This week we caught up with our Canada Memorial Foundation Scholar, Sari Ohsada. It has been 6 months since her move from Canmore, Alberta to undertake her fully funded Master's degree at Wolfson College, University of Oxford.

*Ms.Sari Ohsada visiting the Canada Memorial in Green Park, London (pre-lockdown)*

She shared with us, "looking back at where I began, my CMF Scholar journey has been a truly transformative experience in the way I think, feel, and see the world. While it has been a tumultuous year with the global pandemic, I have been able to enjoy an incredible and unique journey with my 35 classmates from around the world and still learn a lot through remote learning and outdoor walks in the beautiful British countryside. I have been taking many classes including Politics of Environmental Expertise and Implementation Strategies for Climate Initiatives and had the great joy of interning for the Stockholm Environment Institute in Oxford in December."

Looking forward to this summer, I’m excited to concentrate on my dissertation on Investigating the ‘Net-Zero’ Rhetoric for a Just Transition from Oil in Alberta, Canada, following my passion for understanding diverse narratives, cultural identities, and conflict mediation.

"This term, I have been researching about non-economic losses and damages to support a local NGO for the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP26) that is planned to be held in Glasgow in November. Looking forward to this summer, I’m excited to concentrate on my dissertation on Investigating the ‘Net-Zero’ Rhetoric for a Just Transition from Oil in Alberta, Canada, following my passion for understanding diverse narratives, cultural identities, and conflict mediation. The opportunity to explore the UK and its rich history and culture as a Canadian has been a memorable experience, and it would not have been possible without the Foundation’s support. Thank you so much and I look forward to updating you again how the rest of my year goes."

Sari was also able to travel to London pre-lockdown and visit the birthplace of the Canada Memorial Foundation, the Canada Memorial in Green Park as seen above. For more information on our scholarship programs, you are welcome to get in touch.

Choreographic-Documentarian is One to Watch. Last year, choreographer Rhodnie Désir became the youngest and the first black woman to win the Grand Prix de la Danse de Montréal for her exceptional contribution to dance (her company Rhodnie Désir Créations also won the Prix Envol for cultural diversity and inclusive practices in dance). Désir distinguished herself with her project BOW’T TRAIL Retrospek which debuted in Montreal in February last year.

Désir defines herself as a choreographer-documentarian and revisited her previous 2013 project BOW’T to create a new piece for one female dancer, two musicians and one immersive digital projection. “The choreographer, driven by a desire and a need to transcend her origins, drew from the jungo (Brazil), danmyé (Martinique), Vodun dance (Haiti), son jarocho (Mexico), blues (New Orleans), and gospel paired with Mi’kmaq rhythms (Canada) to immerse herself in the African cultures and rhythms brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans.” The resulting work brought together with international research speaks to what Désir calls the choreographic and rhythmic heritage/memory of Afrodescendant populations. It is a legacy traced back to origins and confronting the history of slavery.

As one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch in 2021 (other Canadians Christine Flores and Rebecca Margolick are both New York based), Montreal-based Désir brings a depth of research and soulfulness that resonates deeply with audiences.

The choreographer, driven by a desire and a need to transcend her origins... to immerse herself in the African cultures and rhythms brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans.

As part of Black History Month, Désir will be closing the 10th edition of the Festival Fondu au Noir (Fade to Black Festival) moderated by Déborah Cherenfant (President, Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal) and welcoming guests Frantz Voltaire (CIDICAH, a Haitian and Caribbean research centre in Montreal), Vanessa Kanga (Festival Afropolitain Nomade), and Pascale Kaniasta Annoual (Arts, Racines & Thérapies) to discuss Désir’s work (in French, 21 February, 6pm EST, subsequently shared to the festival’s Facebook page).

She will also be participating the Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Quebec online panel Raconter les cultures noires (Narrating black cultures) moderated by journalist Marie-Pier Élie alongside Ricardo Lamour (artist and social entrepreneur) and Manuel Mathieu (art and philanthropist) focusing on how Quebec artists unfold the stories of black cultures through their work (in French, 25 February, 7pm EST, shared later online via Savoir média).

Stellar Line up for International Women's Day panel. We are delighted to share with our readers an important IWD invitation received from Canada House. Please join host Her Excellency Janice Charette to hear from important Canadian speakers, including The Honourable Karina Gould, Margaret Atwood, Jean Augustine and others, all ably facilitated by Dr. Polly Russell, the recently appointed head of the British Library Eccles Centre. We have been working with Dr. Russell on our Canada-UK Foundation British Library Eccles Fellowship for 2022 and are deeply impressed by the breadth of her scholarship in feminist history. No doubt it will be an informative, engaging presentation. Please see the details below and register here.

In the spotlight this week is Nigel Bacon, CEO of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber celebrates their 100th anniversary this year, which we believe makes them one of the most enduring business Chambers in the world. Nigel leads the Chamber's very dynamic team (Jeff Surprenant, Victoria Teeple, Juline Wiernasz, and Jan Bertelsen) in providing an essential networking forum for some 320 member companies and 5,000 "Friends of" companies. Together they put on more than 60 events each year including talks with some very high profile speakers and the very well attended annual golf tournament and Christmas event.

Prior to joining the Chamber Nigel was with the British Council for 15 years, leading their operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Slovakia, Oman, and Bahrain. He holds an undergraduate Economics and Politics degree from the University of York and a Masters degree from Reading University. He also holds accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a qualified solicitor.

Married with one son, Essex resident Nigel is a keen squash player, proud to be in fighting trim to represent England in the over 55's category, and to contribute as Treasurer of the England Squash Foundation.

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