Student reflects on Fulbright Canada Youth Institute on Canada in the World

What role can Canada play in the world in the next 150 years? That’s the question Fulbright Canada invited undergraduate students from across North America to ponder at a recent event in the national capital. The following is a reflection piece written by Concordia undergraduate student Léandre Larouche about his time participating in the Fulbright Youth Institute on Canada in the World.

As a second-year English Literature student at Concordia, I was fortunate enough to take part in this life-changing initiative and represent the university in Ottawa. Fulbright Canada, a bilateral organization which fosters mutual understanding between people living in Canada and the United States, really created an experience to remember.

As described on the Institute website: "From September 23 to September 30, 2017, Fulbright Canada hosted the Youth Institute on Canada in the World, a Canada 150 initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, and the U.S. Department of State. The Institute brought 20 Canadian and American undergraduate and graduate students to Ottawa and Québec City for a week of debate, discussion, policy formulation, and cultural activities."

In other words, where do we see Canada in the next 150 years?

Upon arrival in Ottawa, I was awed by the impressive people I met, and the diversity of their backgrounds. Not only did Fulbright gather 10 exceptional Canadians and Americans, but they brought together students from coast to coast representing many different disciplinary fields. Among others, I met a finance major from Arizona, an engineering student from Florida, and a music student from Newfoundland. Everybody had a different perspective.

We first took a bus trip to Québec City to explore its history and the province’s relations with Canada and the United States. We visited the National Assembly of Québec, where we learned more about the political landscape.

Our stay in Quebec City was filled with tours and presentations from professors and government actors. It was fascinating to hear about the work they do in their day-to-day jobs. Most notably, we met with American Consul General Allison Areias-Vogel who told us about how she helps Americans when they encounter issues in Québec City area. We also visited Université Laval, where we were introduced to issues pertaining to the Arctic region.

Once back in Ottawa, we toured places like the U.S. Embassy, as well as Global Affairs Canada’s office headquarters. We learned a great deal about the diplomatic work, the current Canada-U.S. relations, and the challenges of international affairs. We had the chance to visit the call centre where emergency calls from Canadians abroad are taken.  

During the rest of the week, however, came the actual work! We had to draft a Foreign Policy vision for the government and Foreign Services, putting all our learning and perspectives together. At the Foreign Service Institute, located in Gatineau, we discussed and debated where we see Canada over the next 150 years. This exercise closed a week of intense learning, a week that changed 20 lives for the better in and out the border.

Now that I'm back in Montréal, I feel more aware of the profound relationship between Canada and the United Sates, as well as of the importance Canada has on the international stage. I will remember the Youth Institute on Canada in the World as a week during I grew more aware of international issues but also of how I can help solving them.