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JUNE 2008

A FEW WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT


PGFIn a speech delivered in London, England, in 1975, Pierre Elliott Trudeau declared, "What I dare to believe is that men and women everywhere will come to understand that no individual, no government, no nation is capable of living in isolation, or of pursuing policies inconsistent with the present and future interests of others. That self-respect depends for its existence on access to social justice. That each of us must do all in our power to extend to all persons an equal measure of human dignity-to ensure through our efforts that hope and faith in the future are not reserved for a minority of the world's population, but are available to us all."

To dare to believe that hope and faith in the future are available to all. Isn't this one of the main reasons the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation exists? The friends, colleagues and family of the former Prime Minister shared the same vision of an organization that recognizes and encourages those who dare to believe in intellectual engagement; an organization that seeks to provoke discussion and create abiding ties among all those who are trying to use noble ideas to effect cultural and social change; an organization that invests in generous and determined people who can transform our outlook and resolve the persistent problems of our society.

Every year, our Summer Institute gives us the opportunity to renew our commitment to this vision. In Quebec City in May, we developed strong bonds with each other, which will provide lasting support for our various projects. The Community also gained new members who have added their experience and enthusiasm to our own.

We were happy to work with Québec's École nationale d'administration publique (ÉNAP) to host this event. ÉNAP stands proudly by its motto of being a "University of Public Administration," a name that some might view as a contradiction in terms. But ÉNAP has been foremost in breaking the barriers between academic research and public policy, a mission the Foundation incontestably shares as well.

— P.-G. Forest, Ph.D.

In this issue...

  
 


A WARM WELCOME FOR THE NEW 2008 TRUDEAU SCHOLARS

Maria BandaJonathan BeauchampAndrée BoisselleJulia ChristensenLisa Freeman
Xavier Gravend-TiroleShauna LabmanMark MattnerDaina MazutisAlberto Vergara Paniagua
Nicholas RiversIrvin StudinWilliam TayeebwaChristopher TenoveLilia Yumagulova

Freshly nominated in May, the 2008 Scholars made first contact with the Trudeau Community at the Summer Institute. As in previous years, a matching between 'experienced' Scholars from previous cohorts and new Scholars facilitated their integration into the Trudeau community. "I am already certain that a number of them will become real friends, in addition to being exceptional peers," says Andrée Boisselle (2008 Scholar, University of British Columbia).

The Institute concentrated this year on the theme of culture and its relationship to public policy, allowing the participants to make the most of their diverse backgrounds. "What made these encounters particularly useful was meeting with Scholars from outside my discipline," says Christopher Tenove (2008 Scholar, University of California, Berkeley), "as we all acknowledge that the policing of disciplinary boundaries is one of the great dangers and frustrations of academia."

The beneficial shock of meeting with other disciplines also provides encouragement to pursue the work initiated in Quebec City. For Julia Christensen (Scholar 2008, McGill University), this first contact with the Community "will lead to collaboration through co-writing, as well as workshop development, over the course of the next months."

Find out more about the 2008 Scholars here or click on their picture for a profile.

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TRUDEAU FELLOWS AND INVITED EXPERTS SET THE STAGE FOR SPIRITED DISCUSSION


  

Under the auspices of Trudeau Fellows Jocelyn Létourneau (2006) and Joseph Yvon Thériault (2007), the first two plenary sessions of the Summer Institute explored the themes of history and cultural identity in Quebec. Létourneau convincingly presented his argument that the "past still has a future" and that Canadians are interested in the past from an individual perspective. Thériault reflected on the relationship between democracy and identity, which he considers a "dialectic inherent in the regime of modern democracy." He illustrated his case by giving examples about Quebec and Acadia's identity and politics.

Special guests at the Summer Institute took up the thread of the relationship between culture and policy to engage in dialogue with the Fellows, Scholars and Mentors. Florian Sauvageau, from Laval University, offered a most relevant and up to date reflection on the influence of Internet on other media, arguing "passive audiences are a thing of the past." Martha Nussbaum, University of Chicago, presented a stimulating overview of her human development capabilities approach, showing how the welfare of peoples has multifaceted roots beyond the economic ones.

Daniel Levitin, McGill University, delivered a compelling talk on creativity and the brain and the individual contribution everyone can make to develop a more creative environment. John Porter, of the Quebec National Museum of Fine Arts, spoke about the role of museums in fostering culture. Max Wyman, writer and art critic, reflected on the role of culture in Canadian society, and in a similar vein, writer Douglas Coupland offered an illustrated lecture on the artistic perception of the Canadian identity.

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ENGAGING WITH TRUDEAU MENTORS


Award-winning filmmaker Sylvia D. Hamilton (2008 Mentor) was one of the many Mentors present for this Institute. Her recent film The Little Black Schoolhouse kick-started a plenary discussion on the history of Afro-Canadians.

The Mentors' experience and acumen benefit all the Scholars who attend Trudeau Foundation events. William Tayeebwa, 2008 Scholar (Concordia University), was able to experience it firsthand during an informal chat with 2008 Mentor Robert Fowler. Tayeebwa's doctoral research brought him to study how media can function as safeguards against war crimes. However, a few remarks from Fowler showed him that public denunciation of war criminals also raises important security issues. "In a few minutes, he pinpointed a fundamental problem behind a reasoning that seemed unequivocal," he acknowledges.

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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

The Summer Institute is also the moment we cede centre stage to Trudeau Scholars who have completed the term of their scholarship. During a dinner at the Chapel of the Musée de l'Amérique française, the spirit of the Trudeau Community was again evoked as departing Trudeau Scholars presented their heartfelt impressions of the important contribution the Trudeau Scholarship has made to their research and their approach to crucial societal questions. They particularly underscored a few unique features of the Trudeau Scholarship program, which allows them to go beyond their comfort zone and find innovative approaches: the travel and networking allocation, access to a mentor, and invaluable ties with other members of the Trudeau Community.

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WELCOMING THE 2008 TRUDEAU FELLOWS


 

François CrépeauKathleen MahoneyJohn RobinsonRosemary SullivanGuy Vanderhaeghe

A few weeks before the Summer Institute, the five new 2008 Trudeau Fellows-François Crépeau, Kathleen Mahoney, John Robinson, Rosemary Sullivan, and Guy Vanderhaeghe-got together for the first time at the Foundation's offices on May 6 to meet with the staff and share a dinner in their honour. Directors, Members of the Foundation, members of the Trudeau Community and friends of the Foundation also met them at a cocktail reception. The new Fellows expressed how honoured they felt to have been chosen for the Trudeau Fellowship, and shared their willingness to actively engage in the Foundation's activities. This year's Fellowship nominations were widely covered by the Canadian press and radio.

Click here to access our media clipping page.

Click here for more information about the 2008 Fellows.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

MONTREAL, QC

November 13 to 15, 2008		 Annual Trudeau Conference on Public Policy

High Principles, Effective Proposals: Defining Canada's Global Agenda

Three key elements-New Participants, New Institutions and New Dynamics-form the backbone of this fifth Annual Trudeau Conference on Public Policy, and three keynote speakers will address them in depth after an opening lecture on "The Global Agenda for Canada."

See the 2008 Conference webpage for details.

MONTREAL, QC

December 8,
2008		 Remembering Jacques Hébert

The symposium will discuss three key themes that characterized the life and work of Jacques Hébert: human rights, literature and youth.

FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Starting Fall 2008		 The Trudeau Lectures Series

The Trudeau Lectures showcase the work of our Fellows and highlight their contribution to new ideas that bring our society forward. The Foundation will publish the texts of these lectures in the Trudeau Foundation Papers, in both official languages, in print and online on the Foundation's website. Keep an eye on our website for upcoming announcements.

See other upcoming opportunities for discussion on our Events Calendar.



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