US-Canada Student Conference

The Consulate General of Canada Seattle, in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium, is organizing a two-day Student Conference to focus on the US-Canada border and issues of importance in the bi-lateral relationship.

Please email to ipe@ups.edu for more information and application forms. Here are some details:

A total of 16 students will be selected. Eight American and eight Canadian. Students must be full-time undergraduates attending a university in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, British Columbia or Alberta that is a member of the Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium. No more than two students will be selected from any one university.

Interested students must complete a formal application and mail / fax no later than 15 January 2008. Successful applicants will be notified by 1 February. Students will be paired (one American and one Canadian for each of the 8 teams) and assigned their issue upon notification. Students are invited to work with their faculty advisors to see if this may qualify as an independent study to earn course credit.

The issues to be assigned will be one of the following:

1. Border Security: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative; PASS cards; Enhanced Drivers Licenses; Perimeter Clearance, Visa harmonization

2. Northwest Passage: Sovereign Canadian waters or International waters

3. Multi-Lateral Diplomacy: Role of the United Nations

4. Gun Control

5. Capital Punishment

6. Gay Marriage / Gays in Military

The Canadian Consulate General is the principal sponsor of the conference. Students will be provided with travel funds (airplane ticket or mileage), two nights shared accommodation in Seattle, ground transportation for the Border Tour and meals.

One team from each panel will be selected for making the best presentation and proffering the best resolution. From those four teams one team will be selected as the overall top presenter. One individual student for best performance will be selected. Awards and prizes to be confirmed. $7000 in scholarships were awarded in 2007.