The Canadian Studies Center celebrated the new year with a check for just over $8,000 from the Canada-America Society of Washington Scholarship Fund, which closed at the end of 2018. The Scholarship Fund’s Articles of Incorporation indicated that the fund’s remaining assets should be given to the Canadian Studies Center because of the long-term relationship between the two. The Canada-America Society of Washington Scholarship Fund was formed by the Canada-America Society of Washington in 2003 as a charitable organization to receive the scholarship funds to support American students enrolled in four-year degree programs at Canadian universities.
The Canada-America Society of Washington was created to promote cross-border business, educational, cultural, philanthropic and government ties. The society flourished during the early 2000s when it teamed up with the Canadian Consulate of Canada, Seattle, to host the annual Canada Gala, which brought together as many as 900 people to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving at Seattle’s Westin Hotel. The Canadian Studies Center was a partner of the gala. The gala included an auction of travel packages, and all money raised was used to fund scholarships for American students to study in British Columbia. The Center worked closely with the Canada-America Society Scholarship Fund to identify potential recipients and assist them in establishing their study-abroad experience in Canada. Over the course of 10 years more than 30 students, many from the University of Washington, spent a semester or academic year at a Canadian university. Many attended the University of British Columbia.
The check was presented to Richard Watts and Nadine Fabbi at the Center by Joel Paget, past president of the Scholarship Fund; Brad Vancour, former vice president; and Chris Koh, former board member. Resat Kasaba, director of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies; Kevin Cook, chair of the Canada Gala, and former political, academic and Arctic officer at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle; and Robert Kerr, consul, political, economic and public affairs at the Canadian Consulate, were in attendance at the celebration luncheon.
Chris Koh, former board member of the Canada-America Society of Washington; Joel Paget, past president of the Scholarship Fund; and University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce.