WWU's Center for Canadian-American Studies nets $180,000 in new grants

Western Washington University’s Center for Canadian-American Studies has received five new grants for more than $180,000 to be used in the current 2010-2011 academic year, including the first year of a four-year federal grant that will total more than $500,000 at its completion.

The grants were received from the U.S. Department of Education and the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The grant funding will be used to support a variety of programs, including a WWU student French Immersion program in New Brunswick, new courses in Canadian business and Geography, the STUDY CANADA in Ottawa Summer Institute, a conference on Canada-U.S. Relations to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Canadian studies at WWU, faculty professional development, and funds for the Wilson Library.

The Center for Canadian American Studies, located in Canada House at WWU, offers a comprehensive program for the study of Canada in the United States. In consortium with the Canadian Studies Center at the University of Washington, WWU has one of only two U.S. Department of Education designated National Resource Centers for the study of Canada in the United States.

The Center for Canadian American Studies coordinates a multidisciplinary undergraduate program, organizes seminars and symposia on cross-border issues of interest to both nations, promotes research on Canadian topics in the social sciences and humanities, and conducts extensive outreach to K-12 and post-secondary educators as well as to the business community, media and cultural organizations.

For more information on the new grants, contact Don Alper, director of the Center for Canadian American Studies, at (360) 650- 4675 or don.alper@wwu.edu.