Canada’s World Dialogue on Enhancing Equality and Human Development
Inspired. Optimistic. Motivated. Challenged. Hopeful.
Those were among the words used by participants to describe their mood after attending the Canada’s World Dialogue on Enhancing Equality and Human Development, hosted by Bridges that Unite yesterday in Halifax.
“Don’t get discouraged – it takes 10 years to make change that lasts,” advised one participant.
“I’m appreciative of the space to engage in meaningful ways,” said another.
“Leverage this network – get it to more communities,” suggested another.
The three-hour event, which attracted approximately 45 participants of all ages and from all walks of life, took place at Pier 21, Canada’s Immigration Museum, where Bridges that Unite continues through November 4.
“This is really a citizens’ movement, and it is only as good and as strong as the people who are involved,” said Shauna Sylvester, Director of Canada’s World.
In welcoming participants, Laurie Peters, Director of Public Affairs for Aga Khan Foundation Canada, said the Bridges that Unite exhibit provides a fitting backdrop for the Canada’s World meetings – which has now hosted three such discussions, in Vancouver, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Halifax.
“The Bridges that Unite exhibit poses a number of questions and asks visitors to think about Canada’s role in the world – in a world where poverty and hopelessness thrive,” Peters said, “In your deliberations today, perhaps consider whether we indeed have unique assets – a national genius – that we can harness more effectively to bridge the developed and developing world.”
Sylvester began Canada’s World out of a growing frustration with our country’s eroding position in international circles. “We were not even being asked to sit at the same tables we once headed,” she said. “That actually hit hard. We have great minds in this country. We have such a legacy of working internationally.”
Most in the randomly selected crowd seemed to agree our influence on the world stage has weakened in recent years.
“When you see the data and the raw numbers, you realize Canada has been sitting on its laurels,” commented one participant.
Canada’s World, a three-year initiative, has been traveling the country engaging regular citizens in discussions about our nation’s role in the world. It involves 50 partners (universities, charitable agencies, non-governmental organizations) from coast to coast.
In March, Canada’s World launched Back on the Map: A New Vision for Canada in the World (www.canadasworld.ca) , its findings from conversations with Canadians – 4,000 in person, 100,000 through social-media forums – to date. The Halifax event was part of the fine-tuning process, and featured a just-released video highlighting a new narrative proposed by Canada’s World.
It focuses on Canada leading by example in five key areas: fostering innovation, advancing a green economy, embracing diversity, enhancing equality and human development, and promoting good governance – relying on coherence, collaboration and community.
“Leading by example should also mean looking inward,” said one participant.
Agreed Sylvester: “Canadians don’t want us to have a different image in the world than we have at home.”
Click to view additional photos from the event:;)
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