The Saskatoon branch of the Canadian International Council invites you to our next event, free of charge and open to the public, on the following important international issue:

TOPIC: Vietnam Education Society
SPEAKER: Carin Holroyd
DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
PLACE: Saskatoon Club, 417 21st Street East, Saskatoon
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
~~~ This is the thirteenth event of our 2025/26 program ~~~
[Read further below about the option for joining the speaker for dinner after the talk.]

The Vietnam Education Society (VES) is a Canadian charity that focuses on improving education opportunities for children in rural and remote areas of Vietnam. Come listen to the president, Carin Holroyd, as she discusses some of the challenges faced by the VES, as well as its victories, with an eye on future developments.

About our speaker:

Carin Holroyd is a Canadian academic and nonprofit leader who founded and serves as President of the Vietnam Education Society, a charity that builds and supports schools in rural Vietnam. Her work has been formally recognized both in Canada and in Vietnam for its impact on education and community development. Carin Holroyd is a professor in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, with a research and teaching focus that includes East Asia and international political economy. She has also served in leadership roles in scholarly associations, including as President of the Japan Studies Association of Canada and on its executive.

About VES

The Vietnam Education Society is a Canadian nonprofit that focuses on improving access to quality education for children in rural and remote areas of Vietnam. The organization’s primary purpose is to raise funds to build and improve preschools, primary schools, and related facilities (such as libraries, kitchens, and playground shelters) in poorer, rural parts of Vietnam. It also provides educational supplies and support so that more children can attend school in safe, functional learning environments. While its core mission is education, some programs address life-threatening vulnerabilities. For example, the Society funds scholarships and support for at risk girls through a partner organization that works to prevent human trafficking along Vietnam’s border regions, which can help protect them from severe exploitation and violence. By strengthening education and economic prospects for poor families, its projects can also reduce long term risks linked to extreme poverty.

Itinerary:
5:30 p.m. Doors open
6:00 p.m. Public presentation – free and open to the public
7:30 p.m. Event concludes
8:00 p.m. Dinner with the speaker (RSVP by email to dan.sutherland@canada.ca)
9:30 p.m. Dinner concludes

DINNER WITH THE SPEAKER:
Want to find out even more about the issues, and discuss them with the speaker and other internationalists? Consider buying a dinner ticket and joining us after the talk, at 8:00 p.m., also at the Saskatoon Club.

Register for dinner before noon on Monday, January 12 by emailing dan.sutherland@canada.ca , indicating the number of seats you wish to purchase. Pay for meals by e-transfer.

Prices for dinner with the speaker, following presentation
$20 – Students
$40 – All other CIC members
$50 – Non-members
Register for dinner with the speaker before January 12, 12:00 noon. Dinner registrants will be expected to pay even if they cannot or do not attend. Persons with dinner reservations who cannot attend are encouraged to find someone else to take their place.

We hope you can make it!

Yours in service,
Dan Sutherland, Programming Chair
Canadian International Council – Saskatoon Branch