This week we bring you one of our Canada-UK Foundation academics working the the finance field, Dr. Barry Quinn, professor at Queen's University Belfast. We're drawn again to his work because it's Education Savings Week in Canada. A national initiative designed to raise public awareness about the importance of saving for a child’s post-secondary education, Education Savings Week also looks to promote understanding of the many financial savings incentives available for education in Canada.

Dr. Quinn used his Canada UK Foundation small travel award share perspectives with HEC Montreal in Quebec. He told us "One of the many good things about working as a finance lecturer at Queen's Management School is the opportunity to undertake comparative and collaborative research with Canada. I was particularly interested in looking at the Canadian banking system because it provides a unique platform to assess the stabilizing properties of cooperative banking principles." Dr. Quinn also took advantage of his time in Canada to collaborate with the University of Moncton, looking at their analysis of the Desjardin system.

We were pleased to support Dr. Quinn with his Canadian research, and are happy to share findings with our readers. Please be in touch to learn more about this or other Canada-UK research and collaboration we have supported.

Fellowships, Scholarships & Studying Abroad

Join us December 9 at 15:00 GMT as we hear from Canada-UK students, who share their experience of international Fellowship and scholarship opportunities, from undergraduates to Post-doc

Canada has been called an education superpower. Did you know that we consistently rank as one of the best countries in the world to live, our universities are regularly featured on international rankings, and our cities praised for their diversity and safety? Canada has been at the forefront of study and research destinations for UK students. So, what makes Canada such a popular choice?

You are warmly invited to learn more about Canada as a study destination and why thousands of UK students are choosing a study experience in Canada. High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom Education Officer Chelsea Ljutic will speak about why Canada is an increasingly popular study destination in the UK.

You will learn about the type of scholarships we offer, and most importantly hear first-hand about our scholars’ experiences of studying and researching in Canada and how it has helped shape their lives. We will hear from Dr. Bo Larsen; our Danish Canada-UK Post Doctoral Fellow, Sari Osada, from Canmore Alberta now at Oxford; James Broom from Suffolk now at University of New Brunswick; and Dr. Eleanor Dunling, from Glasgow studying in Vancouver. Diverse stories, diverse studies, and one common theme -- changing lives through education. Please register here to join us.

Mary E. Wrinch, Untitled portrait, date unknown

This week we highlight a recently opened exhibition, Mary Wrinch: Painted from Life, at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) focusing on never-before-exhibited miniature watercolour portraits by Mary Wrinch (1877-1969). One of Toronto’s first professional female artists working at the turn of the century, Wrinch displayed incredible skill across multiple media. The AGO, one of Canada’s leading arts museums, has shared a video in their Close Looking series to highlight Wrinch’s career and work.

Born in Kirby-le-Soken in Essex, Wrinch immigrated to Canada in 1885. She studied both at the Central Ontario School of Art (now OCAD) in Toronto as well as the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London. She worked across different media from miniature portraiture, to large-scale oil painting, to linoblock printing. She is said to be a pioneer of open-air painting in northern Ontario, serving as inspiration to members of the Group of Seven to do the same. She was a member of numerous art groups including the Canadian Academy of Arts and the Ontario Society of Artists as well as women’s art groups the Heliconian Club and the Women’s Art Association of Canada.
Her miniature portraits, barely 10 cm sq., from the early stage of her career were painted from life using watercolour on pumice-coated ivory (a medium which enjoyed a resurgence with the advent of photography). Upon close observation, which can be done via an entrancing zooming-in video from the AGO, one can observe Wrinch’s Impressionist-like technique as well as her use of etching. The jewel-like art pieces are incredibly meticulous, enchanting portraits worthy of a closer look.

Have you heard of the Canada Club? They're a very dynamic group of Brits and Canucks, who love intelligent conversation and good food! They're a purely social club, founded in London in 1810 and hosting fascinating dinners and conversations since then. Were you able to get to their Margaret Atwood dinner? They do some don't miss events and they've got one coming up next week.

Jonny Lake, former head chef of The Fat Duck, and sommelier Isa Bal in front of their current restaurant, Trivet.

Jennifer Maxwell, partner at London law firm Blakes, is the Canada Club Chair and we talked with her this week about this latest Canada Club @ Home dinner on 28 November: "We expect a first rate meal prepared specially for us by Jonny Lake, formerly head chef of the renowned The Fat Duck restaurant, along with wine pairings from sommelier Isa Bal, and a lively conversation about the food and wine... and possibly much more!" Jonny and Isa have worked with the Canada Club to put together a delicious dinner, an homage to Canada and to the season, and it will be delivered directly to you just in time for a live Q&A with the chef and sommelier.

We are delighted that Jennifer agreed to open up this special dinner to our readers and guests, and if you've not signed up already, don't delay! The food will be very special, and the Q&A with the top chef and sommelier a welcome connection to both great knowledge and each other. Details here, but hurry, spaces are limited!

To coincide with the Canada Club @ Home dinner, in our spotlight this week is London-based solicitor and Canada Club Chair Jennifer Maxwell. As a partner with the Canadian law firm Blakes, Ottawa native Jenn represents private and public companies and investors on a wide variety of Canadian business law matters, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestments, investments, capital market financings, joint ventures, restructurings, and securities regulatory matters.

When she isn't working or walking Bob, her retired racing greyhound, Jenn can usually be found in the world of art and design -- though post-COVID, that has meant swapping the city's endless art galleries offerings for outdoor wanders visiting its 20th-century architectural gems. We thought this picture of her at a dining table was especially appropriate this week!

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