Hello everyone!
Those warm, sunny late summer days at the beginning of September have given way to autumn in the United Kingdom.
Here at Canada House, we’ve been busy getting acquainted with a new British government – for the first time in 14 years.
We are establishing all the necessary new connections to ensure the Canada-UK relationship continues to thrive.
We’ve seen solid, constructive trans-Atlantic meetings and exchanges between our Prime Ministers, Ministers and officials at all levels – a true testament to the strength and vitality of the friendship between our countries. It doesn’t depend on politics. It’s rooted in shared values and extensive lived-experience with one another, generating reliability, trust and confidence.
Across Canada, we have just marked September 30th – our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. This special day is set aside to acknowledge the lasting consequences of the residential school system, to remember those who suffered abuse and those who died, and to honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis survivors, their families, and communities.
September and October are Terry Fox months both in Canada and the UK. The grit and valour of this amazing young Canadian in his battle against cancer back in 1981 inspired millions of Canadians and many others around the world. The 2024 Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research in the UK kicked off in London (Battersea Park) on September 15th, continued in Glasgow (Victoria Park) and in Hampshire (Four Seasons Hotel) on September 29th, and will wrap up in Wrexham (Bellevue Park) on October 13th. Thousands of pounds are being raised to support cancer research in the United Kingdom. Many thanks to Neil Johnson and his amazing team of volunteers for bringing thousands of us together in this great effort.
In October, we are also thrilled to welcome the National Ballet of Canada for a week of performances in London. The ever-popular “Come From Away” will be coming back for a limited reprise on London-area stages, as will the hit play “Kim’s Convenience”. And Regina singer and song writer, Jeffery Straker will be performing again at the Green Note in London on October 30th.
On the visual arts front, there are several new exhibitions by Canadian artists in London. Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s “It Will End In Tears” opened in September at The Curve, Barbican Centre. Her work reflects her experiences across Africa, Southeast Asia and North America, exploring themes of home and identity.
In partnership with the Remai Modern gallery in Saskatoon, our new Canada Gallery exhibition, “between elsewhere and possibility,” opens in a few days. It features works by Sandra Brewster, Ésery Mondésir, Sharon Norwood, Farihah Aliyah Shah and Kara Springer, five Canadian artists with Caribbean ties. Their art delves into themes of memory, ritual and geography, spanning the Caribbean, Canada, the United States and Europe. This exhibition is curated by Sally Frater and Michelle Jacques.
On October 5th, Kapwani Kiwanga’s “Rudiments” opens at the Goodman Gallery. This exhibition builds on themes from her Canadian Pavilion presentation at the 2024 Venice Biennale and her show at the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art.
For more information on Canadian cultural events in the UK, please visit our Culture Canada website.
This fall, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East and geopolitical tensions on the rise around the world, Canada and the UK will have an opportunity to work together on global security and peace initiatives in a multitude of multilateral fora, including at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa (October 21-26).
This will be the first time a CHOGM is hosted by a Pacific island state, highlighting the challenges, like Climate Change, that our Commonwealth partners face in that part of the world. Of the Commonwealth’s 56 member-states,close to half are small island or developing states. The UK is stressing economic growth, climate justice, and education/skills as its priorities for this meeting. In addition to those three, Canada will urge a strong focus on the protection and advancement of human rights throughout the Commonwealth, and transparent, accountable governance within the organization itself and among its member states.
Let me close by noting that Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner, October 14th. My best wishes to all Canadians who will be celebrating this occasion with family, fellow Canadians and British friends and colleagues.
Sincerely,
