Year of Canada - Year Of

Experience Canada (2024 - 2025)

Experience Canada during the 2024-2025 academic year right from campus - - or travel north and experience it through one of several education abroad opportunities being coordinated by KSU. The Year of Canada will be a yearlong exploration into this North American country’s culture, history, and global influence.

The Year of Canada is part of a rich tradition of globally-focused programming that has existed at the university since 1984. We are proud to continue our collaboration with key international, domestic, and campus partners to host special performances, events, lectures, exhibits, film screenings, and seminars. These offerings help foster local and global connections and engagement across cultures.

Everyone on campus will have the opportunity to take part in Canadian life and culture throughout the year. We invite all faculty, students, staff, and alumni, to learn about our neighbors to the north while we discover the second largest country on Earth!

About Year Of Programs & Events Research The YOC Logo National Anthem Instagram

Year of Canada Programs & Events

We look forward to seeing you at the diverse programming being offered this year as part of the Year of Canada. Many thanks to the faculty and staff, as well as the campus, community, and international partners, who are bringing the Canadian experience to Kennesaw State University!

Listed below are Year of Canada events for the 2024-25 academic year, as well as special resources and educational opportunities. Please follow us @ksuglobaleducation on Instagram to keep up with event details, including updated times and locations should unforeseen circumstances require a change.

If you have any questions about the events listed below, please contact Community Engagement and Outreach in Global Education at global.engagement@kennesaw.edu.

Fall 2024

Year of Canada Kickoff

Join us for a kickoff on both campuses, featuring free food & "Year of Canada" merch!

-Kennesaw Kickoff-

Date: Sunday, August 11

Location: Campus Green during Splash Bash/WOW

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

Overview: Sample Canada's delicious treat "poutine" and grab limited edition "Year of Canada" merch! This event is co-sponsored by Global Education and Radow College via "Poutine with the Dean."

-Marietta Kickoff-

Date: Friday, August 23

Location: Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Ballrooms

Time: 4:00-7:00 pm

Overview: Trivia, BINGO, music, and "fill yer boots" with a taste of Canada. Sign up for Trivia is required below. Join as a team or we'll add you to a group. Spots are limited!

Music, Language, and Heritage

Date: Tuesday, September 10

Location: Academic Learning Center (ALC), Room 1201 (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 9:30-10:45 am

Overview: Indigenous singer Fawn Wood will be speaking on the origins and history of Indigenous music, the revitalization of language through the use of music, and Indigenous influences on popular music.

Fawn Wood is a Plains Cree and Salish musician from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory, in Alberta, Canada. She is most noted for her album Kakike, for which she won the Juno Award for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022.

This event is sponsored by the Consulate General of Canada to the United States, in Atlanta.

Film Screening: Come from Away

Date: Tuesday, September 10

Location: Prillaman Hall, Room 1000 (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 7:00-9:00 pm

Overview: This film of the Broadway hit musical "Come from Away" highlights the impact a small Canadian town had in the lives of airline passengers who were re-routed due to the events of September 11, 2001. Join members of the KSU community as we remember this historic event and honor the connection between the US and Canada. Hosted by the College of the Arts and Global Education.

Admission is free! Everyone who attends receives Year of Canada merch and Canadian candy!

For the Love of French

Date: Monday, September 16

Location: Social Sciences, Room 3010 (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 6:00 pm

Overview: Who doesn't love the way the French language rolls off of the tongues of those who speak it well?! Get a glimpse into the French-side of Canada, while practicing your French to impress all of the Francophones around you!

Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Hosted by French Lecturer Dr. Noelle Brown.

The Canadian Economy and Sports

Date: Thursday, September 26

Location: MOVED ONLINE due to Hurricane Helene - See OwlLife for Teams Links! (Formerly - Prillaman Hall, Rm 1000 -Kennesaw Campus)

Times: 9:30-10:45 am and 11:00 am-12:15 pm

College Spotlight Program: How do citizens influence the support of sports, including the Olympics and the athletes who represent their countries?

From 9:30-10:45 am, hear the results of research on Canadians WTP (Willingness To Pay) that was conducted as part of previous Olympic Games. Better understand how these mindsets can impact athletes, economics, and policies.

From 11:00 am-12:15 pm, hear the economics of Canada's national pastime, with insights from research on the National Hockey League.

Sponsored by the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity and Global Education. Hosted by Professor of Economics Dr. Timothy Mathews.

Building a Canadian Architecture

Date: Wednesday, October 2

Location: D-2 Auditorium (Marietta Campus)

Time: 5:30 pm

College Spotlight Program: Trevor Boddy is a national figure within the Canadian architecture scene. He has written extensively on contemporary architecture in Canada from coast to coast. He serves as a curator and critic - - hear from this urban designer first-hand!

Sponsored by the College of Architecture and Construction Management and Global Education. Hosted by Associate Professor of Architecture Michael Carroll.

2024 Smart Villages Symposium

Date: Wednesday, October 2

Location: Virtual (University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada)

Time: 8:30 am-6:00 pm (EST)

Overview: This event will focus on how rural people experience and use smart technologies, emphasizing the impact of new digital tools and technology, new modes of connectivity and new large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence. It will pay specific attention to how these technologies benefit rural communities and create new opportunities as well as new risks. The event is intended for researchers, practitioners, students, and anyone else who may be interested in these issues. Speakers will include representatives from universities, governments, NGOs, and businesses.

This event is sponsored by the University of Guelph, a partner with KSU and the "Year of Canada" program.

Participants are required to register for the event in advance using the link below. There is no cost to participate.

Coffee with Kaukinen

Date: Friday, October 4

Location: Carmichael Student Center, University Room C (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Flight28 students are invited to enjoy coffee with their Dean Katie Kaukinen. And to help her feel even more at home, KSU will be serving Canadian fave Tim Hortons coffee! Spin to win "Year of Canada" merch, too! This event is sponsored by KSUFlight: Class-Year Connections.

Film Screening: Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit

Date: Monday, October 7

Location: Prillaman Hall, Room 1000 (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:45 pm)

College Spotlight Program: Get your "meow" ready! Join us for a screening of the Canadian documentary film: “Catwalk: Tales from the Canadian Cat Show Circuit” written and directed by Michael McNamara.

Meet the fascinating felines and the people who pamper them in this whimsical look at the ins and outs of Canada’s competitive cat show circuit, where the claws come out when a Turkish Angora and an adorable fluffy red Persian face off to take home the national award for Best in Show.

Following the screening, Director Michael McNamara will talk about the process of shooting, editing and distributing his documentary and his experience of bringing “Catwalk” to the streaming platform, Netflix.

Tickets are free.

Year of Canada "meow merch" will be put in the paws of those who attend.

Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences and Global Education. Hosted by Assistant Professor of Communication Matthew Terrell.

Examining the US/Canada Political Divide

Date: Wednesday, October 9

Location: Social Sciences, Room 1017 (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 11:15 am-12:15 pm

Overview:

How are some of the top political feuds in the United States playing out differently North of the border? Discover how Canadians sound when “battling” about issues like inflation, immigration, healthcare, abortion, and Israel/Palestine - - and explore the reasons these debates are often sonically related but stylistically distinct in the Canadian political scene.

Interested in this topic? Register for POLS 4450: Canada and North America on M/W 3:30-4:45pm in Spring Semester 2025.

Sponsored by Dr. Heather Pincock, Associate Professor of Conflict Management, and KSU's School of Government and International Affairs.

Canada's Thanksgiving Day

Date: Monday, October 14

Location: The Commons and Stingers (Both Campuses)

Time: 12-2 pm

Overview: It's Thanksgiving Day in Canada! To honor the occasion, KSU can enjoy a taste of Canadian cuisine with a meal purchase (swipe) in one of our dining halls.

KSU Club Ice Hockey Match vs. Ole Miss

Date: Saturday, October 19

Location: Atlanta Ice House (2600 Prado Lane, Marietta 30066)

Time: 8:45 pm

Overview: While Canadians love many sports, we often imagine their passion for the country’s official winter sport - ice hockey. As part of North America’s National Hockey League (NHL), Canada is home to 7 of the 33 professional teams. We may not be able to see the Canadians in action, but tonight we can support the home team by attending the KSU club team's match and cheering on the Owls.

The first 50 students to check in will receive free admission! Attendees will also receive a one-of-a-kind KSU/Canada sling sack and Canadian candy, while supplies last!

Note: The NHL 2024-2025 Season opens October 4.

Hosted by Club Sports and Global Education.

Read, Listen, Tell

Date: Friday, October 25

Location: Virtual

Time: 1:00 pm

College Spotlight Program: KSU's "Topics in Native American Literature" course will host three editors of the book "Read, Listen, Tell." The editors are faculty from Canada's Simon Fraser University. They will provide insights and lead discussion on this compilation of unique writings.

According to Wilfrid Laurier University press, "Read, Listen, Tell brings together an extraordinary range of Indigenous stories from across Turtle Island (North America). From short fiction to as-told-to narratives, from illustrated stories to personal essays, these stories celebrate the strength of heritage and the liveliness of innovation. Ranging in tone from humorous to defiant to triumphant, the stories explore core concepts in Indigenous literary expression, such as the relations between land, language, and community, the variety of narrative forms, and the continuities between oral and written forms of expression." Join us to be inspired, awakened, and challenged as we look inside the lives and experiences of a few of Canada's Indigenous authors.

"Don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.” —Thomas King, in this volume

Sponsored by the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Global Education. Hosted by Associate Professor of English and American Studies Dr. Miriam Brown Spiers and Senior Lecturer of English Dr. Rochelle Harris Cox.

For the Love of French: Poetry

Date: Tuesday, October 29

Time: 11:15 am-12:15 pm

Location: English Building, Room 252 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Dr. Noah McLaughlin will be leading a conversation on poetry in Québec, as part of KSU's “For the Love of French” series.

Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Hosted by French Lecturer Dr. Noelle Brown.

Canada: A Country of Substance

Date: Wednesday, October 30

Time: 12:30-1:45 pm

Location: Virtual

Overview: Dr. Lucas Richert will be discussing substances such as Cannabis, LSD, Heroin, and/or Tim Horton's Coffee. His lecture will focus on the national identity of Canada when thinking through intoxicants or what people put into their bodies; it will engage with the history and rhetoric of substances as it relates to the body politic and as it informs the relationship between the US and Canada.

Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences as part of their 365 Days of Learning and Service, focused on Mental Health in 2024-2025.

Taste Test Tuesdays

Dates: Tuesdays, November 5, 12, and 19

Locations: Both campuses

Time: See @ksuglobaleducation on Instagram for the times and locations!

Overview: Pop by our table to sample some favorite Canadian treats, from their most popular chips, to candy, and more. Vote for your favorite and get Year of Canada merch, including unique stickers and Jibbitz!

The Artistic Practice of Wearable Art: Indigenous Dress, Collaboration, and Community

Date: Friday, November 15

Location: Zuckerman Museum of Art (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 1:30 pm

College Spotlight Program: Inspired by her late Setsuné's (grandmother’s) incredible garment-making, hide-tanning and adornment, Canadian artist Catherine Blackburn's work grounds itself in the Indigenous feminine. Join us for an artist talk in which she reflects on her wearable art practice and its intersection between Indigenous dress, collaboration, and community.

The talk will be accompanied by an Indigenous drumming session and a poster printing event both related to the exhibition by Native American artist Jeffrey Gibson which is on view in the museum.

Sponsored by Zuckerman Museum of Art and Global Education. This event is part of KSU's International Education Week programming.

Native-American Beading Workshop

Date: Saturday, November 16

Location: Zuckerman Museum of Art (Kennesaw Campus)

Time: 12-4 pm. PLEASE NOTE: This program has reached capacity; no additional reservations are available.

College Spotlight Program: Join Indigenous artist Catherine Blackburn for this Applied Beading Workshop inspired by Aboriginal Classics, a series of works exploring themes of identity, language, and story. Participants will learn applied beading basics on an unconventional medium that utilizes a teabag as the vessel and story-holder.

Sponsored by Zuckerman Museum of Art and Global Education. This event is part of KSU's International Education Week programming.

The Western Slam: KSU Basketball travels to Canada

Dates: November 28-30, 2024

KSU's men's basketball team will be going Canadian for a few days this year! They'll travel to Alberta, Canada, to play in the Western Slam, which features "four dynamic NCAA teams," in "a dynamic showcase of basketball talent."

The Owls will take on UC Irvine (11/28/24), Towson University (11/29/24), and Kent State (11/30/24). See the Owls' schedule here.

Canadian Coffee Break

Dates/Times/Locations: Wednesday, December 4 (K) - 10am-4pm - Relaxation Station in the Student Recreation and Activities Center, Suite 1200

Thursday, December 5 (M) - 11am-1 pm - Joe Mack Wilson Student Center, 2nd Floor

Overview: Known as the “home of Canada’s favorite coffee,” try a cup of Tim Hortons while prepping for finals - - and sample a Timbits while you're there! If you dare, try Canada’s ever-popular “double double,” a cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars. The drink is so popular in Canada that in 2004 the term “double double” was added to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.

Year of Canada merch for attendees.

Hosted by Health Promotion and Wellness and Global Education.
Spring 2025
Timbits with the Dean

Date: Tuesday and Wednesday, January 7 and 8

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Location: Social Sciences Building, Lobby (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: The Dean of Radow College is hosting this meet and greet, featuring one of Canada's favorite treats - - Timbits! Grab a limited edition KSU "Year of Canada" coffee Jibbitz when you join us there!

Sponsored by the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Multicultural Tasting

Date: Wednesday, January 8

Time: 1:00-3:00 pm

Location: Joe Mack Wilson Center Student Ballrooms (Marietta Campus)

Overview: The "Year of Canada" will participate in this annual event at KSU. Join us for a taste of many cultures, including Canada! See more details on Owl Life.

Sponsored by the KSU Unity Center.

Tree-tapping, Canadian style!

Date: Thursday, January 16

Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Location: KSU Field Station, 1875 Hickory Grove Rd NW, Acworth, GA 30102

Overview: In honor of the "Year of Canada," we are trying our hands at making syrup! Instead of the symbolic Canadian maple we will be tapping our native Black Walnut trees at the KSU Field Station. The sap will collect for the next few weeks, and we will conclude with a syrup boiling workshop later in the Spring.

Sponsored by KSU's Office of Sustainability.

Coffee with Canadians

Date: Thursday, January 23

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Calling all Canadians (and anyone who wants to hang out with Canadians)! Join us for Canada's favorite coffee, as we kick off the semester with an afternoon pick-me-up and a sweet Canadian treat to top it off. Limited edition (new!) stickers for your KSU "Year of Canada" collection!

Sponsored by the Office of Global Education.

Lecture: Dr. Karida Brown

Date: Tuesday, February 4

Time: 11:00am-12:30 pm

Location: ALC, Room 1201 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Join Dr. Karida L. Brown, NAACP Award-winning sociologist and historian for this lecture where she blends historical narrative, archival research, and cultural storytelling, to connect the past to the present.

Sponsored by KSU's Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Black Studies, and York University (Canada).

Lecture: Dr. Lynn Jones (Canada) and Dr. Barbara Combs (US)

Date: Thursday, February 6

Time: 3:00-5:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm - Panelists

4:00-5:00 pm - Q&A

Location: Virtual

Overview: Featuring Dr. Lynn Jones (Canada) and Dr. Barbara Combs (KSU). Dr. Jones is a prominent Black Nova Scotian who serves as the Chair of the Global African Congress and was awarded the Order of Canada. Dr. Barbara Combs is Chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and Professor of Sociology at Kennesaw State University.

Sponsored by York University (Canada) in partnership with KSU's Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Harriet Tubman and Family Journeys of the Underground Railroad

Date: Thursday, February 13

Times:

9:30-10:45 am - Family Tree Student Panel

11:00 am-12:15 pm - Keynote Speakers and Roundtable

Location: Student Center, University Rooms B&C (Kennesaw Campus)

College Spotlight Program: Harriet Tubman participated in an international social movement that began long before she was born in the 1820s. The Underground Railroad had roots in the 1780s and operated until the Civil War, which Tubman participated in as a Union spy. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape from slave states in the South to free states and Canada. The Underground Railroad was operated by abolitionists, both Black and white, who provided food, lodging, and money to the fugitives. The Underground Railroad is important to both the history of Canada and the United States, and its core humanitarian values continue to inspire people.

Panel: This group will explore the importance of family history and its centrality to understanding the story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. The discussion will conclude with the importance of understanding history outside of the context of slavery and preserving the memories of our families before and after the experience of slavery.

Keynote Speaker: Rita Daniels will discuss themes from her new book and her family history that trace her ancestry as a great, great, great grandniece of Harriet Tubman. She will also discuss some of the work of the Harriet Tubman Museum and other international efforts to honor her ancestor.

Sponsored by: KSU's Office of Global Education, Center for Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Black Studies Program, and the History and Philosophy Department, as well as the Before Slavery Museum and the Harriet Tubman Museum.

For more information on the Underground Railroad in Canada please visit this site.
Myokine

Dates: Friday and Saturday, February 14-15

Time: 8:00-9:00 pm (both nights)

Location: KSU Dance Theater (Marietta Campus)

College Spotlight Program: Myokines are molecules secreted by muscles when the body is in motion. They are often referred to as "hope molecules" due to the sense of well-being and optimism they provide. In this work, Canadian dancer and choreographer Anne Plamondon focuses on the body in its entirety and lets the voice emerge to express very current concerns.

Sponsored by KSU's Geer College of the Arts, Department of Dance, and the Office of Global Education.

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED and can be purchased through the CotA Box Office.

Interweaving Cultures: Poetic Reflections in Early Childhood in Canada (FACULTY Workshop)

Date: Wednesday, February 19
Now combined with the afternoon session listed below (Diverse Voices)

Time: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS, Room 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)

College Spotlight Program: This workshop invites faculty to engage with the intersections of Canadian studies, Early Childhood Studies in Education, and critical perspectives of multiculturalism through the frame of autobiographical poetic writing.

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Adam Davies, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada.

Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services and the Office of Global Education.

Narratives in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Canada (STUDENT Workshop)

Date: Wednesday, February 19
Now combined with the session above (Interweaving Cultures)

Time: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS, Room 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)

College Spotlight Program: This workshop invites participants to explore the critical intersections of Canadian studies, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), and critical perspectives of multiculturalism. Interactive discussions and reflective activities will allow attendees to identify ways to contribute their own unique perspectives and experiences within the field.

This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Adam Davies, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada.

Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services and the Office of Global Education.

KSU Intramurals: Floor Hockey

Dates of Matches: February 26-27

Times: Vary

Location: Student Activities and Recreation Center (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Known as Ball Hockey in Canada, over 120 teams across the country compete in this sport. Kids in Canada often get to experience ball hockey in PE, now KSU students get to experience the sport through Intramural competitions. Sign up to play and you may win Year of Canada merch, or attend to cheer on your fellow Owls and feed your need for more hockey!

Hosted by Student Affairs and Intramurals.

March Maple Madness

Dates: Mondays, March 3, 17, 24, and 31 (Locations vary by date; see below)

Time: 12-2 pm

LOCATIONS

Kennesaw Campus:

March 3: University Village Walkway (K)
March 24: The Summit Lobby (K)

Marietta Campus:

March 17: Hornet Village Walkway (M)
March 31: Howell Hall Lobby (M)

Overview: Just when you thought March couldn't get any sweeter, we've added maple syrup to the mix! Set your brackets for a competition between a variety of maple-flavored Canadian treats, learn about the infamous $18 million Maple Syrup Heist, and maybe watch a little basketball. (Canada does have the highest number of international athletes of any country outside the US in the NBA!)

Hosted by KSU's Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Global Education.

Women's History Month Event:Women through the Ages

Date: Tuesday, March 4

Time: 4:00-6:00 pm

Location: JMW Student Center Lobby (Marietta Campus)

Overview: Learn about different women throughout history who have had an impact on our lives - - including at least one Canadian! Enjoy hands-on activities, light refreshments, and give aways.

Hosted in partnership between various campus departments.

See the event on OwlLife.

Immigration Across the Borders: Canada and the US

Date: Wednesday, March 19

Time: 12:30-2:00 pm

Location: HYBRID

Prillaman Hall, Room 1101 (Kennesaw Campus)

Join the Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 212 604 057 508
Passcode: zH2rm7cG

Overview: Featuring an international panel of speakers including Drs. Francis Garon (York University, Canada), Ramazan Kilinc, Paul McDaniel and Darlene Rodriguez-Schaffer (all of KSU).

Hosted by Kennesaw State University's Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences in partnership with York University (Canada).

Book Club: L.M. Montgomery's "Emily of New Moon"

Date: Thursday, March 20

Time: 11:00 am-12:30 pm

Location: Sturgis Library, Room G-12 "The Hub" (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Calling all Anne of Green Gables fans - - well, maybe not. While authored by the same writer, this 100-year-old book received less acclaim than its counterpart. Be prepared for a different type of leading lady, Emily Byrd Starr, whose experiences supposedly reflect on the author's actual life, the darkness of which most readers can relate to in at least some capacity.

"This much is clear: Emily Byrd Starr was forged in a time of uncertainty, one similar to our own. Like Montgomery, she bushwhacked her way through loneliness on a path made of paper, ink and words. At 100 years old, she deserves a spotlight of her own. " Egan, E. NYT, 11/15/23.

Facilitated by JoyEllen Williams, Curator in KSU's Museums, Archives, and Rare Books. Sponsored by the "Year of Canada."

Click here to sign up and to get a free paperback or electronic copy of the book!

KSU Women's Lacrosse Match

Date: Saturday, March 22

Time: 12:00 pm

Location: Fifth Third Stadium

Overview: It is Canada's official summer sport - - and we get to see the KSU Women's Team compete against Lindenwood today. Cheer on the Owls and grab some "Year of Canada" merch before it is gone! Admission is free!

Creative Jam Awards Ceremony

Date: Thursday, March 27

Time: 2:00-3:15 pm

Location: Student Center, University Rooms (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: The Adobe Creative Jam challenges students to learn the basic video editing program Adobe Premiere Rush and compete against each other to create one-minute videos related to each year's theme. This year students will have the option to tie Canadian-based material into their project for special "Year of Canada" prizes. Look for more information on this competition in early 2025.

Previous Creative Jam winners at KSU can be viewed on the Radow website.

Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Canadian Economy and Key Gaps with Strong Impacts

Date: Friday, March 28

Times:

9:05-9:55 am - Session One: Canada’s Income Gap with the United States before 1913

10:10-11:00 am - Session Two: The Linguistic Divide as the Economic Gap within Canada

Location: Burruss Building, Room 151

College Spotlight Program: These lectures will feature Dr. Vincent Geloso, Québécois and Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University

Sponsored by the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity and the Office of Global Education.

Wings to Soar

Date: Wednesday, April 2

Time: 12:15-1:15 pm

Location: Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Ballrooms (Marietta Campus)

Overview: Experience some of Canada’s most beautiful – and important – birds of prey. Come eye to eye with an eagle, falcon, hawk, owl and more as you learn about the vital role they have in the natural world and the impact these incredible animals have on the environment throughout North America.

Hosted by KSU's Office of Global Education and the Office of Sustainability.

Unique "Year of Canada" merch for attendees!

KSU Students Present: Canada's Arctic Strategy

Date: Wednesday, April 9

Time: 11:15 am-12:00 pm

Location: Social Sciences, Room 2038

Overview: This COOL presentation will feature the research of students in the Spring POLS 4447 class, “Arctic Politics, Policy, and Security in a Changing Environment.” Learn more about Canada’s “Arctic Strategy” as you hear about the students' research and analysis of the subject.

One Health Series: The ecology and biogeography of parasitic diseases of wildlife

Date: Wednesday, April 9

Time: 12:30-1:30 pm

Location: Online. This event has already taken place. The video can be seen at the link below.

Overview: Join the University of Guelph's One Health Series, as they feature KSU Assistant Professor Dr. Whitney Preisser. Dr. Preisser's research is focused on the ecology and biogeography of parasitic diseases of wildlife. At the link above, click on Winter 2025 to connect to Dr. Preisser's video.

This event is hosted in partnership with the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

A Taste of Canada in The Commons

Date: Wednesday, April 9

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Location: The Commons (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Join Dining Services and the "Year of Canada" to taste some menu items common in Canada. Free with your swipe into The Commons. "Year of Canada" merch will be given out!

A Taste of Canada in Stingers

Date: Thursday, April 10

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Location: Stingers (Marietta Campus)

Overview: Join Dining Services and the "Year of Canada" to taste some menu items common in Canada. Free with your swipe into Stingers. "Year of Canada" merch will be given out!

KSU 2025 Global Forum

Date: Friday, April 11

Time: 1:00-4:00 pm

3:15-3:45 pm - Panel "Canadian Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Research"

This panel will feature Dr. Peter Fielding (Geer College of the Arts), Dr. Heather Pincock (Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences - RCHSS) and Dr. Shadi Beshai (RCHSS and a recipient of "Year of Canada" research funding).

Location: Interactive Research Methods Lab - Bagwell Education Building, Room 403 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Kennesaw State University’s Global Faculty Mutual Mentoring Group will host the KSU Global Forum. The forum brings together faculty members and students across KSU’s colleges to dialogue about research, teaching, and service activities while promoting KSU initiatives of strengthening student experiences and engagement, fostering pedagogical innovation and inquiry, and enhancing student research and support.

The 2025 Global Forum will showcase faculty and students pursuing global research aligning with KSU’s interdisciplinary research strengths of Health and Wellness, Sustainable Communities, Innovative Creativity, and Applied Technologies.

Wings to Soar

Date: Monday, April 14

Time: 1:15-2:15 pm

Location: Student Center, University Rooms (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Experience some of Canada’s most beautiful and important birds of prey. Come eye to eye with an eagle, hawk, falcons, owls and more as you learn about the vital role they have in the natural world and the impact these incredible animals have on the environment throughout North America.

Hosted by KSU's Office of Global Education and the Office of Sustainability.

Unique "Year of Canada" merch for attendees!

Earth Week - Sweet!

Date: Tuesday, April 22

Time: 11:00 am-2:00 pm

Location: The Campus Green (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Canada produces the majority of the world's maple syrup. Visit our table to see how we produced our own and get a sweet taste of Canada's best, as well.

Sponsored by KSU's Office of Sustainability.

Cooking Demo: Canadian Butter Tarts...You Butter Believe It!

Date: Wednesday, April 23

Time: 12:00-2:00 pm

Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center (SRAC), Room 1220 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Join Health Promotion and Wellness for a Cooking Demo featuring an integral part of Canadian Cuisine -- butter tarts! Space is limited. Stay tuned for more information!

Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.

Psychedelic Canada, eh? How Canadian History Charts A Different Future for Psychedelics

Date: Wednesday, April 23

Time: 12:30-1:45 pm

Location: Online. Register here. A confirmation email will be sent to you.

Overview: The word “psychedelic” was coined in Canada amidst the birth of its publicly funded healthcare system, Medicare; in the same decade, Canadian-based First Nations communities succeeded in securing legal rights to hold peyote ceremonies. As we face a new era of enthusiasm for psychedelic studies across North America amidst an opioid crisis and Indigenous reconciliation efforts, this lecture reflects on Canada’s role, past and present, in a psychedelic future.

This lecture will be led by Dr. Erika Dyck, a professor and a Canada Research Chair in the History of Health & Social Justice at the University of Saskatchewan. She is the author or co-author of several books, including Psychedelic Psychiatry (2008); Managing Madness (2017); The Acid Room (2022); and Psychedelics: A Visual Odyssey (2024). She is the co-editor of Women & Psychedelics (2024) and Expanding Mindscapes (2023). Erika is the co-editor of two McGill-Queen’s University Press book series on the history of medicine and Intoxicating Histories. She is currently the President of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society.

This program is sponsored by the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, as part of the "Year of Canada."

Cooking Demo: Canadian Butter Tarts...You Butter Believe It!

Date: Thursday, April 24

Time: 5:00-7:00 pm

Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center (SRAC), Room 1220 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Join Health Promotion and Wellness for a Cooking Demo featuring an integral part of Canadian Cuisine -- butter tarts! Space is limited. Stay tuned for more information!

Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.

Earth Week - Sweet!

Date: Thursday, April 24

Time: 11:00 am-2:00 pm

Location: K-Field (Marietta Campus)

Overview: Canada produces the majority of the world's maple syrup. Visit our table to see how we produced our own and get a sweet taste of Canada's best, as well.

Sponsored by KSU's Office of Sustainability.

Frost & Fuel Up for Finals with a Canadian touch!

Date: Wednesday, April 30th

Time: 10:00 am-1:00 pm

Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center, Suite 1200 (Kennesaw Campus)

Overview: Sip on Canada's favorite coffee, de-stress, and decorate a cupcake, in collaboration with KSU dietitians.

Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.

Frost & Fuel Up for Finals with a Canadian touch!

Date: Thursday, May 1st

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Location: Wilson Student Center, 2nd Floor Lobby (Marietta Campus)

Overview: Sip on Canada's favorite coffee, de-stress, and decorate a cupcake, in collaboration with KSU dietitians.

Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.

Cybersecurity Mission with the Canadian Consulate to the SE US

Dates: TBD

Overview: KSU's Center for Cybersecurity will host a panel as part of the Canadian Cybersecurity Mission in Atlanta. The panel, and the mission as a whole, will look at the current work being done to prepare college students for work in this field. Higher education institutions from across Georgia, Tennessee, and Canada will particpate, as well as Canadian companies whose work relies on university students to have the preparation required to enter the field.

Sponsored by the Canadian Consulate to the SE United States.
Course Credit with Canadian Content

SPRING 2025: POLS 4450

Course Title: Canada and North America

KSU Catalog Description: This course focuses on the commonalities and differences in the political systems and public policies of Canada and the United States, with emphasis on Canada. Issues such as political culture and value systems, electoral politics, federalism and regionalism including the status of Quebec, public opinion, NAFTA, health care, immigration, political integration, the treatment of indigenous peoples, ethnic and gender representation are explored. 3 credit hours. M/W 3:30-4:45 pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 15885 Prerequisite: POLS 1101 or permission of the instructor.

Dr. Heather Pincock will be teaching this course. She is an Associate Professor of Conflict Management in the School of Government International Affairs. Dr. Pincock also serves as the Interim Peace Studies Coordinator within the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

SPRING 2025: GEOG 4380

Course Title: Geography of North America

KSU Catalog Description: A geographical survey of North America, emphasizing the significant diversity found in both the physical and human geography of the region. Past, current and changing locational arrangements of people and resources are examined as they relate to economic, political, urban and cultural geographic perspectives within the framework of the forces that have created the variety of landscapes of the North American continent. 3 credit hours. Online. CRN: 15572.

In the spring, this course will focus on the physical and human geography of Canada and the United States, and the interconnections between the two countries. Students will also examine the physical and human geography of Canada's sub-regions, including: the Atlantic Periphery, Quebec, the Great Lakes region, the Great Plains and Prairies, the Canadian Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, and the Far North.

This course will be taught by Dr. Paul McDaniel, Associate Professor of Geography, in the Department of Geography and Anthropology within the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

SPRING 2025: ENGL 3342

Course Title: Topics in Native American Literature

KSU Catalog Description: This course is the study of a selected topic in Native American literature.

As part of KSU’s Year of Canada, this class will focus on Indigenous Canadian literature and the relationship between Native American and First Nations cultures and histories. To better understand the Canadian context, our class will participate in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) with an Indigenous Studies class at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. We will read at least one shared text and schedule shared class sessions over Zoom.

With our Canadian partners, we will explore the Indigenous literary renaissance currently taking place in the U.S. and Canada. Indigenous authors in both countries are creating innovative work in a variety of forms and genres. This semester, we’ll survey some of the most exciting texts published in the 21st century, ranging from horror to historical fiction, from Young Adult (YA) novels to award-winning tv shows, from poetry to science fiction. Authors may include Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Tanya Tagaq, Eden Robinson, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Smokii Sumac, Cherie Dimaline, Joshua Whitehead, and Waubgeshig Rice, among others. 3 credit hours. Hybrid, Tuesdays 3:30-4:45 pm. CRN: 12652. Prerequisite: ENGL 1102

This course will be taught by Dr. Miriam Brown Spiers, KSU's Director of MAST and Coordinator of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as Associate Professor of English and American Studies.

SPRNG: POLS 4447

Course Title: Arctic Politics, Policy, and Security in a Changing Environment

Students in this course will examine and analyze the Arctic strategies of various Arctic States, including Canada.

KSU Catalog Description: As the Arctic region warms, new issues are confronting the region and states that border it. This course examines human, environmental, energy, and traditional security challenges facing the Arctic states and the world. Such challenges include the consequences of renewed Great Power competition, territorial disputes, apparent militarization, rapid environmental change, and significant new investments in energy development and transit/shipping routes. The course evaluates existing multinational legal and political architecture that may help ameliorate such problems. 3 credit hours. T/TH 9:30-10:45 am. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 15775. Prerequisite: POLS 1101

This course will be taught by Dr. Thomas Rotnem, Associate Director of the School of Government and International Affairs and Professor of Political Science within Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

SPRING 2025: FREN 3305

Course Title: French Literature & Culture II

KSU Catalog Description: An introduction to French and Francophone literature and culture from 1820 to the present. Students examine literary and artistic movements as well as cultural issues of the period. Readings and discussions in French.

In this course, students will analyze select writings of the Haitian-Canadian author Dany Laferrière who occupies Seat 2 of the highly prestigious Académie française, has been bestowed with the Order of Canada and the Order of Québec, and has won many other literary awards like the Prix Médicis and the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. Students will read excerpts from his autobiographical novel Tout bouge autour de moi [The World is Moving Around Me], which recounts his on-the-ground experience of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. 3 credit hours. T/TH 2:00-3:15 pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 10655. Prerequisite: FREN 3200 and FREN 3303.

This course will be taught by Dr. Abigail Alexander, Associate Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures within Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Alexander also serves as the Director of KSU's World Languages Resource Collection and the Coordinator of the Latin & Critical Languages Program.

SPRING 2025: HON 2400

Course Title: Honors Discovery - Music in Canada

KSU Catalog Description: Honors Discoveries are short-term, not-for-credit learning experiences focused on topics outside the usual college curriculum. They often integrate disciplines, current events, or popular culture. Honors Discoveries involve small groups of Honors students learning through seminar discussion and experiential learning under the guidance of a KSU faculty member. May repeat once. 0 credit hours. Select Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 14114. Prerequisite: Admission to the University Honors College.

This course surveys historic and contemporary Canadian musicians, identifying shared commonalities and distinctive characteristics of Canadian Music alongside Western European, North American traditional, and contemporary musical traditions and practices. A portion of the course will help students discover Canadian musicians embedded within contemporary US music. All learning materials are available in the D2L/KSU Library System.

This course will be taught by Dr. Peter Fielding, Professor of Music and Associate Dean of the College of the Arts.
Library Links

Life Lessons in the Library

Feeling inspired to dig even deeper into Canadian culture? Visit the KSU library's online "Year of Canada" resource list. These resources have been curated with a focus on the country and topics related to on-campus programming. From guest speakers, to sports, authors, and documentaries, there is something for everyone.

Canada Corner

"Year Of" Undergraduate Research (YOUR) Funding

A priority of the "Year Of" Annual Country Study Program has been and continues to be inspiring and supporting international partnerships and research. To further this goal, Global Education is working with KSU's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) to provide mini-grants of up to $1,000 for faculty who choose to mentor undergraduate researchers, while expanding their research in partnership with colleagues in the country of focus. Faculty who wish to be considered, must identify a research partner within that country's higher education institution/s or organization/s, and complete the application.

Applications for the "Year of Canada" are closed. Congratulations to the following faculty who were selected to receive funding:

Dr. Soon Goo Lee, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Science and Mathematics

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Chalcone isomerase-like Proteins in (Iso)flavonoid Biosynthesis

Dr. Shadi Beshai, Associate Professor of Psychology, Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Associations Between Dispositional Mindfulness and Fatalism: Implications for Mindfulness-Based Interventions\
Mindfulness Across Cultures: Dispositional Mindfulness and Individualism‐Collectivism

Applications for the "Year of the United Kingdom" will open this summer. They will be reviewed on a rolling basis until December 15, 2025, or when all funds are disbursed, whichever comes first. Please review the requirements at the OUR website link below.

Year Of Research Funding

Education Abroad

KSU students can visit Canada and experience some of their culture firsthand during the 2024-25 academic year. Click below to learn more about our Exchange Program at Université Laval in Québec City. Come back to this site in September for opportunities to study in Canada, as part of KSU faculty-led education abroad programs in the coming year.

Oh, Canada!

KSU alumni will enjoy autumn in French Canada with fellow alumni, from September 20 – 27, 2024 as we travel to Montréal, Québec, and the Scenic Eastern Townships with alumni from Kennesaw State, Georgia State and the University of West Georgia. The trip is full, but look for more opportunities next year as part of the "Year of the United Kingdom."

Panels & Trivia

In collaboration with KSU's Museums, Archives, and Rare Books (MARB) and Instructor James Newberry’s Museum Studies class (HIST 4430), the "Year of Canada" has developed a set of introductory exhibit panels to provide a general overview of important topics related to the country of study, and to draw the campus into the Year of Canada experience. Look for these panels across campus and test your knowledge with the Canadian-focused trivia embedded on each piece.

Many thanks to the students and staff who brought this to fruition: Max Blafer, Brendyn Cole, Rafeal Dixson, Reagan Earnhart, Mckenna Hayes, Lauren Lyle, Lily Mays, Sydney Murdock, Ian Schirmer, William Vaughn, and Kay Yale (students); James Newberry, Outreach and Special Projects Curator, Kelly Hoomes, Museum Research Specialist, JoyEllen Williams, Special Collections Curator, and Chase Rodriguez, Student Intern (MARB staff).

Year of Canada Logo

In collaboration with KSU's Geer College of the Arts and the School of Art and Design’s Design Practicum course (ART 4030), we are excited to present the iconic Year of Canada country study logo. This logo will be used throughout the year to identify official programs that are affiliated with the university-wide focus. Many thanks to Assistant Professor John King and the following seniors who created this design: Taylor Harris, Vivian Higgins, Baileigh Krause, and Sydney Toner. Additional seniors from this class created another insightful design that will be featured throughout the Year of Canada, as well: Jacob Badgett, Taylor Montooth, Melanie Vivirito, and Spencer Wilcox. Global Education is proud to feature the work of our young professionals as part of this signature focus at KSU.