Dinner with the speaker 6:30 p.m. – Eventbrite Registration
Public presentation 8:00 p.m. – Free Admission

As Canada marks thirty years of membership in the Organization of American States (OAS), the anniversary affords an opportunity for Canada’s foreign policy community to reflect on why the Mulroney Government perceived this regional multilateral membership to be in Canada’s national interest. Given that the Laurier Government was first invited to join the then Pan American Union, as were a number of subsequent governments, why did Canada dither about formal membership in the Americas for 80 years? This anniversary also allows Canadians to take stock on what this distinctive multilateral membership means for contemporary Canada, the Americas and the OAS itself.

Speaker’s Biography
Mr. Rob Norris is well known to the Saskatchewan community and beyond for his insights into development and international cooperation. Since Feb 2019, Mr. Norris has been seconded to the Canadian Light Source (the CLS, or synchrotron), responsible for government relations. In 2016, Mr. Norris returned to the University of Saskatchewan as the University’s Senior Strategist for Partnerships within the Office of the Vice-President Research. Through his work, Mr. Norris has continued to expand the university’s international reach and competencies through his international diplomacy for the Canadian Light Source (CLS) Synchrotron, the Vaccine Infectious Disease Organization and the International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), and a number of the Colleges.

Before his return, Mr. Norris served the people of Saskatchewan for twelve years as an MLA, many of those years in cabinet posts creating initiatives in advanced education; labour; immigration; first nations and Metis peoples; innovation; and international trade. Mr. Norris was instrumental in implementation of green energy infrastructure; Saskatchewan’s graduate retention program; and the province’s immigration strategy, among many others.

Mr. Norris is well-known for his insights on local and global issues, writing frequently in articles, essays and reviews on a number of important international subjects. Mr. Norris serves as Board Chair for Canada World Youth; has been named Bangladesh’s honorary consul to Saskatchewan, and is a long-time friend of the Canadian International Council.