Experience Canada during the 2024-2025 academic year right from campus - - or travel north and experience it through one of several education abroad opportunities being coordinated by KSU. The Year of Canada will be a yearlong exploration into this North American country’s culture, history, and global influence.
The Year of Canada is part of a rich tradition of globally-focused programming that has existed at the university since 1984. We are proud to continue our collaboration with key international, domestic, and campus partners to host special performances, events, lectures, exhibits, film screenings, and seminars. These offerings help foster local and global connections and engagement across cultures.
Everyone on campus will have the opportunity to take part in Canadian life and culture throughout the year. We invite all faculty, students, staff, and alumni, to learn about our neighbors to the north while we discover the second largest country on Earth!
We look forward to seeing you at the diverse programming being offered this year as part of the Year of Canada. Many thanks to the faculty and staff, as well as the campus, community, and international partners, who are bringing the Canadian experience to Kennesaw State University!
Listed below are Year of Canada events for the 2024-25 academic year, as well as special
resources and educational opportunities. Please follow us @ksuglobaleducation on Instagram
to keep up with event details, including updated times and locations should unforeseen
circumstances require a change.
If you have any questions about the events listed below, please contact Community
Engagement and Outreach in Global Education at global.engagement@kennesaw.edu.
Fall 2024
Year of Canada Kickoff
Join us for a kickoff on both campuses, featuring free food & "Year of Canada" merch!
-Kennesaw Kickoff-
Date: Sunday, August 11
Location: Campus Green during Splash Bash/WOW
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Overview: Sample Canada's delicious treat "poutine" and grab limited edition "Year of Canada"
merch! This event is co-sponsored by Global Education and Radow College via "Poutine
with the Dean."
-Marietta Kickoff-
Date: Friday, August 23
Location: Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Ballrooms
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm
Overview: Trivia, BINGO, music, and "fill yer boots" with a taste of Canada. Sign up for Trivia
is required below. Join as a team or we'll add you to a group. Spots are limited!
Location: Academic Learning Center (ALC), Room 1201 (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 9:30-10:45 am
Overview: Indigenous singer Fawn Wood will be speaking on the origins and history of Indigenous music, the revitalization of language through the use of music, and Indigenous influences on popular music.
Fawn Wood is a Plains Cree and Salish musician from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in
Treaty 6 territory, in Alberta, Canada. She is most noted for her album Kakike, for
which she won the Juno Award for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the
Juno Awards of 2022.
Overview: This film of the Broadway hit musical "Come from Away" highlights the impact a small Canadian town had in the lives of airline passengers who were re-routed due to the events of September 11, 2001. Join members of the KSU community as we remember this historic event and honor the connection between the US and Canada. Hosted by the College of the Arts and Global Education.
Admission is free! Everyone who attends receives Year of Canada merch and Canadian candy!
For the Love of French
Date: Monday, September 16
Location: Social Sciences, Room 3010 (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 6:00 pm
Overview: Who doesn't love the way the French language rolls off of the tongues of those who speak it well?! Get a glimpse into the French-side of Canada, while practicing your French to impress all of the Francophones around you!
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Hosted by French Lecturer
Dr. Noelle Brown.
The Canadian Economy and Sports
Date: Thursday, September 26
Location:MOVED ONLINE due to Hurricane Helene - See OwlLife for Teams Links! (Formerly - Prillaman Hall,
Rm 1000 -Kennesaw Campus)
Times: 9:30-10:45 am and 11:00 am-12:15 pm
College Spotlight Program: How do citizens influence the support of sports, including the Olympics and the athletes
who represent their countries?
From 9:30-10:45 am, hear the results of research on Canadians WTP (Willingness To
Pay) that was conducted as part of previous Olympic Games. Better understand how these
mindsets can impact athletes, economics, and policies.
From 11:00 am-12:15 pm, hear the economics of Canada's national pastime, with insights
from research on the National Hockey League.
Sponsored by the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity
and Global Education. Hosted by Professor of Economics Dr. Timothy Mathews.
Building a Canadian Architecture
Date: Wednesday, October 2
Location: D-2 Auditorium (Marietta Campus)
Time: 5:30 pm
College Spotlight Program: Trevor Boddy is a national figure within the Canadian architecture scene. He has written
extensively on contemporary architecture in Canada from coast to coast. He serves
as a curator and critic - - hear from this urban designer first-hand!
Sponsored by the College of Architecture and Construction Management and Global Education.
Hosted by Associate Professor of Architecture Michael Carroll.
2024 Smart Villages Symposium
Date: Wednesday, October 2
Location: Virtual (University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
Time: 8:30 am-6:00 pm (EST)
Overview: This event will focus on how rural people experience and use smart technologies, emphasizing the impact of new digital tools and technology, new modes of connectivity and new large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence. Special attention will be given to the challenges faced by youth and other marginalized populations. It will pay specific attention to how these technologies benefit rural communities and create new opportunities as well as new risks, such as social inequality, polarization, and misinformation. The event is intended for researchers, practitioners, students, and anyone else who may be interested in these issues. Speakers will include representatives from universities, governments, NGOs, and businesses.
This event is sponsored by the University of Guelph, a partner with KSU and the "Year
of Canada" program.
Participants are required to register for the event in advance using the link below.
There is no cost to participate.
Location: Carmichael Student Center, University Room C (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Flight28 students are invited to enjoy coffee with their Dean Katie Kaukinen. And to help her feel even more at home, KSU will be serving Canadian fave Tim Hortons coffee! Spin to win "Year of Canada" merch, too! This event is sponsored by KSUFlight: Class-Year Connections.
Film Screening: Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit
College Spotlight Program: Get your "meow" ready! Join us for a screening of the Canadian documentary film: “Catwalk: Tales from the Canadian Cat Show Circuit” written and directed by Michael McNamara.
Meet the fascinating felines and the people who pamper them in this whimsical look at the ins and outs of Canada’s competitive cat show circuit, where the claws come out when a Turkish Angora and an adorable fluffy red Persian face off to take home the national award for Best in Show.
Following the screening, Director Michael McNamara will talk about the process of shooting, editing and distributing his documentary and his experience of bringing “Catwalk” to the streaming platform, Netflix.
Year of Canada "meow merch" will be put in the paws of those who attend.
Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences and Global Education.
Hosted by Assistant Professor of Communication Matthew Terrell.
Not Like Us? Examining the US/Canada Political Divide
Date: Wednesday, October 9
Location: Social Sciences, Room 1017 (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Overview:
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, how are some of the top political feuds in the United States playing out differently North of the border? Discover how Canadians sound when “battling” about issues like inflation, immigration, healthcare, abortion, and Israel/Palestine - - and explore the reasons these debates are often sonically related but stylistically distinct in the Canadian political scene.
Interested in this topic? Register for POLS 4450: Canada and North America on M/W 3:30-4:45pm in Spring Semester 2025.
Sponsored by Dr. Heather Pincock, Associate Professor of Conflict Management, and
KSU's School of Government and International Affairs.
Canada's Thanksgiving Day
Date: Monday, October 14
Location: The Commons and Stingers (Both Campuses)
Time: 12-2 pm
Overview: It's Thanksgiving Day in Canada! To honor the occasion, KSU can enjoy a taste of Canadian cuisine with a meal purchase (swipe) in one of our dining halls.
Overview: While Canadians love many sports, we often imagine their passion for the country’s official winter sport - ice hockey. As part of North America’s National Hockey League (NHL), Canada is home to 7 of the 33 professional teams. We may not be able to see the Canadians in action, but tonight we can support the home team by attending the KSU club team's match and cheering on the Owls.
The first 50 students to check in will receive free admission! Attendees will also receive a one-of-a-kind KSU/Canada sling sack and Canadian candy,
while supplies last!
College Spotlight Program: KSU's "Topics in Native American Literature" course will host three editors of the book "Read, Listen, Tell." The editors are faculty from Canada's Simon Fraser University. They will provide insights and lead discussion on this compilation of unique writings.
According to Wilfrid Laurier University press, "Read, Listen, Tell brings together an extraordinary range of Indigenous stories from across Turtle Island
(North America). From short fiction to as-told-to narratives, from illustrated stories
to personal essays, these stories celebrate the strength of heritage and the liveliness
of innovation. Ranging in tone from humorous to defiant to triumphant, the stories
explore core concepts in Indigenous literary expression, such as the relations between
land, language, and community, the variety of narrative forms, and the continuities
between oral and written forms of expression." Join us to be inspired, awakened, and
challenged as we look inside the lives and experiences of a few of Canada's Indigenous
authors.
"Don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.” —Thomas King, in this volume
Sponsored by the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Global Education. Hosted by Associate Professor of English and American Studies Dr. Miriam Brown Spiers and Senior Lecturer of English Dr. Rochelle Harris Cox.
For the Love of French: Poetry
Date: Tuesday, October 29
Time: 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Location: English Building, Room 252 (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Dr. Noah McLaughlin will be leading a conversation on poetry in Québec, as part of KSU's “For the Love of French” series.
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Hosted by French Lecturer
Dr. Noelle Brown.
Overview:Dr. Lucas Richert will be discussing substances such as Cannabis, LSD, Heroin, and/or Tim Horton's
Coffee. His lecture will focus on the national identity of Canada when thinking through
intoxicants or what people put into their bodies; it will engage with the history
and rhetoric of substances as it relates to the body politic and as it informs the
relationship between the US and Canada.
Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences as part of their
365 Days of Learning and Service, focused on Mental Health in 2024-2025.
Taste Test Tuesdays
Dates: Tuesdays, November 5, 12, and 19
Locations: Both campuses
Time: See @ksuglobaleducation on Instagram for the times and locations!
Overview: Pop by our table to sample some favorite Canadian treats, from their most popular
chips, to candy, and more. Vote for your favorite and get Year of Canada merch, including unique stickers and Jibbitz!
The Artistic Practice of Wearable Art: Indigenous Dress, Collaboration, and Community
Date: Friday, November 15
Location: Zuckerman Museum of Art (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 1:30 pm
College Spotlight Program: Inspired by her late Setsuné's (grandmother’s) incredible garment-making, hide-tanning and adornment, Canadian artist Catherine Blackburn's work grounds itself in the Indigenous feminine. Join us for an artist talk in which she reflects on her wearable art practice and its intersection between Indigenous dress, collaboration, and community.
The talk will be accompanied by an Indigenous drumming session and a poster printing event both related to the exhibition by Native American artist Jeffrey Gibson which is on view in the museum.
Sponsored by Zuckerman Museum of Art and Global Education. This event is part of KSU's
International Education Week programming.
Native-American Beading Workshop
Date: Saturday, November 16
Location: Zuckerman Museum of Art (Kennesaw Campus)
Time: 12-4 pm. PLEASE NOTE: This program has reached capacity; no additional reservations are available.
College Spotlight Program: Join Indigenous artist Catherine Blackburn for this Applied Beading Workshop inspired by Aboriginal Classics, a series of works exploring themes of identity, language, and story. Participants will learn applied beading basics on an unconventional medium that utilizes a teabag as the vessel and story-holder.
Sponsored by Zuckerman Museum of Art and Global Education. This event is part of KSU's
International Education Week programming.
The Western Slam: KSU Basketball travels to Canada
Dates: November 28-30, 2024
KSU's men's basketball team will be going Canadian for a few days this year! They'll
travel to Alberta, Canada, to play in the Western Slam, which features "four dynamic NCAA teams," in "a dynamic showcase of basketball talent."
The Owls will take on UC Irvine (11/28/24), Towson University (11/29/24), and Kent
State (11/30/24). See the Owls' schedule here.
Canadian Coffee Break
Dates/Times/Locations: Wednesday, December 4 (K) - 10am-4pm - Relaxation Station in the Student Recreation
and Activities Center, Suite 1200
Thursday, December 5 (M) - 11am-1 pm - Joe Mack Wilson Student Center, 2nd Floor
Overview: Known as the “home of Canada’s favorite coffee,” try a cup of Tim Hortons while prepping for finals - - and sample a Timbits while you're there! If you dare, try Canada’s ever-popular “double double,” a cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars. The drink is so popular in Canada that in 2004 the term “double double” was added to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.
Year of Canada merch for attendees.
Hosted by Health Promotion and Wellness and Global Education.
Spring 2025
Timbits with the Dean
Date: Tuesday and Wednesday, January 7 and 8
Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Social Sciences Building, Lobby (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: The Dean of Radow College is hosting this meet and greet, featuring one of Canada's
favorite treats - - Timbits! Grab a limited edition KSU "Year of Canada" coffee Jibbitz
when you join us there!
Sponsored by the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Multicultural Tasting
Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Location: Joe Mack Wilson Center Student Ballrooms (Marietta Campus)
Overview: The "Year of Canada" will participate in this annual event at KSU. Join us for a taste of many cultures, including Canada! See more details on Owl Life.
Sponsored by the KSU Unity Center.
Tree-tapping, Canadian style!
Date: Thursday, January 16
Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: KSU Field Station, 1875 Hickory Grove Rd NW, Acworth, GA 30102
Overview: In honor of the "Year of Canada," we are trying our hands at making syrup! Instead of the symbolic Canadian maple we will be tapping our native Black Walnut trees at the KSU Field Station. The sap will collect for the next few weeks, and we will conclude with a syrup boiling workshop later in the Spring.
Sponsored by KSU's Office of Sustainability.
Coffee with Canadians
Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Calling all Canadians (and anyone who wants to hang out with Canadians)! Join us for Canada's favorite coffee, as we kick off the semester with an afternoon pick-me-up and a sweet Canadian treat to top it off. Limited edition (new!) stickers for your KSU "Year of Canada" collection!
Sponsored by the Office of Global Education.
Black History Month Lecture: The Battle for the Black Mind
Date: Tuesday, February 4
Time: 11:00am-12:30 pm
Location: ALC, Room 1201 (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Join Dr. Karida L. Brown, NAACP Award-winning sociologist and historian as she discusses
The Battle for the Black Mind, a powerful journey through the history of Black education,
revealing the centuries-long struggle to control Black intellectual life in America
and across the globe. Through a blend of historical narrative, archival research,
and cultural storytelling, Dr. Karida Brown connects the past to the present, showing
how education has always been a battleground in the fight for Black liberation.
Sponsored by KSU's Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Black
Studies, and York University (Canada).
Canada & the US: Activism and Public Policy
Date: Thursday, February 6
Time: 3:00-5:00pm
Location: Online (Link to be added)
Overview: Featuring Dr. Lynn Jones (York University, Canada) and Dr. Barbara Combs (KSU). Dr.
Jones is a prominent Black Nova Scotian recently awarded the Order of Canada for her
social activism. More details to come!
Sponsored by York University (Canada) in partnership with KSU's Norman J. Radow College
of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Harriet Tubman and Family Journeys of the Underground Railroad
Date: Thursday, February 13
Times:
9:30-10:45 am - Family Tree Student Panel
11:00 am-12:15 pm - Keynote Speakers and Roundtable
Location: Student Center, University Rooms B&C (Kennesaw Campus)
College Spotlight Program: Harriet Tubman participated in an international social movement that began long before she was born in the 1820s. The Underground Railroad had roots in the 1780s and operated until the Civil War, which Tubman participated in as a Union spy. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape from slave states in the South (including Georgia) to free states and Canada. The Underground Railroad was operated by abolitionists, both Black and white, who provided food, lodging, and money to the fugitives. The Underground Railroad is important to both the history of Canada and the United States, and its core humanitarian values continue to inspire people to dream of a better world that affirms the values of family, freedom, and human rights.
Panel: This group will explore the importance of family history and its centrality to understanding
the story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. The discussion will conclude
with the importance of understanding history outside of the context of slavery and
preserving the memories of our families before and after the experience of slavery.
Keynote Speaker: Rita Daniels will discuss themes from her new book and her family history that trace her ancestry
as a great, great, great grandniece of Harriet Tubman. She will also discuss some
of the work of the Harriet Tubman Museum and other international efforts to honor
her ancestor.
Sponsored by: KSU's Office of Global Education, Center for Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary
Studies Department, Black Studies Program, and the History and Philosophy Department,
as well as the Before Slavery Museum and the Harriet Tubman Museum.
For more information on the Underground Railroad in Canada please visit this site.
Myokine
Dates: Friday and Saturday, February 14-15
Time: 8:00-9:00 pm (both nights)
Location: KSU Dance Theater (Marietta Campus)
College Spotlight Program: Myokines are molecules secreted by muscles when the body is in motion. They are often referred to as "hope molecules" due to the sense of well-being and optimism they provide. In this work, Canadian dancer and choreographer Anne Plamondon focuses on the body in its entirety and lets the voice emerge to express very current concerns.
Sponsored by KSU's Geer College of the Arts, Department of Dance, and the Office of
Global Education.
TICKETS ARE REQUIRED and can be purchased the the CotA Box Office.
Interweaving Cultures: Poetic Reflections on Diversity in Early Childhood in Canada
(FACULTY Workshop)
Date: Monday, February 17
Time: 10:30 am-12:00 pm
Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS, Room 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)
College Spotlight Program: This workshop invites faculty to engage with the intersections of Canadian studies, Early Childhood Studies in Education, and critical perspectives of multiculturalism through the frame of mad autobiographical poetic writing. Drawing from the author’s experiences as a queer, non-binary educator, the session will highlight how mad autobiographical poetic writing serves as a powerful tool to challenge epistemic injustices in pre-service early childhood education and care.
This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Adam Davies, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada.
Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services and the Office of Global
Education.
Diverse Voices, Diverse Experiences: Incorporating Mad Narratives in Early Childhood
Education and Care (ECEC) in Canada (STUDENT Workshop)
Date: Monday, February 17
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS, Room 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)
College Spotlight Program: This workshop invites participants to explore the critical intersections of Canadian
studies, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), and critical perspectives of multiculturalism
by focusing on the experiences of Mad educators. Historically, pre-service ECEC training
has emphasized child development theories, often sidelining the voices and experiences
of educators, particularly those who identify as Mad or who have lived experiences
with mental distress. This workshop will challenge the normative frameworks that regulate
early childhood educators, in particular developmental psychology, by highlighting
how these frameworks often deny the validity of diverse emotional and mental health
experiences. Interactive discussions and reflective activities will allow attendees
to identify ways to contribute their own unique perspectives and experiences within
the field.
Mad Educators: Educators who have experienced mental distress or illness and use Mad Studies frameworks
in their teaching.
This workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Adam Davies, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada.
Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services and the Office of Global
Education.
"Queering Professionalism" Book Club: Challenging the Concept of Canadian Identity
and Professionalism
Date: 8-10 weeks during the Spring 2025 semester
Time/Location: TBD
College Spotlight Program: This opportunity is open to 12 participants. Through this book club, participants will critically examine key themes of neoliberalism, oppression, and the regulation of queer knowledge within the helping professions. The initiative is designed to challenge the concept of Canadian identity and professionalism, fostering discussion on issues surrounding multiculturalism (Canada’s cultural mosaic) and benevolence, two common threads in Canadian nationalism. Participants will explore the intersections of professionalism, power structures, and their impact on helping professions and activism.
Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services and the Office of Global
Education.
This Book Club will be facilitated by Dr. Amy Roach, Assistant Professor in the Wellstar
School of Nursing, and Dr. Cameron Greensmith, Associate Professor in the Department
of Social Work and Human Services.
Overview: You are invited to the online launch of “Queering Professionalism: Pitfalls & Possibilities,” a thought-provoking exploration of challenges and opportunities in rethinking professionalism. An exciting surprise giveaway at the end!
💡 What to Expect: Inspiring insights from featured speakers Robert Mizzi, Lana Ray, Ben Anderson-Nathe,
Amy Roach, Hazel Ali Zaman, Malissa Bryan and Harny Chan Lim!
Facilitators: -Dr. Adam Davies (University of Guelph, PhD, OCT, RECE) -Dr. Cameron Greensmith (Kennesaw State University, PhD, LMSW)
SESSION 2: Time/Location: 2:00-3:30 pm (Hybrid - link to be added in early February); and in the Prillaman Indoor Plaza (HS, Room 1001) - (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Listen in as KSU contributors Dr. Davies and Dr. Roach read from their chapters.
Sponsored by the Department of Social Work and Human Services.
The launch will be facilitated by Dr. Amy Roach, Assistant Professor in the Wellstar
School of Nursing, and Dr. Cameron Greensmith, Associate Professor in the Department
of Social Work and Human Services.
KSU Intramurals: Floor Hockey
Dates of Matches: February 26-27
Times: Vary
Location: Student Activities and Recreation Center (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Known as Ball Hockey in Canada, over 120 teams across the country compete in this
sport. Kids in Canada often get to experience ball hockey in PE, now KSU students
get to experience the sport through Intramural competitions. Sign up to play and you may win Year of Canada merch, or attend to cheer on your fellow Owls and feed your need for more hockey!
Hosted by Student Affairs and Intramurals.
Cybersecurity Mission with the Canadian Consulate to the SE US
Dates: Tuesday-Thursday, February 25-27
Overview: KSU's Center for Cybersecurity will host a panel as part of the Canadian Cybersecurity
Mission in Atlanta. The panel, and the mission as a whole, will look at the current
work being done to prepare college students for work in this field. Higher education
institutions from across Georgia, Tennessee, and Canada will particpate, as well as
Canadian companies whose work relies on university students to have the preparation
required to enter the field.
Sponsored by the Canadian Consulate to the SE United States.
March Maple Madness
Dates: Mondays, March 3, 17, 24, and 31
Time: TBA
Locations: TBA
Overview: Just when you thought March couldn't get any sweeter, we've added maple syrup to the
mix! Set your brackets for a competition between a variety of maple-flavored Canadian
treats, get ready for the infamous Maple Syrup Heist, and maybe watch a little basketball.
(Canada does have the highest number of international athletes of any country outside
the US in the NBA!)
Hosted by KSU's Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Global Education.
Women's History Month Event:Women through the Ages
Date: Tuesday, March 4
Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: JMW Student Center Lobby (Marietta Campus)
Overview: Learn about different women throughout history who have had an impact on our lives - - including at least one Canadian! Enjoy hands-on activities, light refreshments, and give aways.
Hosted in partnership between various campus departments.
Overview: Featuring an international panel of speakers including Drs. Francis Garon (York University,
Canada), Ramazan Kilinc, Paul McDaniel and Darlene Rodriguez-Schaffer (all of KSU).
More details to come!
Hosted by Kennesaw State University's Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social
Sciences in partnership with York University (Canada).
Book Club: L.M. Montgomery's "Emily of New Moon"
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Location: Sturgis Library, Room G-12 "The Hub" (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Calling all Anne of Green Gables fans - - well, maybe not. While authored by the same writer, this 100-year-old book
received less acclaim than its counterpart. Be prepared for a different type of leading
lady, Emily Byrd Starr, whose experiences supposedly reflect on the author's actual
life, the darkness of which most readers can relate to in at least some capacity.
"This much is clear: Emily Byrd Starr was forged in a time of uncertainty, one similar
to our own. Like Montgomery, she bushwhacked her way through loneliness on a path
made of paper, ink and words. At 100 years old, she deserves a spotlight of her own.
" Egan, E. NYT, 11/15/23.
Facilitated by JoyEllen Williams, Curator in KSU's Museums, Archives, and Rare Books.
Sponsored by the "Year of Canada."
Book Club: Emily of New Moon
Click here to sign up and to get a free paperback or electronic copy of the book!
Creative Jam Awards Ceremony
Date: Thursday, March 27
Time: TBD
Location: Student Center, University Rooms (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: The Adobe Creative Jam challenges students to learn the basic video editing program Adobe Premiere Rush and compete against each other to create one-minute videos related to each year's theme. This year students will have the option to tie Canadian-based material into their project for special "Year of Canada" prizes. Look for more information on this competition in early 2025.
Sponsored by Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Economy
Date: Friday, March 28
Times: 9:05-9:55 am and 10:10-11:00 am
Location: TBD
College Spotlight Program: This lecture will feature Dr. Vincent Geloso, Québécois and Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University
More details on this program will be added soon!
Sponsored by the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity
and the Office of Global Education.
Wings to Soar
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Time: 12:15-1:15 pm
Location: Joe Mack Wilson Student Center Ballrooms (Marietta Campus)
Overview: Experience some of Canada’s most beautiful – and important – birds of prey. Come eye to eye with an eagle, falcon, hawk, owl and more as you learn about the vital role they have in the natural world and the impact these incredible animals have on the environment throughout North America.
Hosted by KSU's Office of Global Education.
A Taste of Canada in The Commons
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
Location: The Commons (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Join Dining Services and the "Year of Canada" to taste some menu items common in Canada.
Free with your swipe into The Commons. "Year of Canada" merch will be given out!
A Taste of Canada in Stingers
Date: Thursday, April 10
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
Location: Stingers (Marietta Campus)
Overview: Join Dining Services and the "Year of Canada" to taste some menu items common in Canada.
Free with your swipe into Stingers. "Year of Canada" merch will be given out!
Cooking Demo: Canadian Butter Tarts...You Butter Believe It!
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center (SRAC), Room 1220 (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Join Health Promotion and Wellness for a Cooking Demo featuring an integral part of
Canadian Cuisine -- butter tarts! Space is limited. Stay tuned for more information!
Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.
Wings to Soar
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 1:15-2:15 pm
Location: TBD (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: As part of KSU's Earth Week, experience some of Canada’s most beautiful – and important – birds of prey. Come eye to eye with an eagle, falcon, hawk, owl and more as you learn about the vital role they have in the natural world and the impact these incredible animals have on the environment throughout North America.
Hosted by KSU's Office of Global Education and the Office of Sustainability.
Cooking Demo: Canadian Butter Tarts...You Butter Believe It!
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 5:00-7:00 pm
Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center (SRAC), Room 1220 (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Join Health Promotion and Wellness for a Cooking Demo featuring an integral part of Canadian Cuisine -- butter tarts! Space is limited. Stay tuned for more information!
Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.
Frost & Fuel Up for Finals with a Canadian touch!
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Student Recreation and Activities Center, Suite 1200 (Kennesaw Campus)
Overview: Sip on Canada's favorite coffee, de-stress, and decorate a cupcake, in collaboration with KSU dietitians.
Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.
Frost & Fuel Up for Finals with a Canadian touch!
Date: Thursday, May 1st
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: Wilson Student Center, 2nd Floor Lobby (Marietta Campus)
Overview: Sip on Canada's favorite coffee, de-stress, and decorate a cupcake, in collaboration with KSU dietitians.
Sponsored by KSU's Health Promotion and Wellness Department.
Course Credit with Canadian Content
SPRING 2025: POLS 4450
Course Title: Canada and North America
KSU Catalog Description: This course focuses on the commonalities and differences in the political systems
and public policies of Canada and the United States, with emphasis on Canada. Issues
such as political culture and value systems, electoral politics, federalism and regionalism
including the status of Quebec, public opinion, NAFTA, health care, immigration, political
integration, the treatment of indigenous peoples, ethnic and gender representation
are explored. 3 credit hours. M/W 3:30-4:45 pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 15885Prerequisite: POLS 1101 or permission of the instructor.
Dr. Heather Pincock will be teaching this course. She is an Associate Professor of
Conflict Management in the School of Government International Affairs. Dr. Pincock
also serves as the Interim Peace Studies Coordinator within the Norman J. Radow College
of Humanities and Social Sciences.
SPRING 2025: GEOG 4380
Course Title: Geography of North America
KSU Catalog Description: A geographical survey of North America, emphasizing the significant diversity found
in both the physical and human geography of the region. Past, current and changing
locational arrangements of people and resources are examined as they relate to economic,
political, urban and cultural geographic perspectives within the framework of the
forces that have created the variety of landscapes of the North American continent.
3 credit hours. Online. CRN: 15572.
In the spring, this course will focus on the physical and human geography of Canada and the United States, and the interconnections between the two countries. Students will also examine the physical and human geography of Canada's sub-regions, including: the Atlantic Periphery, Quebec, the Great Lakes region, the Great Plains and Prairies, the Canadian Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, and the Far North.
This course will be taught by Dr. Paul McDaniel, Associate Professor of Geography,
in the Department of Geography and Anthropology within the Norman J. Radow College
of Humanities and Social Sciences.
SPRING 2025: ENGL 3342
Course Title: Topics in Native American Literature
KSU Catalog Description: This course is the study of a selected topic in Native American literature.
As part of KSU’s Year of Canada, this class will focus on Indigenous Canadian literature and the relationship between Native American and First Nations cultures and histories. To better understand the Canadian context, our class will participate in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) with an Indigenous Studies class at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. We will read at least one shared text and schedule shared class sessions over Zoom.
With our Canadian partners, we will explore the Indigenous literary renaissance currently taking place in the U.S. and Canada. Indigenous authors in both countries are creating innovative work in a variety of forms and genres. This semester, we’ll survey some of the most exciting texts published in the 21st century, ranging from horror to historical fiction, from Young Adult (YA) novels to award-winning tv shows, from poetry to science fiction. Authors may include Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Tanya Tagaq, Eden Robinson, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Smokii Sumac, Cherie Dimaline, Joshua Whitehead, and Waubgeshig Rice, among others. 3 credit hours. Hybrid, Tuesdays 3:30-4:45 pm. CRN: 12652.Prerequisite: ENGL 1102
This course will be taught by Dr. Miriam Brown Spiers, KSU's Director of MAST and
Coordinator of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as Associate Professor
of English and American Studies.
SPRNG: POLS 4447
Course Title: Arctic Politics, Policy, and Security in a Changing Environment
Students in this course will examine and analyze the Arctic strategies of various
Arctic States, including Canada.
KSU Catalog Description: As the Arctic region warms, new issues are confronting the region and states that
border it. This course examines human, environmental, energy, and traditional security
challenges facing the Arctic states and the world. Such challenges include the consequences
of renewed Great Power competition, territorial disputes, apparent militarization,
rapid environmental change, and significant new investments in energy development
and transit/shipping routes. The course evaluates existing multinational legal and
political architecture that may help ameliorate such problems. 3 credit hours. T/TH 9:30-10:45 am. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 15775.Prerequisite: POLS 1101
This course will be taught by Dr. Thomas Rotnem, Associate Director of the School
of Government and International Affairs and Professor of Political Science within
Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
SPRING 2025: FREN 3305
Course Title: French Literature & Culture II
KSU Catalog Description: An introduction to French and Francophone literature and culture from 1820 to the
present. Students examine literary and artistic movements as well as cultural issues
of the period. Readings and discussions in French.
In this course, students will analyze select writings of the Haitian-Canadian author Dany Laferrière who occupies Seat 2 of the highly prestigious Académie française, has been bestowed with the Order of Canada and the Order of Québec, and has won many other literary awards like the Prix Médicis and the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. Students will read excerpts from his autobiographical novel Tout bouge autour de moi [The World is Moving Around Me], which recounts his on-the-ground experience of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. 3 credit hours. T/TH 2:00-3:15 pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 10655. Prerequisite: FREN 3200 and FREN 3303.
This course will be taught by Dr. Abigail Alexander, Associate Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures within Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Alexander also serves as the Director of KSU's World Languages Resource Collection and the Coordinator of the Latin & Critical Languages Program.
SPRING 2025: HON 2400
Course Title: Honors Discovery - Music in Canada
KSU Catalog Description: Honors Discoveries are short-term, not-for-credit learning experiences focused on
topics outside the usual college curriculum. They often integrate disciplines, current
events, or popular culture. Honors Discoveries involve small groups of Honors students
learning through seminar discussion and experiential learning under the guidance of
a KSU faculty member. May repeat once. 0 credit hours. Select Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm. Kennesaw Campus. CRN: 14114.
Prerequisite: Admission to the University Honors College.
This course surveys historic and contemporary Canadian musicians, identifying shared
commonalities and distinctive characteristics of Canadian Music alongside Western
European, North American traditional, and contemporary musical traditions and practices.
A portion of the course will help students discover Canadian musicians embedded within
contemporary US music. All learning materials are available in the D2L/KSU Library
System.
This course will be taught by Dr. Peter Fielding, Professor of Music and Associate
Dean of the College of the Arts.
Library Links
Life Lessons in the Library
Feeling inspired to dig even deeper into Canadian culture? Visit the KSU library's
online "Year of Canada" resource list. These resources have been curated with a focus
on the country and topics related to on-campus programming. From guest speakers, to
sports, authors, and documentaries, there is something for everyone.
A priority of the "Year Of" Annual Country Study Program has been and continues to
be inspiring and supporting international partnerships and research. To further this
goal, Global Education is working with KSU's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)
to provide mini-grants of up to $1,000 for faculty who choose to mentor undergraduate
researchers, while expanding their research in partnership with colleagues in the
country of focus. Faculty who wish to be considered, must identify a research partner
within a Canadian higher education institution or organization, and complete the application
this fall. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until January 31, 2025,
or when all funds are disbursed, whichever comes first. Please review the requirements
and apply on the OUR website below.
KSU students can visit Canada and experience some of their culture firsthand during the 2024-25 academic year. Click below to learn more about our Exchange Program at Université Laval in Québec City. Come back to this site in September for opportunities to study in Canada, as part of KSU faculty-led education abroad programs in the coming year.
KSU alumni will enjoy autumn in French Canada with fellow alumni, from September 20 – 27, 2024 as we travel to Montréal, Québec, and the Scenic Eastern Townships with alumni from Kennesaw State, Georgia State and the University of West Georgia. The trip is full, but look for more opportunities next year as part of the "Year of the United Kingdom."
Panels & Trivia
In collaboration with KSU's Museums, Archives, and Rare Books (MARB) and Instructor James Newberry’s Museum Studies class (HIST 4430), the "Year of Canada" has developed a set of introductory exhibit panels to provide a general overview of important topics related to the country of study, and to draw the campus into the Year of Canada experience. Look for these panels across campus and test your knowledge with the Canadian-focused trivia embedded on each piece.
Many thanks to the students and staff who brought this to fruition: Max Blafer, Brendyn Cole, Rafeal Dixson, Reagan Earnhart, Mckenna Hayes, Lauren Lyle, Lily Mays, Sydney Murdock, Ian Schirmer, William Vaughn, and Kay Yale (students); James Newberry, Outreach and Special Projects Curator, Kelly Hoomes, Museum Research Specialist, JoyEllen Williams, Special Collections Curator, and Chase Rodriguez, Student Intern (MARB staff).
Year of Canada Logo
In collaboration with KSU's Geer College of the Arts and the School of Art and Design’s Design Practicum course (ART 4030), we are excited to present the iconic Year of Canada country study logo. This logo will be used throughout the year to identify official programs that are affiliated with the university-wide focus. Many thanks to Assistant Professor John King and the following seniors who created this design: Taylor Harris, Vivian Higgins, Baileigh Krause, and Sydney Toner. Additional seniors from this class created another insightful design that will be featured throughout the Year of Canada, as well: Jacob Badgett, Taylor Montooth, Melanie Vivirito, and Spencer Wilcox. Global Education is proud to feature the work of our young professionals as part of this signature focus at KSU.
