Category Archives: Canadian Studies Program UC Berkeley

Quebec fossils shed light on climate future; how Americans helped shape Canada

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A newsletter from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Upcoming Events

  • “Historical Connections Between Canada and American Immigration Policy”

Program News

  • Hildebrand Fellow Joshua Zimmt pieces together the link between climate change and the first mass extinction of animal life

External Events

  • “How Americans Helped Shape Canada, and Why this Matters”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Historical Connections Between Canada and American Immigration Policy

Wed., Feb. 1 | 12:30 pm PT | 223 Moses | RSVP here

Canadian Studies faculty affiliate Hidetaka Hirota will explore historical connections between Canada and American immigration policy in the long nineteenth century. Based on his earlier and current works, Professor Hirota will discuss three aspects of this history: Canada as a destination of deportation from the United States; Canadians as targets of restrictive immigration policy; and Canada as a potential ally of the United States in migration control. In doing so, he will illuminate the experiences of Irish migrants in the mid-nineteenth century, Canadian migrants in the late nineteenth century, and Japanese migrants in the early twentieth century. These migrant groups’ experiences demonstrate that Canada remained an important part of the history of American immigration policy.

About the Speaker

Hidetaka Hirota is a social and legal historian of the United States specializing in immigration, and an associate professor of history at UC Berkeley. He is particularly interested in the history of American nativism and immigration control. His first book, Expelling the Poor: Atlantic Seaboard States and the Nineteenth-Century Origins of American Immigration Policy, shows how an influx of impoverished Irish immigrants to the United States in the early 19th century led nativists to develop policies for deporting destitute foreigners to Europe and Canada, and laid the groundwork for later federal legislation. His current projects include an examination of long-running tensions between nativism and a demand for migrant labor in the United States, as well as an exploration of the Japanese immigrant experience before 1924.
If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please let us know at least 14 days in advance.

PROGRAM NEWS

Hildebrand Fellow Joshua Zimmt Pieces Together the Link Between Climate Change and the First Mass Extinction of Animal Life

By Joshua Zimmt

Joshua Zimmt is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology and UC Museum of Paleontology at UC Berkeley. He holds a B.S. in geology from the College of William & Mary. His research focuses on the link between climate change and its impact on the history of life, integrating geological, paleobiological, and geochemical data into a comprehensive understanding of past events. He received a Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship in Summer 2022 to conduct fossil excavations in Québec that reveal a link between climate change and the first mass extinction of animal life.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues in the world today: the effects of our warming planet are all around us, with worsening droughts, rising sea levels, and catastrophic weather events featured across the news. Climate scientists have developed sophisticated models that can predict how and why this warming trend will worsen in the years to come. However, these models cannot tell scientists what the impact of global warming will be on species and ecosystems around the world. This gap in our knowledge is critical for adapting to and planning for our changing planet. Fortunately, we can use the fossil record to study past episodes of climate change and how they affected life on Earth to better understand the impact of modern

climate change on the natural world.

As a paleobiologist, I am motivated by the promise of using the past to help contextualize the present and make predictions about the future. In my work, I combine the disciplines of geology, biology, and chemistry to produce integrative perspectives of climate-driven events throughout the history of life. Investigating the geologic and fossil records of these events provides us with case studies of how life on Earth responds to climate change, but the interpretation of these events is complicated by climate-driven changes in sea levels that shape the geologic record. To solve this problem, I have developed a new method of studying the geologic and fossil records that combines high-resolution data from across a region into a comprehensive assessment of a climate-driven extinction event (Zimmt et al., 2021).

One of the most impactful climate-driven extinction events was the first major mass extinction of animal life, the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Nearly 445 million years ago, the Late Ordovician mass extinction eliminated ~80% of species diversity during a period of major climate change. The onset of the mass extinction is associated with global cooling and an abrupt fall in sea level, while the end of the event is associated with global warming and a rapid rise in sea level. However, it is not clear what aspect of climate change (cooling, warming, or some climate-driven change) drove the mass extinction. The application of my new method to the fossil and geologic records of the Late Ordovician mass extinction could therefore provide invaluable insight into this important extinction event.

To meaningfully apply my new method to the Late Ordovician mass extinction, I needed to choose a region with both exceptional fossil and geologic records. For over a century, Québec’s Anticosti Island has been visited by paleobiologists looking to study the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Across the 200-km long island, layers of rocks and fossils recording millions of years of life from an ancient ocean are beautifully exposed in coastal cliffs and river canyons. These qualities make Anticosti Island one of the best regional records of the Late Ordovician mass extinction and thus a promising target to implement my new approach for studying climate-driven mass extinctions.
The Hildebrand Fellowship provided me with the funding I needed to lead an international group of researchers from Stanford University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Ottawa for a month-long field season on Anticosti Island. Our goal was to develop a framework that would enable us to correlate the geologic record across my field sites so I could apply my method for studying climate-driven mass extinction events to the fossil and geologic records on Anticosti Island. The establishment of such a correlation framework would be a major step forward in our understanding of Anticosti Island. Despite more than a century of work preceding us, no such framework existed!

Over the course of the field season, we meticulously measured and described the geologic record of eastern Anticosti Island, visiting 17 field sites that spanned the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Our observations demonstrated that that the geologic record of Anticosti Island was far more complex than any researcher had previously recognized. We found evidence for several major climate-driven cycles in sea level during the Late Ordovician mass extinction, indicating a series of warming and cooling intervals during the extinction event. Working together, we were able to develop a framework that used these oscillations in sea level to correlate the geologic record across our field sites. This represents a critical step forward in our knowledge of one of the best regional records of the Late Ordovician mass extinction and will enable us to develop a high-resolution sequence of both climatic and biological events throughout the Late Ordovician mass extinction.

 

While this field season is the first step in applying my approach for studying climate-driven mass extinction events to the record on Anticosti Island, our findings have global significance. The recognition of several major warming and cooling cycles during the Late Ordovician mass extinction suggests that the traditional interpretation of the mass extinction is likely over-simplified and requires a more thorough assessment of the geologic and fossil records. Moving forward, I will incorporate geochemical and paleobiological data from my research into our new correlation framework. The integration of geological, geochemical, and paleobiological data into this framework will provide us with unprecedented resolution that we can then use to determine the relationship between climate change and the Late Ordovician mass extinction.

More information on Joshua’s research on Anticosti Island can be found on the UC Museum of Paleontology site, here.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

How Americans Helped Shape Canada, and Why this Matters

Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 10:00 a.m. PT | Online | RSVP

Western Washington University’s Center for Canadian-American Studies invites you to the first talk in a new speaker series, “Why Canada Matters“. Historian Claire Campbell will visit some places and moments where Americans occupied or altered landscapes to the north, and in the process helped shape Canada’s borders, politics, and identity. Her talk will also explore the environmental implications of this shared history. Dr. Campbell is a professor and chair of history and affiliate faculty in environmental studies & sciences at Bucknell University, where she teaches environmental history, including Early America, cartography, urban history, and coastal history.

This talk is co-sponsored by WWU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Department of History, and delivered in partnership with the WWU Alumni Association.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Happy New Year! Check out our Spring events!

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An item from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area (and great supporter of our branch too).
Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Upcoming Events

  • Spring Colloquium lineup: Check out what we’ve got in store!
  • Next event: “Historical Connections Between Canada and American Immigration Policy”
  • Plus, a preview for the rest of the semester!

Program News

  • Our updated Spring course list is out now!

News from Canada

  • Opinion: “The Strengths and Weaknesses of Canada’s Diplomacy Game”, by Jeremy Kinsman

Research Opportunities

  • AEIQ/ACQS Research Funding for Quebec Studies
  • Call for Papers: ACSUS 26th Biennial Conference

SPRING EVENTS LINEUP
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2023! This semester, our Canadian Studies Colloquium highlights some of our local affiliates and their ground-breaking research. We hope you’ll join us to make connections and learn more about the diverse research our fellow California Canadianists are conducting across the state!

Historical Connections Between Canada and American Immigration Policy

Wed., Feb. 1 | 12:30 pm PT | 223 Moses | RSVP here

Canadian Studies faculty affiliate Hidetaka Hirota will explore historical connections between Canada and American immigration policy in the long nineteenth century. Based on his earlier and current works, Professor Hirota will discuss three aspects of this history: Canada as a destination of deportation from the United States; Canadians as targets of restrictive immigration policy; and Canada as a potential ally of the United States in migration control. In doing so, he will illuminate the experiences of Irish migrants in the mid-nineteenth century, Canadian migrants in the late nineteenth century, and Japanese migrants in the early twentieth century. These migrant groups’ experiences demonstrate that Canada remained an important part of the history of American immigration policy.

About the Speaker

Hidetaka Hirota is a social and legal historian of the United States specializing in immigration, and an associate professor of history at UC Berkeley. He is particularly interested in the history of American nativism and immigration control. His first book, Expelling the Poor: Atlantic Seaboard States and the Nineteenth-Century Origins of American Immigration Policy, shows how an influx of impoverished Irish immigrants to the United States in the early 19th century led nativists to develop policies for deporting destitute foreigners to Europe and Canada, and laid the groundwork for later federal legislation. His current projects include an examination of long-running tensions between nativism and a demand for migrant labor in the United States, as well as an exploration of the Japanese immigrant experience before 1924.
If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please let us know at least 14 days in advance.
… And Stay Tuned for More Spring Events!

  • February 15: Agricultural economist Catherine Keske (UC Merced) will discuss her research on creating a secure, sustainable, and just food system in the boreal ecosystems of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • March 15: Political scientist and Sproul Fellow Eric Guntermann will discuss his research into the effect of political mainstreaming on the voting patterns of Canada’s lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities.
  • April 5: Anthropologist Christyann Darwent (UC Davis) will share insights from her research, exploring how humans adapted to harsh high arctic environments.
  • April 26: Grad student Hildebrand Fellows Joshua Zimmt and Taesoo Song will give short presentations on their Canadian Studies-funded research, exploring an ancient mass extinction event and the effects of speculation taxes on immigrants.

PROGRAM NEWS
Check Out Our Updated Spring Canadian Studies Course List!

As part of our educational outreach, Canadian Studies maintains a list of Berkeley courses that promote greater knowledge of Canada. We are pleased to highlight classes, often led by our affiliates, that showcase the academic breadth of Canadian Studies. As an interdisciplinary program we encourage students to take classes across a variety of subjects, and these courses reflect that diversity. Courses offered this semester include:

  • “Anatomy of Criticism”: This course explores the meaning of “literary criticism” through the theories of the influential Canadian critic Northrop Frye and his 1957 magnum opus, Anatomy of Criticism.
  • “French for Politics”: This class provides an introduction to French-speaking political cultures around the world, including that of Quebec.
  • “Monsters and Modernity”: This class delves into fears and anxieties behind modern literary “monsters”, and what they say about society. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale will be a highlighted text.
  • “Montreal: Colonization, Urbanization, Migration”: This course, led by Canadian Studies affiliate William Burton, explores the history and development of Montreal’s cultural identity through Québécois literature and film.
  • “Tourism, Heritage, and Ritual”: Former program director Nelson Graburn will teach anthropological approaches to studying tourism and cultural heritage, as well as the impacts of modern trends such as “over-tourism” and commoditization.

NEWS FROM CANADA

Opinion: “The Strengths and Weaknesses of Canada’s Diplomacy Game”, by Jeremy Kinsman

In recent years, the established international order has faced threats unprecedented in recent times. These challenges have made many skeptical of diplomacy as a tool for international change, and seem to be taking the world back to a pre-WWI era of “Great Power” force projection. Yet Jeremy Kinsman, a former diplomat who has spoken to Canadian Studies several times, argues in a new op-ed in Policy Magazine that Canada can take the lead in re-establishing the importance of dialogue as a tool of international order, while asserting its own place in that framework.

Canada, Kinsman says, should build upon the reputation for honest, multilateral communication that serves as its greatest strength. He argues that the government must reverse the persistent disinvestment in soft-power tools of recent years. Furthermore, Canada’s diplomatic corps needs additional flexibility and independence from Ottawa bureaucrats and its electoral concerns. Kinsman stresses to the importance of building international relationships on trust, and avoiding political grandstanding. “Diplomacy is not about lecturing,” he warns, arguing that public admonitions can often be counterproductive to a nation’s interests. Together, these investments can make Canada a global leader in an area that often suffers a lack of thoughtful, consistent direction.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

AEIQ/ACQS Research Funding for Quebec Studies

Application deadline: February 15, 2023

The Association internationale des études québécoises (AIEQ) and American Council of Quebec Studies (ACQS) and are offering funding to support U.S.-based scholars seeking funding to participate in training or research on Québec. Fellowships are available to graduate students in the social sciences or humanities working on a thesis with a substantial relation to Quebec or its relations with the United States. The program covers up to $2,000 CAD in research expenses for travel to Quebec. Applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident.

Click here to learn more.

Call for Papers: ACSUS 26th Biennial Conference

Submission deadline: March 1, 2023

The Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) is excited to announce that its 2023 conference will take place November 16-19, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Washington, D.C.

The conference is open to all proposals with a significant Canadian focus. ACSUS welcomes papers and panel proposals from students, professors, independent scholars, and practitioners on all diverse and critical perspectives related to the conference theme, “Canada: Near and Far”.

Please review the full call for papers posted online.
Canadian Studies Program
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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Happy holidays from Canadian Studies! ☃️

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An item from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.

🌟 Canadian Studies Announcements 🌟

In This Issue:

Holiday Wrap-Up 🎁

  • Season’s greetings from Canadian Studies!
  • Holiday trivia: Rudolph the “Canadian” Reindeer?
  • How to have an Earth-conscious holiday
  • Holiday recipe: Butter tarts, a Canadian classic

Season’s Greetings from Canadian Studies!
Dear friends,

What a year 2022 has been! From hosting our first in-person conference in several years, to seeing our graduate students return to the field, this year has been full of excitement, growth, and movement.

This year has been especially meaningful as we celebrated Canadian Studies’ 40th anniversary on campus. For four decades, we’ve supported research and education on Canada’s peoples, its cultures, and its place in the world. We’ve faced many challenges over the years, but I’m pleased to say the program has never been more vibrant.

Of course, our success is founded on you, our community. Our work is only possible thanks to your support and engagement. We rely on philanthropy to run our program, so as you consider your year-end giving, we ask that you consider making a donation to Canadian Studies if you’re able. But know that we appreciate whatever support you can give. If you attend our events, write in with your thoughts, or even just read this newsletter, you’re giving meaning to the work we do, and we’re grateful for it.
Give a Gift to Canadian Studies! 🎁
Our Spring Colloquium will highlight some of our recent growth, showcasing new affiliated scholars from across California as well as some of the fascinating research our own grad students are doing. For now, though, we hope that you enjoy marking your own holiday traditions with your friends and family. Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah today, Christmas this weekend, or just waiting to ring in the new year, happy holidays from all of us at Canadian Studies, and we’ll see you in 2023!

In friendship,
Irene Bloemraad

Program Director 🥂

Holiday Trivia: Ruldoph the “Canadian” Reindeer?

For nearly 60 years, the animated films made by Rankin/Bass have been a fixture of holiday television across North America. Between 1960 and 1987, the New York-based company turned out seasonal TV specials like Frosty the Snowman and The Little Drummer Boy that have become staples for generations of children. The first (and arguably best-known) of these films was 1964’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which became a surprise hit that has deeply embedded itself in North America’s cultural consciousness. Rudolph has aired on American television every year since its premiere almost six decades ago, making it the longest-running special in US history.

However, few people know that the film wouldn’t have been possible without Canadian talent. That’s right: with the exception of the film’s snowman narrator, played by American singer Burl Ives, all of the major roles in Rudolph were played by Canadian actors, recorded together at the RCA studies in Toronto. In 2014, the Toronto Star interviewed several surviving cast members in honor of the special’s 50th anniversary. They discussed the process of creating the film and its legacy five decades on. Without their hard work, we wouldn’t have the beloved children’s classic we know today.

The film’s producers at Rankin/Bass chose to source the film’s voice work to Canada for two main reasons. One was a wider pool of available talent in the north. While most American networks had cancelled their remaining radio dramas years earlier due to competition from television, the CBC continued to produce large-scale radio programs. “In Toronto, we had the very best pool of English-speaking radio actors in the world,” said the late actor Paul Soles, who provided the voice of Hermey the elf. The cast was only provided with a script, without even a description of their characters, so their on-screen portrayals and personalities were largely the result of the actors’ own imaginations.

At the same time, financial considerations also played a major role in the decision to use Canadian talent. Canadian actors were significantly cheaper than their American counterparts, a major concern for the cash-strapped production company. Importantly, they weren’t unionized. “We worked cheap,” said Soles. “We had no union protection”. As a result, Burl Ives, a last-minute addition to add some American star power, was the only actor to receive residuals from re-broadcasts. The special has made over $100 million over decades of reruns, yet its Canadian cast received only a few thousand dollars – an issue that remains a sore spot for many of them.

Nevertheless, the actors remain proud of the work itself, and their role in creating a new holiday tradition. While subsequent Rankin/Bass films used American actors, Rudolph’s success was what established the company’s name and reputation. Soles feels that the special still resonates so strongly because it’s “everything that’s right about Christmas.” Moreover, it expresses some of Canada’s most cherished values: as Soles put it, “if there is a problem, it can be overcome by goodwill, good wishes, warmth, cordiality, kindness, helpfulness.” It’s surely a message that will resonate for years to come.

How to Have an Earth-Conscious Holiday

For many, the holiday season is synonymous with “consumption” of all kinds – from food to presents, parties to winter getaways. It’s no wonder that a Canadian non-profit estimates household waste goes up by 25% around the holidays, even in an eco-conscious country like Canada. The CBC published some handy tips to making your holidays more eco-friendly, no matter which one you’re celebrating. There’s sure to be some surprises: how much waste does gift wrapping create? And is an artificial tree better than a live one? Read on to learn how you can help preserve the planet as you celebrate!

Image source: Kelvin Kay, Wikimedia Commons.

Holiday Recipe: Butter Tarts, a Canadian Classic

One of Canada’s most characteristic and best-loved sweets, the butter tart has a strong claim to being Canada’s “national dessert”. Although it has roots in Europe, these bite-sized treats are a genuine Canadian invention. The recipe first appeared in Ontario in the early 1900’s, and quickly spread across the country to become a national staple. A flaky pastry shell, caramelized top, and warm, gooey filling make the butter tart satisfying and comforting on a cold winter evening. Check out the New York Times for a traditional, from-scratch recipe. (And yes, you can add raisins if you like – we won’t tell!)

Image source: Hisakazu Watanabe, Wikimedia Commons.

That’s it for 2022! Our newsletter will return in January 2023.
Canadian Studies Program
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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Wednesday: The future of commemoration for Canada’s residential schools

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An item from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Upcoming Events

  • “Canada’s Residential Schools and the Futures of Commemoration”

News from Canada

  • New series Three Pines brings Louise Penny’s award-winning mysteries to life

Research Opportunities

  • Last chance to apply for spring grad student funding!

External Events

  • “The Future of the Canadian Conservative Party”
  • “Overcoming Remoteness: Arctic Innovation in Transportation, Energy and Connectivity”

Beginning today, the Canadian Studies newsletter will be published every two weeks. We’ll return to a weekly newsletter in January 2023.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Canada’s Residential Schools and the Futures of Commemoration

Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 12:30 pm PT | 223 Moses | RSVP here

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-15) was formed to examine Canada’s Indian Residential Schools system, which had forcibly removed children from their families and communities since the 19th century, and its devastating effects on generations of indigenous citizens. Although it concluded that the system was a “policy of cultural genocide” and produced a list of “94 Calls to Action” in an attempt to repair relations, the commission was criticised as being ineffective; however, it did bring the issue of the residential schools to the forefront of the public consciousness and acknowledge a trauma that had been previously forgotten or denied. The trauma, however, has still not been addressed; in 2021, after the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, multiple commemorative events were held across Canada to protest the lack of action by state and provincial authorities. In response, the Canadian government pledged to fund the creation of a national monument to commemorate the victims of the Indian Residential School system, and are currently debating how this will be achieved.

This presentation examines how Canada’s Indian Residential Schools have been recently represented in select Canadian films and museums. Building on Raymond Williams’s notion of “structures of feeling” – feelings and affective states that are associated with a group at a specific time and place that are captured and evoked in art and culture – this presentation examines how these films and museums do not only represent the trauma that occurred, but also provide affective experiences to the viewer/visitor, thus commemorating the victims and the traumas experienced in both cognitive and affective ways.

About the Speaker

Corey Schultz is an associate professor in media and communication studies at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and the recipient of a 2022 John A. Sproul Fellowship from UC Berkeley Canadian Studies. He is the author of Moving Figures: Class and Feelings in the Films of Jia Zhangke (University of Edinburgh Press, 2018) and the co-editor of China’s International Communication and Relationship Building (Routledge, 2022). His research has been published in Screen, Visual Communication, Moving Image Review & Art Journal, Asian Cinema, Film-Philosophy, the International Journal of Heritage Studies, and Museum Management and Curatorship.
If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible.

NEWS FROM CANADA

New Series Three Pines Brings Louise Penny’s Award-Winning Mysteries to Life

A new television series is bringing Canada’s best-known mystery series to an international audience. Three Pines, which debuted last week on Amazon Prime, is based on the bestselling Inspector Gamache novels by Louise Penny, which see the titular detective solving murders in a small Quebec village loosely based on the author’s hometown. Her cozy portrayal of a small-town Canada populated by quirky locals, and Gamache’s unshakeable empathy and good-heartedness, have made her books a favorite of millions of readers across Canada and around the world. Penny published her eighteenth Inspector Gamache novel, A World of Curiosities, last month, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

This adaptation introduces new audiences to Canada’s best-loved literary detective, while offering a fresh perspective for long-time fans of the series. And fans shouldn’t worry: the new adaptation is a thoroughly Canadian production that boasts Penny’s seal of approval. Alfred Molina stars as Gamache, a casting choice that Penny praised. He is joined by junior detectives played by Canadian actors Rossif Sutherland and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, who is a member of the Kainai Blackfoot Nation. Filming for the series took place on location in Montreal and the Eastern Townships, with a 95% Canadian cast and crew, giving the production an undeniable authenticity.

Penny’s novels are intimately intertwined with Quebec’s culture, history, and politics, and the new adaptation infuses her older stories in with contemporary concerns. Showrunners were particularly sensitive to making sure that story points dealing with Indigenous issues were portrayed fairly. The legacy of Canada’s residential schools plays a central role in the narrative, and writers incorporated a new plotline centered on the police response to Canada’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis. Writers took pains to make sure their Indigenous characters were well-rounded, complex, and didn’t rely on stereotypes. This includes Tailfeathers’ character, Inspector Lacoste, who was re-written to be Indigenous in a departure from the novels.

Initial critical reviews for the series have been largely positive. Variety applauds the show’s “deep dive” into Franco-Canadian culture and “seamless” integration of Indigenous stories, which it says “are deserving of the global platform Prime Video offers, all while doing justice to the best-selling novels on which they’re based.” Roger Ebert, meanwhile, praised the series as an “intelligent”, “pleasant little surprise” for “fans of Agatha Christie or even Columbo”.

The first two episodes of Three Pines are streaming now on Amazon Prime.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Last Chance to Apply for Spring Grad Student Funding!

Spring research deadline: December 9, 2022

The Canadian Studies Program is currently accepting applications for the Edward E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship for Spring and Summer 2023. The application is open to UC Berkeley graduate students in any discipline whose work focuses primarily or comparatively on Canada. This fellowship is meant to cover direct research costs, with a typical award maximum of $5,000.

The application deadline for Spring 2023 research is this Friday, December 9; applications for Summer 2023 should be submitted by March 10.

Please visit our website for more information and full eligibility criteria, and help us share this information with your friends, students, and networks!

EXTERNAL EVENTS
The Future of the Canadian Conservative Party

Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 10:00 am PT | Online | RSVP here

The British Association for Canadian Studies invites you to a discussion on the recent Conservative Party leadership election and Pierre Poilievre’s rise as party leader. What explains this result, and what does it suggests both for the Conservatives’ electoral prospects and the future of Canadian politics?

The panel will include two previous Berkeley Canadian Studies speakers, professors Allison Harel (UQAM) and Christopher Kirkey (SUNY Plattsburgh), along with Professor Jean-François Godbout (Université de Montréal).

Overcoming Remoteness: Arctic Innovation in Transportation, Energy and Connectivity

Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 11:00 am PT | Online | RSVP here

What makes the North American Arctic unique? In many ways, the remoteness and sparsity of the region that gives it its character. But its remoteness also gives rise to extreme economic challenges. Arctic communities face affordability and accessibility challenges that those in southern and urban areas do not. In particular, transportation, energy and connectivity are more difficult, and therefore more expensive, with dramatic consequences for development. This affects not only the social well-being of Arctic residents, many of whom struggle with high cost food and housing, and limited access to health services, education and employment. It also affects the competitiveness of economic and resource development, and the ability to exercise the defense and security of the region.

Please join the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and Canada Institute for a discussion about opportunities and barriers to specific technical solutions to the region’s challenges, and assess various public and private financing mechanisms to bring them to life. The panel will consist of Heather Exner-Pirot (Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute); Madeleine Redfern (COO, CanArctic Inuit Networks), and Jessica M. Shadian (President/CEO, Arctic 360). It will be moderated by Jack Durkee, program associate for the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and manager of its Arctic Infrastructure Inventory.
Canadian Studies Program
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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Wednesday: Canada’s increasing COVID divide; Commemorating residential schools

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An item from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Upcoming Events

  • “COVID-19 and Delayed Political Polarization in Canada”
  • “Canada’s Residential Schools and the Futures of Commemoration”

Research Opportunities

  • Spring Hildebrand applications close next week!

External Events

  • Digital Moose Lounge Learn to Curl Holiday Social
  • Canadian Women’s Club & Digital Moose Lounge Christmas Luncheon
Support Canadian Studies this Giving Tuesday! 🇨🇦

Canadian Studies relies on the generosity of our friends and supporters to bring you quality programs like those below. If you enjoy our events, consider donating to Canadian Studies tomorrow, Nov. 29. Your donation directly supports our work!

UPCOMING EVENTS

COVID-19 and Delayed Political Polarization in Canada

Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 12:30 pm PT | 223 Moses | RSVP here

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with large degrees of deep partisan polarization. In the US case, partisanship rapidly became associated with differences in the willingness to practice social distancing, to wear a mask, and eventually to get vaccinated. It was also associated with different risk perceptions about COVID and different relationships between COVID concern and evaluation of incumbents. The Canadian case is different. Partisan differences in evaluations of COVID and behavioural responses to it were small through the first year of the pandemic, but then began to widen. Drawing on more than 100,000 survey interviews with Canadians, we explore why political polarization over COVID was delayed.

About the Speaker

Peter Loewen is the director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and a professor of political science at the University of Toronto. He is also the director of the Policy, Elections & Representation Lab (PEARL), associate director of the Schwartz Reisman Institute, a Senior Fellow at Massey College, and a fellow with the Public Policy Forum. He received his B.A. from Mount Allison University and his Ph.D. from l’Université de Montréal. Professor Loewen’s work has been published in numerous journals, and he is a regular contributor to the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star and National Post.

This event is cosponsored by the Department of Political Science, the Goldman School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, and the Institute of International Studies.

If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible.

Canada’s Residential Schools and the Futures of Commemoration

Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 12:30 pm PT | 223 Moses | RSVP here

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-15) was formed to examine Canada’s Indian Residential Schools system, which had forcibly removed children from their families and communities since the 19th century, and its devastating effects on generations of indigenous citizens. Although it concluded that the system was a “policy of cultural genocide” and produced a list of “94 Calls to Action” in an attempt to repair relations, the commission was criticised as being ineffective; however, it did bring the issue of the residential schools to the forefront of the public consciousness and acknowledge a trauma that had been previously forgotten or denied. The trauma, however, has still not been addressed; in 2021, after the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, multiple commemorative events were held across Canada to protest the lack of action by state and provincial authorities. In response, the Canadian government pledged to fund the creation of a national monument to commemorate the victims of the Indian Residential School system, and are currently debating how this will be achieved.

This presentation examines how Canada’s Indian Residential Schools have been recently represented in select Canadian films and museums. Building on Raymond Williams’s notion of “structures of feeling” – feelings and affective states that are associated with a group at a specific time and place that are captured and evoked in art and culture – this presentation examines how these films and museums do not only represent the trauma that occurred, but also provide affective experiences to the viewer/visitor, thus commemorating the victims and the traumas experienced in both cognitive and affective ways.

About the Speaker

Corey Schultz is an associate professor in media and communication studies at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and the recipient of a 2022 John A. Sproul Fellowship from UC Berkeley Canadian Studies. He is the author of Moving Figures: Class and Feelings in the Films of Jia Zhangke (University of Edinburgh Press, 2018) and the co-editor of China’s International Communication and Relationship Building (Routledge, 2022). His research has been published in Screen, Visual Communication, Moving Image Review & Art Journal, Asian Cinema, Film-Philosophy, the International Journal of Heritage Studies, and Museum Management and Curatorship.
If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Spring Hildebrand Applications Close Next Week!

Spring research deadline: December 9, 2022

The Canadian Studies Program is currently accepting applications for the Edward E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship for Spring and Summer 2023. The application is open to UC Berkeley graduate students in any discipline whose work focuses primarily or comparatively on Canada. This fellowship is meant to cover direct research costs, with a typical award maximum of $5,000.

The application deadline for Spring 2023 research is next Friday, December 9; applications for Summer 2023 should be submitted by March 10.

Please visit our website for more information and full eligibility criteria, and help us share this information with your friends, students, and networks!

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Digital Moose Lounge Learn to Curl Holiday Social

Friday, December 2 | 6:30 pm | Oakland, CA

Join the Digital Moose Lounge (DML) for a Learn to Curl holiday social at the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club’s new dedicated curling facility! No experience or special equipment necessary – SFBACC club members and instructors will teach the basics of the game and help participants safely try curling for the first time.

This 90-minute class includes a pre-ice time safety talk and brief introduction to the sport, guided instruction through the basics of the game on ice, and a mini-game. Tickets are $40/adult and $15/junior (21 and under).

Click here to learn more and purchase tickets by December 2.

Canadian Women’s Club & Digital Moose Lounge Christmas Luncheon

Wednesday, December 14 | 11:00 am | San Francisco, CA

The Digital Moose Lounge and Canadian Women’s Club of San Francisco invite you to a joint holiday celebration with fellow members of the Bay Area’s Canadian community. All are welcome to share a festive lunch at the beautiful Presidio Golf & Concordia Club in San Francisco. Tickets are $55 and includes your choice of entree.

Click here to learn more and purchase tickets by December 4.
Canadian Studies Program
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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720