Tag Archives: Canadian Studies Program UC Berkeley

Video: Canada, disability rights & COVID; Are expats Canada’s most important export?

Leave a reply

A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Video: Disability rights in the workplace during COVID-19, feat. Laverne Jacobs
  • Call for papers: 63rd Annual Western Social Science Ass’n Conference
  • Call for papers: Canada in Conversation: Crisis, Challenge and Change
  • External event: “Planet Canada: How Our Expats are Shaping the Future”
Video: Disability Rights and Workplace Discrimination in the Time of COVID-19, feat. Laverne Jacobs
In September, University of Windsor Law professor and former Canadian Studies affiliate Laverne Jacobs spoke at a flash conference convened by the Disability Rights group of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law. The conference addressed global issues of workplace discrimination against people with disabilities during COVID-19.
Professor Jacobs, an authority on human rights and disability law in Canada and the United States, was a visiting Fulbright Research Chair in Canadian Studies at Berkeley in 2014. In the September panel, Professor Jacobs joined experts from four countries to discuss how the pandemic has confronted the disabled community with new and unique issues in the workplace. She presented on the current situation in Canada, addressing issues of accessibility, income security, and accommodation of vulnerable groups.
The entire panel is available to watch online via YouTube, or on the BCCE’s website (with a downloadable transcript). Professor Jacob’s talk begins at 36:07. Canadian Studies conducted an interview with Professor Jacobs in October, where she discussed her work in further detail.
Call for Papers: 63rd Annual Western Social Science Association Conference
Due date: January 29, 2021 | Submit proposals here
The Western Social Science Association (WSSA) is accepting papers on Canadian studies topics for its 63rd annual conference, scheduled virtually from April 12-25, 2021. Founded in 1958, WSSA draws on scholars in some 32 disciplines to foster professional study, advance research, promote the teaching of social science, and encourage professional exchange across the social science disciplines.
The Canadian Studies section accepts proposals relating to any disciplines or areas of Canadian Studies, not just the social sciences. The section covers all aspects of Canadian Studies and is happy to have panels on Canadian Literature, Arts, and Humanities as well as panels on Canadian Geography, History, Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Business, Environment, Public Policy, etc. Panels can be appropriately cross-listed with other WSSA Sections, such as Borderland Studies, Political Science, or Native Studies.
The conference will accept proposals for live Zoom sessions, recorded sessions, hybrid sessions, and document-only papers. Proposals must be submitted to the appropriate section through the organization’s website by January 29, 2021. Questions about the Canadian Studies section should be directed to Pierre Atlas at patlas@marian.edu. General information about the conference can be found here.
Call for Papers: Canada in Conversation: Crisis, Challenge and Change
Deadline: January 29, 2021 | Submit proposals here
The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies at York University is pleased to invite graduate students from around the world to join their annual conference: Canada in Conversation: Crisis, Challenge and Change (scheduled virtually from April 9-30, 2021).
As the nation moves into the new decade, 2021 sees the country navigating a shifting landscape that is coming out of crisis, confronting new challenges and undergoing change. So, what are the conversations Canada and Canadians are having? How are these conversations changing (especially in a COVID and post-COVID era)? Where are they taking place? Who is changing them? What kinds of changes are occurring and/or what changes need to occur? Where is the conversation headed—and where should/could it be going?
Please submit proposals (max. 250 words) here by Friday, 29 January 2021.
UPCOMING EVENTS
External Event: “Planet Canada: How Our Expats are Shaping the Future”
December 9 | 9:00 a.m. | RSVP here
Join C100 for a special discussion with author John Stackhouse for a special discussion of his new book, Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future.
Over three million Canadians live abroad, yet few know of their far-reaching impact: that Canadians have been at the forefront of almost every major global movement in modern history. In Planet Canada, Stackhouse presents fresh new data on our global Canadian community and asserts that this powerful diaspora could be the country’s greatest untapped resource.
Stackhouse a senior vice-president at the Royal Bank of Canada, leading research on economic, technological and social change. He is also a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, and is a former editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail.
RSVP to C100 here.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Travel Q&A; How Canadian expats are shaping the future

Leave a reply

A notice from another one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Thanksgiving message from program director Irene Bloemraad
  • Note: Newsletter will now come out every 2 weeks until Jan. 2021
  • Affiliate event: Facing Border Closure Together to Flatten the Curve
  • External event: Planet Canada: How Our Expats are Shaping the Future
🍂 Happy (American) Thanksgiving! 🍂
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Canadian Studies Program, I’d like to wish all our friends in the United States a happy Thanksgiving, and offer my best wishes as we begin the holidays.
With the pandemic showing no signs of abating, this holiday season will require all of us to make difficult choices to protect the health of us and those around us. Many of our us won’t be able to travel or see our families in person this year. We’ll find ourselves having to modify or forego many cherished holiday traditions.
However, as I said in my Canadian Thanksgiving message, I believe that makes it all the more important to take stock of and express gratitude for all the good things in life. We are incredibly grateful for all of you – thanks to your support, Canadian Studies is ending this term in a good position to come back stronger than ever next year.
We also note that some members of Indigenous communities, such as UC Berkeley’s Elizabeth Hoover (Mohawk/Mi’kmaq descent) suggest other approaches to celebrating Thanksgiving that acknowledge and support Native people – click here to learn more.
On that note, we’ve reached the end of our Fall semester here at Canadian Studies, so beginning this week we’ll be returning to publishing our newsletter every two weeks. We’ll return to a weekly newsletter at the end of January, 2021.
Sincerely,
Irene Bloemraad
Program Director
UPCOMING EVENTS
Affiliate Event: Facing Border Closure Together to Flatten the Curve
December 3 | 4:00 p.m. | RSVP here
Join the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco and the Digital Moose Lounge for an important conversation on the extension of border closure regulations. This open-format community discussion will give you an opportunity to answer all your travel and immigration-related questions.
Panelists will include Consul-General Rana Sarkar and Senior Consular Officer Marni Kellison; Pavan Dhillon, a Canadian Studies board member and founder & principal attorney at Dhillon Immigration Law; Shauna Chevalier, a liaison officer for the Canada Border Services Agency; and Serge Corbeil, Director of Government Relations (Western Region) for Air Canada.
RSVP to Wade Wallerstein here.
External Event: Planet Canada: How Our Expats are Shaping the Future
December 9 | 9:00 a.m. | RSVP here
Join C100 for a special discussion with author John Stackhouse for a special discussion of his new book, Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future.
Over three million Canadians live abroad, yet few know of their far-reaching impact: that Canadians have been at the forefront of almost every major global movement in modern history. In Planet Canada, Stackhouse presents fresh new data on our global Canadian community and asserts that this powerful diaspora could be the country’s greatest untapped resource.
Stackhouse a senior vice-president at the Royal Bank of Canada, leading research on economic, technological and social change. He is also a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, and is a former editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail.
RSVP to C100 here.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Tomorrow: the future of US-Canada relations; travel tips for Canadians; book launch & more

Leave a reply

An item from another fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Tomorrow: What does a Biden administration mean for US-Canada relations?
  • In the news: NY Times: Canadians “relieved” by Biden win
  • In the news: Faculty affiliate Gabriel Lenz reflects on US election results
  • Affiliate event: Travel tips for Canadians going to the US during the pandemic
  • Affiliate event: Book launch for 2012 Sproul Fellow Celia Rabinovitch
Special Event Tomorrow
What the US Election Means for US-Canada Relations
November 17 | 12:30 p.m. | Online | RSVP here
After one of the most closely-contested elections in recent US history, Joe Biden has defeated incumbent president Trump to become the next President of the United States. What does a Biden administration mean for the future of US-Canada relations? Canadian Studies will host a special roundtable discussing the possible outcomes of a Biden presidency for bilateral relations and their impact on Canada.
Panelists will be Frédérick Gagnon, a professor of political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a past Fulbright Chair and Sproul Fellow in the Canadian Studies Program; and Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. and a Canadian Studies board member. The discussion will be moderated by Canadian Studies director Irene Bloemraad.
An RSVP is required to attend this meeting. Please RSVP through Zoom here. If you have any questions, please email us at canada@berekeley.edu.
In the News
NY Times: Canadians “Relieved” by Biden Win
The upcoming change in leadership in Washington has many Canadian’s wondering what’s next for relations with their southern neighbor. The New York Times took the pulse on what Canadians expect from the next four years, and found public sentiment to be largely positive on the opportunities presented by a Biden Administration. The new president’s greater political alignment with Canadians’ views on healthcare and climate change – not to mention both Biden and Harris’ ties to Canada – leave many Canadians optimistic about greater cooperation, even if challenges remain in certain policy arenas. With as many as 80% of Canadians hoping for a Biden win, officials and civilians alike feel the election results portend a return to the close, almost familial relations of previous years.
Faculty Affiliate Gabriel Lenz Reflects on Election Results
Canadian Studies faculty affiliate Gabriel Lenz, a professor of political science specializing in public opinion, was recently quoted in two notable publications analyzing causes and effects of Donald Trump’s defeat in the recent US presidential election. In a Quartz article, Lenz contextualizes Trump’s loss within his research, which shows presidential results closely tracking voter’s economic well-being. He argues that Republican’s failure to pass a second stimulus check may well have cemented Trump’s defeat.
Lenz’s research was also quoted in a second article from The Economist, showing that American’s confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine had increased after Joe Biden’s victory. In his book Follow the Leader?, Lenz establishes that party affiliation shapes voter’s views, and not the reverse – that is, voters adopt the views of their party’s leadership. The recent jump in vaccine confidence was driven by increased trust among Democrats, arguably responding to supportive messaging from Democratic leadership.
Upcoming Events
Affiliate Event: What Canadians Need to Know About Traveling to the US During the Pandemic
Nov. 17 | 4:00 p.m. | Online | RSVP here
Since the Canada-US border closed to non-essential travel several months ago, the Digital Moose Lounge has held a number of community Q&A’s, helping to answer your questions and addressing your concerns about traveling back to Canada. But what if you or your family want to travel into the United States? What, if any, restrictions exist for Canadians wishing to travel south of the border?
Join leading experts in US immigration law to answer your questions during this one-hour Q&A. Panelists will be Ting Ni (Immipartner), Ron Matten (Matten Law), and David Brown (Brown Immigration Law). RSVP here to receive a meeting link.
Affiliate Event: Virtual Book Launch for Duchamp’s Pipe by Celia Rabinovitch
Nov. 19 | 5:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. CT) | Online | RSVP below
Join Celia Rabinovitch, a writer and artist who received a Sproul Fellowship from Canadian Studies in 2012, in celebrating the publication of her second book, Duchamp’s Pipe: A Chess Romance—Marcel Duchamp and George Koltanowski. The book chronicles the lives and remarkable friendship between the iconic Surrealist artist and the international chess master over three decades, four continents, and two world wars. She will be joined in conversation by Ann McCoy, a writer, artist, and editor-at-large for Brooklyn Rail in New York.
To participate in the Zoom session directly, please RSVP here. The conversation will also be livestreamed on YouTube here.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

What does a Biden administration mean for US-Canada relations?

Leave a reply

Note these up-coming events from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Special event: What does a Biden administration mean for US-Canada relations?
  • In the news: PM Trudeau congratulates President-Elect Biden & VP-elect Harris
  • Virtual poppy campaign to support Canadian veterans
  • Affiliate event: Remembrance Day observances
  • Affiliate event: Travel tips for Canadians going to the US during the pandemic
Special Event Next Week
What the US Election Means for US-Canada Relations
November 17 | 12:30 p.m. | Online | RSVP here
After one of the most closely-contested elections in recent US history, Joe Biden has defeated incumbent president Trump to become the next President of the United States. What does a Biden administration mean for the future of US-Canada relations? Canadian Studies will host a special roundtable discussing the possible outcomes of a Biden presidency for bilateral relations and their impact on Canada.
Panelists will be Frédérick Gagnon, a professor of political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a past Fulbright Chair and Sproul Fellow in the Canadian Studies Program; and Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. and a Canadian Studies board member. The discussion will be moderated by Canadian Studies director Irene Bloemraad.
An RSVP is required to attend this meeting. Please RSVP through Zoom here. If you have any questions, please email us at canada@berekeley.edu.
In the News
PM Trudeau Congratulates President-elect Biden & VP-elect Harris on Historic Election Win
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued an official statement Saturday congratulating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their victory in last week’s election.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their election as the next President and Vice President of the United States of America.
“Canada and the United States enjoy an extraordinary relationship – one that is unique on the world stage. Our shared geography, common interests, deep personal connections, and strong economic ties make us close friends, partners, and allies. We will further build on this foundation as we continue to keep our people safe and healthy from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and work to advance peace and inclusion, economic prosperity, and climate action around the world.
“I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, their administration, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world’s greatest challenges together.”
A Virtual Poppy Campaign to Support Canadian Veterans
Like much else, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted this year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies and our ability to distribute the traditional red poppy that shows support for Canada’s veterans. However, the Royal Canadian Legion, US Branch 25 invites you to share your solidarity with Canadians throughout the Bay Area by joining in a virtual poppy campaign. Simply post a picture of yourself wearing a poppy to social media between now and November 11, using the hashtag #BayAreaPoppy. If you do not have a poppy, please visit the Royal Canadian Legion’s website to request one.
Upcoming Events
Affiliate Event: Virtual Remembrance Day Service
Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. | Online | RSVP here
Join US Branch #25 of the Royal Canadian Legion, along with their comrades from other branches in the International Western USA Zone, as they present a socially distanced, virtual Remembrance Day Service from Liberty Cemetery in Petaluma, Greenlawn Cemetery in Colma, and Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood Park.
External Event: Embassy Remembrance Day Ceremony
Nov. 11 | 7:35 a.m. PT (10:35 a.m. ET) | Online
The Embassy of Canada to the United States invites all to a virtual 2020 Remembrance Day Ceremony, held from the rotunda of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. This nearly thirty-year-old tradition is organized by the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, and will be streamed live on the Connect2Canada Facebook page.
Affiliate Event: What Canadians Need to Know About Traveling to the US During the Pandemic
Nov. 17 | 4:00 p.m. | Online | RSVP here
Since the Canada-US border closed to non-essential travel several months ago, the Digital Moose Lounge has held a number of community Q&A’s, helping to answer your questions and addressing your concerns about traveling back to Canada. But what if you or your family want to travel into the United States? What, if any, restrictions exist for Canadians wishing to travel south of the border?
Join leading experts in US immigration law to answer your questions during this one-hour Q&A. Panelists will be Ting Ni (Immipartner), Ron Matten (Matten Law), and David Brown (Brown Immigration Law). RSVP here to receive a meeting link.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720

Trump vs. Biden: What does this election mean for US-Canada relations?

Leave a reply

An item from a fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.
Canadian Studies Announcements
In this issue:
  • Special election message from Program Director Bloemraad
  • Special event: What will the US election mean for US-Canada relations?
  • In the news: Polls are unreliable, but faculty affiliate Gabe Lenz says that’s OK
  • Virtual poppy campaign to support Canadian veterans
  • Affiliate event: Recruitment for Policy Leaders (RPL) Program Info Session
  • Affiliate event: Remembrance Day observances
Special Election Edition Newsletter
Tomorrow, November 3, US citizens will go to the polls to elect the country’s next president. Canadian Studies strongly encourages all eligible voters to exercise their rights, and cast their vote to determine the course of the country’s future. In these unprecedented and contentious times, it’s more important than ever for all citizens to make their voices heard. And for those who have already voted, we encourage you to reach out to your friends and acquaintances and make sure they’ve voted as well.
Voting deadlines and regulations vary by state, so make sure to check your eligibility requirements here before voting.
After voting, we encourage you to join us in two weeks for our last colloquium of the semester: a special binational post-election panel analyzing the final outcome, and what it means for America’s relations with its northern neighbors going forward.
Sincerely,
Irene Bloemraad
Program Director
Special Election Event
What the US Election Means for US-Canada Relations
Round table | November 17 | 12:30 p.m. | Online | RSVP here
Tomorrow, US voters will decide whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will set the agenda for the next four years in American politics. What would a Biden presidency or a second Trump term mean for the future of US-Canada relations? On November 17, Canadian Studies will host a special roundtable discussing the outcome of the US elections for bilateral relations and their impact on Canada.
Panelists will be Frédérick Gagnon, a professor of political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a past Fulbright Chair and Sproul Fellow in the Canadian Studies Program; and Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. and a Canadian Studies board member. The discussion will be moderated by Canadian Studies director Irene Bloemraad.
An RSVP is required to attend this meeting. Please RSVP through Zoom here. If you have any questions, please email us at canada@berekeley.edu.
In the News
New UC Berkeley Study: Election Polls Only Right 60% of the Time. Faculty Affiliate Gabriel Lenz Says That’s OK.
Canadian Studies faculty affiliate Gabriel Lenz, a professor of political science, was recently interviewed by California Magazine about a new UC Berkeley study that’s unlikely to calm anyone’s election anxiety. The study, led by Berkeley Haas professor Don Moore, found that only 60% of the 1,400 historical polls surveyed contained the actual outcome.
That’s not surprising to Professor Lenz, a specialist in American political behavior and public opinion. Nevertheless, he argues polls still have value, whether in helping determine which issues are most important to voters or pointing out signs of electoral fraud if the final results differ too widely. Still, Lenz says that compulsively checking polls isn’t a good use of anyone’s time: instead, he recommends political junkies get their fix more productively, and “try to get other people to vote to increase overall turnout.”
A Virtual Poppy Campaign to Support Canadian Veterans
Like much else, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted this year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies and our ability to distribute the traditional red poppy that shows support for Canada’s veterans. However, the Royal Canadian Legion, US Branch 25 invites you to share your solidarity with Canadians throughout the Bay Area by joining in a virtual poppy campaign. Simply post a picture of yourself wearing a poppy to social media between now and November 11, using the hashtag #BayAreaPoppy. If you do not have a poppy, please visit the Royal Canadian Legion’s website to request one.
Upcoming Events
Affiliate Event: Government of Canada Recruitment for Policy Leaders (RPL) Program Virtual Information Session
Nov. 4 | 1:30 PM PT (4:30 PM ET) | Online | RSVP here
For Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Want to drive innovation and economic growth in the new digital economy? Build on Canada’s leadership on the environment and climate change? Develop creative solutions to the social policy issues of the day? These are just a few of the areas where Recruitment of Policy Leaders participants are making a difference. A unique and challenging public sector career is calling. Are you ready? Become a policy leader. The Recruitment of Policy Leaders program recruits accomplished Canadians with the potential to lead positive change and make significant contributions to the federal public service. The program forms a pool of stellar recruits, ready for hiring in a variety of mid- to senior-level policy positions across the federal government.
The event will feature Audri Mukhopadhyay, Executive Fellow, Global Affairs Canada, Global Fellow, Canada Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and RPL alumnus. It will be moderated by Professor Christopher Sands, director of Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced Studies (SAIS), and director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
This event is sponsored by the Center for Canadian Studies and SAIS Global Careers at Johns Hopkins University SAIS. RSVP or questions: amckenzie@jhu.edu
External Event: Annual Veterans Day Observance and Evensong
Nov. 8 | 4:00 PM PT | Online
All are invited to join in person or online for the Annual Veterans Day Observance and Evensong hosted by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Covina. The event will be streamed on the Facebook group of the Friends of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Covina. Be sure to request to join the group by the end of the day on Friday, November 6.
Affiliate Event: Virtual Remembrance Day Service
Nov. 11 | 10:45 AM PT | Online | RSVP here
Join US Branch #25 of the Royal Canadian Legion, along with their comrades from other branches in the International Western USA Zone, as they present a socially distanced, virtual Remembrance Day Service from Liberty Cemetery in Petaluma, Greenlawn Cemetery in Colma, and Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood Park.
Canadian Studies Program
213 Moses Hall #2308
Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley, 213 Moses Hall #2308, Berkeley, CA 94720