation and reparation in countries that have not undergone reconstruction in their relations with Indigenous communities. Through the comparative study of legal, political, and literary texts, it emphasizes the voices and experiences of Indigenous peoples in this movement.

First Nations topics will feature prominently in the course, including the Tsilhqot’in Nation land claim decision; Indigenous legal principles established through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and reconciliation practices associated with the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. It will also feature numerous Canadian Indigenous leaders, activists, and journalists as guest speakers.

ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

As we kick off the spring semester, Canadian Studies would like to remind our Berkeley community that the program offers generous funding to Berkeley students of all levels working on Canada-related projects. All of our awards are open to students in any discipline and of any citizenship. Please share this with your friends and colleagues!

The Edward E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship

Amount: Up to $5,000 per semester

This fellowship funds direct travel and research costs for projects that contribute to knowledge about Canada and/or the Canada-US relationship.

The Rita Ross Undergraduate Prize in Canadian Studies

Amount: $300

This prize recognizes undergraduates who have completed a superior research project on a Canadian topic. Submissions must be an original piece of work produced in a UC Berkeley class or independent study during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Undergraduate Research Funding

Amount: Variable

Funding is available for undergraduate students interested in conducting organized research for a UC Berkeley class or as part of an independent study project.

Conference Travel Funding

Amount: Up to $1,000

Funding is available for students who will be attending or presenting at a conference where their presence will advance the interest of Canadian Studies.

Call for Papers: Two Days of Canadian Sovereignty Conference

Extended deadline: January 25 | Learn more

The Centre for Canadian Studies at Brock University, in collaboration with the Departments of History, Political Science, Popular Culture, and Film, invites submissions for Two Days of Canadian Sovereignty, to be held on March 26 and 27, 2026 in St. Catharines, Ontario.

This conference, part of the Centre’s annual Two Days of Canada conference series, will bring together students, scholars, and researchers from diverse fields to address the issue of Sovereignty in Canada and of Canadian Sovereignty. While there will surely be a great deal of interest in this topic in relation to current events, as well as the future of Canada, sovereignty has always been a thorny and fascinating issue in this country, one worthy of our sustained attention. Canada is a pluralist society, and, accordingly, the issue of sovereignty has taken on a variety of forms, including Indigenous, French, British, and Canadian variations, among others.

In addition to faculty members and graduate students, we are also interested in proposals from community members and groups outside of the academic sphere. Please send any inquiries or session proposals to canadianstudies@brocku.ca.

Call for Papers: Association for Canadian Jewish Studies 50th Anniversary Conference

Extended deadline: January 31 | Learn more

The Association for Canadian Jewish Studies / l’Association d’études juives canadiennes (ACJS) invites proposals for its 2026 annual conference, “Fifty Years of Canadian Jewish Studies.” The conference will take place at York University, Toronto, from Sunday, May 31 through Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Founded in 1976, the ACJS is the first and only scholarly organization devoted to promoting and disseminating research on the Canadian Jewish experience. To mark its fiftieth anniversary, the association is convening a conference to highlight the richness, diversity, and interdisciplinarity of Canadian Jewish studies—past, present, and future.

The conference welcomes submissions in English and French on any topic relating to Canada’s Jews, reflecting both historical depth and current cultural issues. For questions and submissions, please contact the conference co-chairs, Jonathan Slater and Matthew McKeown, at acjs@yorku.ca.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Cal Performances Concert: Bruce Liu, Piano

Tues., Feb. 10 | 7:30 pm | Zellerbach Hall | Tickets

Ever since taking first prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, Chinese Canadian pianist Bruce Liu has been on the rise, with recitals on many of the world’s most prestigious concert stages. His Cal Performances debut program features a selection of that award-winning Chopin, Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata, and a trio of pieces inspired by Spanish themes.

Canadian Studies Program

213 Philosophy Hall #2308

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