Annual Canadian Studies Roundtable

Artwork by: Karen Bondarchuk ,Castor Canadensis and Castor Ameridensis, 
36"x44", coloured pencil rubbings on vellum

On Friday, March 22, the Canadian Studies program at Western Michigan University is calling to order the Annual Canadian Studies Roundtable. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration taking place Friday morning on site.

The roundtable will feature a variety of speakers:  Eric Marquis, Head of Post at the Quebec Government Office in Chicago, will discuss politics and society in contemporary Quebec from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Immediately following, Roy Norton, the Canadian Consul in Detroit, will discuss 237 years of Canada-U.S. Relations-in an hour!

Our own Dr. Michael Nassaney will be featured during the Luncheon lecture beginning at 11:45 a.m. Dr. Nassaney will discuss the archaeological contributions to the study of New France through the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project. Following Dr. Nassaney at 12:45 p.m., Dr. Dean Anderson, the State Archaeologist for Michigan, will present on French traders and trade goods in the Western Great Lakes Region.

Dr. Catherine Cangany, assistant professor of history at the University of Notre dame, will discuss the success of colonial Detroit as a fur-trade outpost through its commercial endeavors at 1:45 p.m. Immediately following, Dr. Guillaume Teasdale from the University of Windsor will discuss French land occupation in the Detroit river region from 1730-1790 at 3 p.m.

Following the lectures, a screening of the film Mesnak will take place, followed by a discussion with the film’s director and producer, Yves Sioui-Durand.

The roundtable is open to the public. The event will be held at the Fetzer Center, with free parking! The registrations fee is $25, but is waived for any student. This is an excellent opportunity, and will be a great day of workshops and analysis of New France and current United States-Canada relationships. We encourage you to take advantage of this great event! We look forward to seeing you there!