Event Archive

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will host an in-person roundtable discussion with Karmina Constantino. In her talk, Karmina will discuss the need to relentlessly inform the public of a journalist's role in a democracy and why journalists should ask critical questions. She will also describe how the public misunderstands the media's role and the need to clarify its role as a watchdog.

About Karmina Constantino

Karmina Constantino is a broadcast journalist and TV and radio news anchor in the Philippines. For more than 25 years, she has worked for ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries and currently anchors Dateline Philippines, the flagship midday newscast of the ABS-CBN News Channel. She also co-hosts "On the Spot," a daily radio talk show on ABS-CBN's Teleradyo platform.

She is the recipient of the 2022 Marshall McLuhan Fellowship award for her "unflinching commitment to speak truth to power, an admirable consistency in ferreting out the most complicated issues of the day, and a stirring courage to ask the toughest questions.”

About the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship

The Marshall McLuhan Fellowship is the Embassy of Canada's flagship public diplomacy initiative in the Philippines. Launched in 1997, it is part of the Embassy’s advocacy to encourage responsible journalism in the Philippines with the belief that a strong media is essential to a strong democratic society.

Every year, the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) assists the Embassy in choosing a Filipino journalist whose work has contributed to positive changes in the social arena or at least has raised the level of public discourse in a relevant issue usually concerning governance and human rights.

The Indo-Pacific region comprises 40 economies, over four billion people, and $47.19 trillion in economic activity. It is also the fastest-growing region in the world and home to six of Canada's top 13 trading partners. By 2040, it is projected to account for more than half of the global economy. Vancouver's geographical proximity, deep cultural ties, and trade connections to the Indo-Pacific are generating local economic benefits and driving entrepreneurship in the region. As such, Canada's relationship with the Indo-Pacific is crucial to the country's long-term prosperity and economic success.

Join the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, as she shares a timely update on Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the federal government's vision for engagement with this strategic region and what Vancouver businesses need to know about these opportunities.

Information and registration. 

The Canada-ASEAN Initiatives and the Malaysia-Canada Business Council has an interactive panel discussion on "Canada-Malaysia Business: Capitalizing on the CPTPP."

The event will highlight how the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) can benefit Canadian companies interested in doing business in Malaysia. Malaysia's ratification of the CPTPP and Canada's recent announcement of its Indo-Pacific Strategy underline the value of deepening Canada's economic engagement and facilitating trade with Southeast Asia. The High Commissioner of Malaysia in Canada Her Excellency Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin, former High Commissioner of Canada in Malaysia Ms. Julia Bentley and speakers will highlight how capitalizing on the CPTPP can unlock opportunities for Canadian business in Malaysia.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• Nigel Neale, Director of the Inclusive Trade, FTA Promotion and Trade Missions Division, Global Affairs Canada
• Aida Safinaz Allias, Minister of Economic Affairs, Embassy of Malaysia (Washington), Malaysia Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (TBC)
• Nelson Samuel, Director, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (New York)
• Nyaee Ayup, Trade Commissioner, Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (New York)

This event will also be of interest to academic and government experts who follow economic relations, trade policy, Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and Canada's engagement with ASEAN.

The Canada Korea Business Council is pleased to host the Canada Korea Business Forum 2023, an event (in-person and via Zoom) bringing together Korean and Canadian executives, entrepreneurs, and investors for an engaging and interactive discussion on business opportunities.

Canada has announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy as diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea enter their 60th year.

• What are the opportunities presented to investors and those interested in the Canada-Korea trade corridor?
• How will the relationship fare in the current global economy?
• What are the business opportunities between Canada and South Korea in the era of strategic competition between the U.S. and China?
• What should you know about the Investment Canada Act and the National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments?
• How should executives navigate the turbulent waters ahead in dealing with autocratic nations for the exports and materials essential to vital industrial sectors?

The Indo-Pacific Opportunity: Women, Trade, and the Indo-Pacific Region

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is pleased to invite you to a Women's Networking Roundtable focused on trade with the Indo-Pacific, hosted by APF Canada and the Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN). This in-person networking event will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT at 1066 West Hastings Street (Pender Room) in Downtown Vancouver.
 
The Indo-Pacific has become a significant economic powerhouse, and Canada has been actively engaging in trade relations with this dynamic region, launching a whole-of-society Indo-Pacific Strategy. Women can play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Indo-Pacific, and this event is an opportunity for women to connect, share experiences and ideas, build relationships, and learn about upcoming opportunities to open new global markets in the region.
 
The event will feature guest speakers who will share their insights on the Indo-Pacific region's economic landscape, as well as panel discussions on various aspects of trade with the region. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds and industries.

Join Jack Austin Centre of Asia Pacific Business Studies on April 13 for a conversation with former federal cabinet minister and senator Jack Austin as he discusses the launch of his political memoir Unlikely Insider: A West Coast Advocate in Ottawa, a forward-looking reflection on challenges facing Canada and its citizens.

The event will also feature a panel of distinguished commentators on the book: Sarah Kutulakos (Executive Director, Canada China Business Council), Jeff Nankivell (President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada), Paul Evans (Professor of Asian and Transpacific International Relations, UBC), and Jing Li (Co-Director of the SFU Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies). This session will be moderated by Evaleen Jaager Roy (Chair, SFU Beedie School of Business Advisory Board and former Board Member of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada).

Our President and CEO, Jeff Nankivell will be speaking as a panellist. 

The Indo-Pacific is rapidly becoming the global centre of economic dynamism and strategic challenge. Encompassing 40 economies, more than four billion people, and more than one-third of all economic activity worldwide – what happens in the region will play a critical role in shaping the future of the international order.

Recognizing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to global peace and prosperity and Canada’s national interests, the government of Canada released in November 2022 its own long-anticipated Indo-Pacific Strategy. This long-term plan includes ambitious, interconnected objectives to promote peace, resilience, and security; expand trade, investment, and supply chain resilience; invest in and connect people; and build a sustainable and green future.

As a Pacific nation, Canada shares 25,000 kilometres (more than 15,000 miles) of Pacific coastline, robust trading relationships with economies across the region, deep people-to-people ties, and a rich history of cultural exchange. Through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, funded by an initial investment of $2.3 billion over five years, Canada will work to further deepen relationships with regional partners that have been built through decades of government, private sector, security, and civil society co-operation, and advance Canada’s overarching priority to be an active, engaged, and reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion examining the role and significance of Canada’s enhanced engagement in building a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Indo-Pacific region.

Rana Sarkar, Canada’s consul general in San Francisco, and Yves Tiberghien, professor of political science, Konwakai Chair in Japanese Research, director of the Centre for Japanese Research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and a Distinguished Fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, will hold a fireside chat exploring this new horizon of opportunity, as well as the importance of the Bay Area as an international cultural, commercial, and financial hub and vital gateway to the Indo-Pacific region.

For more information, please visit the Commonwealth Club website where you can also register for the event.

A limited number of complimentary tickets to attend in person are available here. These are available on a first come, first served basis.

Additional background on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is available here with analysis by APF Canada here and here.

The Canada-Japan relationship stands at a pivotal moment. Canada recently announced its much-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promises a “generational Canadian response” to the rising influence of the region. For its part, Japan has emerged as a key defender of the rules-based order, and the Kishida government is overseeing a transformational shift of the country’s national security strategy.

Both countries face major challenges in retooling their domestic and foreign policies to align with 21st century challenges such as economic and technological disruptions, the rise of China, climate change, and global democratic backsliding. How should we understand recent policy transformations in each country? How can the two countries co-operate to address regional and global concerns?

This webinar event assembles a panel of leading experts to address these questions on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan at the University of Toronto.  

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The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Universities Canada are pleased to announce the Canada-in-Asia Conference, an innovative, world-class event to catalyze a new and transformative phase of Canada-Asia engagement.  

The inaugural Canada-in-Asia Conference, which will be held in Singapore from February 21-23 2023, will engage over 30 Canadian universities and over 500 participants – Asia-based alumni of Canadian universities and key leaders from Canada and Asia in business and government – in a program combining keynote and inter-disciplinary plenary sessions, concurrent thematic activities based on priority sectors for Canada, strategic networking opportunities, and an evening gala event. The conference also offers participating universities or partner organizations opportunities to convene additional activities with their respective communities. 

Canada’s universities are global leaders in developing the knowledge, skills, and leading research that demonstrate Canada’s unique capabilities and contributions. Alumni in the region act as ambassadors for Canada, and are a valuable resource for deepening Canada-Asia relations across business, geopolitics, academia, and civil society. The Canada-in-Asia Conference will unite these alumni with other champions of trans-Pacific engagement to create the most extensive people-to-people and institutional linkages across Canada and Asia to date, while offering alumni a unique opportunity to grow their own professional networks. 

“Our two organizations are building a platform for Canada’s strategic re-engagement with the Indo-Pacific, while showcasing the value of some of Canada’s most important assets – our universities and alumni of those universities. This event is a unique opportunity for us to build and strengthen individual and institutional linkages across Canada and Asia, and work together to find solutions to pressing challenges facing our world,” said APF Canada President and CEO Jeff Nankivell. “We know that the multi-sectoral partnerships this Conference will enable, extended across borders and barriers, will allow us to accomplish more – in education, in business, in research, and with government.” 

Alumni of Canadian universities who are based across Asia are encouraged to save the date, and more information will be shared shortly. Invitations will be extended via university alumni networks, so please make sure your details are up to date with your university’s alumni program.

La Fondation Asie Pacifique du Canada et Universités Canada sont fières d’annoncer la Conférence Canada-en-Asie, un événement innovateur de calibre mondial, en vue de catalyser une nouvelle phase de transformation de l’engagement Canada-Asie.  

La Conférence Canada-en-Asie inaugurale, qui se tiendra à Singapour du 21 au 23 février 2023, réunira plus de 30 universités canadiennes et plus de 500 participants (d’anciens étudiants d’universités canadiennes basés en Asie ainsi que des intervenants gouvernementaux ou des leaders clés du Canada et de l’Asie en affaires) dans le cadre d’un programme combinant des conférences et des séances interdisciplinaires, des activités thématiques simultanées basées sur des secteurs prioritaires pour le Canada, des occasions de réseautage stratégique et un gala en soirée. La conférence permet également aux universités et aux organisations partenaires participantes d’organiser des activités supplémentaires avec leurs communautés respectives. 

Les universités canadiennes sont des figures de proue mondiales dans le développement des connaissances, des compétences et de la recherche de pointe qui témoignent des capacités et des contributions uniques du Canada. Les anciens étudiants de la région agissent en tant qu’ambassadeurs du Canada et constituent une ressource précieuse pour approfondir les relations entre le Canada et l’Asie dans les domaines des affaires, de la géopolitique, du milieu universitaire et de la société civile. La Conférence Canada-en-Asie leur permettra de se réunir avec d’autres champions de l’engagement transpacifique pour créer les liens interpersonnels et institutionnels les plus étendus au Canada et en Asie à ce jour, tout en leur offrant une occasion unique de développer leur propre réseau professionnel. 

« Nos deux organisations construisent une plateforme pour le réengagement stratégique du Canada avec la région indo-pacifique tout en mettant en valeur certains des atouts les plus importants du Canada – nos universités et leurs anciens étudiants. Cet événement est une occasion unique pour nous de créer et de renforcer des liens individuels et institutionnels à travers le Canada et l’Asie, et de travailler ensemble pour trouver des solutions aux défis urgents auxquels notre monde est confronté, affirme Jeff Nankivell, président et chef de la direction de la FAP Canada. Nous savons que les partenariats multisectoriels que cette conférence permettra de créer, au-delà des frontières et des barrières, soutiendront nos efforts visant à accomplir davantage – en éducation, en affaires, en recherche et au sein du gouvernement. » 

Nous encourageons les anciens étudiants des universités canadiennes basés en Asie à réserver ces dates dans leur calendrier. Plus de renseignements leur seront communiqués sous peu. Les invitations seront envoyées par les réseaux d’anciens étudiants. Veuillez donc vous assurer que vos coordonnées sont à jour auprès du programme d’anciens étudiants de votre université.

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APF Canada, with strong support from the public and private sectors, will lead the Second Canadian Women-only Business Mission to Japan (In-person), from December 5 to 9, 2022. 

This mission will focus on health care and clean technologies to spotlight the innovations Canadian women entrepreneurs bring to these sectors. The sixth mission in APF Canada’s Women’s Business Missions to Asia series, this unique event brings together Canadian women entrepreneurs with businesses in Japan to promote gender-inclusive trade, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and catalyze international partnerships between Canadian companies and a key market in the Indo-Pacific region and the largest economy in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

The Second Canadian Women-only Business Mission to Japan is generously supported by contributions from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. 

Applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until 11:59 pm EDT on Monday, September 12, 2022 or until delegation spots are filled. Applicants are strongly advised to submit applications as soon as possible.

La Fondation Asie Pacifique du Canada, avec un fort appui des secteurs public et privé, dirigera la Deuxième mission commerciale exclusivement féminine du Canada au Japon du 5 au 9 décembre 2022. 

Cette mission en personne sera axée sur les soins de santé et les technologies propres pour mettre en valeur les innovations qu’apportent les entrepreneures canadiennes dans ces secteurs. Sixième mission de la série de missions commerciales exclusivement féminines en Asie de la FAP Canada, cet événement sans pareil réunira des entrepreneures canadiennes et des entreprises établies au Japon dans le but de favoriser le commerce inclusif pour les femmes, de soutenir les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) et de catalyser la formation de partenariats internationaux entre les entreprises canadiennes et un marché incontournable dans la région indo-pacifique et la plus grande économie de l’Accord de Partenariat transpacifique global et progressiste (PTPGP).

La Deuxième mission commerciale exclusivement féminine du Canada au Japon est fier bénéficiaire de l'appui du gouvernement du Canada à travers l'Agence fédérale de dévéloppement économique pour le Sud de l'Ontario.

Les candidatures seront acceptées au fur et à mesure jusqu’au lundi 12 septembre 2022 à 23 h 59 (HAE), ou jusqu’à ce que les places au sein de la délégation soient toutes attribuées. Il est fortement conseillé de soumettre votre candidature dès que possible.  

Hokusai Manga (Hokusai’s Sketches) is a nineteenth century collection of 15 volumes of tri-coloured ink block prints by celebrated Japanese woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai. Published over a 60+ year period, the subjects range from landscapes to flora and fauna, to scenes from everyday life and the realms of the supernatural. Expert presenter Prof. Atsushi Hosogaya will be analysing sketches via a digital viewing tool and discussing the origins and importance of Hokusai Manga as well as its relationship with contemporary manga.

Presenter: Professor Atsushi Hosogaya from the Department of Manga, Faculty of Fine Arts at Tokyo Polytechnic University has organized many manga exhibitions as a curator at the Kawasaki City Museum. He is on the Board of Directors of the Japan manga Society and his major edited works include A Guide to Understanding Japanese Manga and Asia Manga Summit. He has served on the selection committee for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award, the Yomiuri International Manga Award, and the manga division of the Japan Media Arts Festival, and is a noted expert on Japanese and international manga.

This event is hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE).

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada is pleased to invite all Canadian Kakehashi alumni to a special presentation and workshop tour by Shinpei Kawachi, 16th generation of one of Japan’s most illustrious sword-smith families. With a history stretching back about 1,000 years, Japanese swords are at the same time weapons, sacred items and an art form, and the Kawachi Kunihira workshop is at the forefront of linking the traditional artform with digital technology as part of their mission to preserve this ancient art.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is pleased to host Christian Esguerra, host of the political talk show Facts First and winner of the 2020-21 Marshall McLuhan Fellowship award, for a presentation titled, "Democracy at Stake: How Media Battles the Disinformation Phenomenon."

Please Note: Registration is required for this special event.

Christian will discuss the nature of the disinformation phenomenon in the Philippines, how it affects the country’s democratic processes, and how media and stakeholders counter threats to the propagation of lies and truth-telling. In a time when truth and historical facts are being compromised, how can the media help in minimizing the threats and propagation of disinformation?

About Christian Esguerra

Christian Esguerra is a political journalist, multimedia anchor, and journalism educator. He hosts Facts First, a popular online political talk show tackling burning issues on politics and governance, and is a long-time advocate for combating disinformation.  

Christian began his career as a reporter with the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2000 then joined ABS-CBN as a news correspondent and anchor in 2015. He teaches political reporting and journalism ethics at the University of Santo Tomas where he is also a researcher at the university's Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities.

He was awarded the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship in 2020.

About the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship

The Marshall McLuhan Fellowship is the Embassy of Canada's flagship public diplomacy initiative in the Philippines. The Fellowship was launched in 1997, and is part of the Embassy’s efforts to encourage responsible journalism in the Philippines with the belief that a strong media is essential to a strong democratic society.

The Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility assists the Embassy in choosing a Filipino journalist whose work has contributed to positive changes in the social arena or has raised the level of public discourse in a relevant issue, usually concerning governance or human rights.

The program provides the winner with a two-week speaking and familiarization tour of Canada.

The Kakehashi Project is a four-pillar project consisting of "dispatch," "invitation," "online exchange," and "follow-up” programs. As part of the "follow-up” program, we will be holding a face-to-face round-table discussion with alumni to gain the knowledge of experts and clarify project results through the exchange of opinions and ideas.

Presenters: Hisami Andrade, Associate Professor - Global Studies Program, Yokohama National University will discuss international exchange; additional speaker in the field of SNS (TBC)

The Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) is pleased to announce a new partnership and collaboration with an international advocacy organization, Global Citizen. With a set of common goals, Global Citizen will co-host the upcoming annual Global Town Hall this year, which will be held on Saturday, 5 November 2022. With FPCI's partnership with Global Citizen this year, the upcoming Global Town Hall aims to reach a wider audience worldwide.

Since 2020, FPCI has initiated and been running the international consortium of think-tanks from various countries to convene the Global Town Hall – a North-South, East-West meeting featuring world leaders and leading minds to connect with global citizens. At the Global Town Hall, citizens from all over the world gather to discuss the most pressing issues in a 15-hour marathon of foreign policy sessions. This year, Global Town Hall will be conducted under the theme of “Sustaining Peace and Development in a Divided World.”

Since its inception, the Global Town Hall has gathered over 12,000 people from more than 120 countries. The conference has featured speeches from the president of the European Commission, and foreign ministers of Indonesia, Australia, China, European Union, UAE, France, South Africa, and India, as well as the leaders of various international organizations.

This virtual event is open exclusively to former participants in the Kakehashi Project university and Japan Bowl cohorts. Participants will hear from leading Japanese global business expert Koichi Kawana on multinational management, cross-cultural understanding, leadership, human rights, and the relationship between industry and SDGs. There will be opportunities for Q&A, networking with peers, and brainstorming action plans for youth engagement with globally relevant issues such as SDGs and human rights.    

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) are pleased to co-host the second annual East Asia Strategy Forum (EASF 2022) on November 1-2 in downtown Ottawa.

EASF 2022 is a multi-disciplinary conference that will foster the exchange of knowledge and actionable policy recommendations on geopolitical and geo-economic developments in East Asia, and Canada’s foreign policy and defence approach to the region. It will attract a specialized in-person audience of around 200 participants, including academics, researchers, policymakers, defence and strategy experts, former military officials, current and former diplomats, and business leaders. 

With support from the MINDS program at the Canadian Department of National Defence and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, this two-day conference will be hosted in a hybrid format, convening in-person and virtual keynote speakers, deep-dive panels, and networking sessions. The program will engage around 45 expert speakers from Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific. Experts will engage in constructive discussions on East Asia’s strategic environment, alliances, energy security, maritime security and law, economic regionalism, proliferation, and cybersecurity.

This is a timely event as the Government of Canada shapes, and will likely soon announce, an Indo-Pacific Strategy to inform Canada’s engagement with the region in the coming years.

The following APF Canada-affiliated speakers will be presenting at this forum:

• Jeff Reeves, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Fiona Cunningham, John H. McArthur Research Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Jonathan Fried, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• John Knubley, Board Member, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Stéphanie Martel, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Elina Noor, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

For centuries in Japan, fermented products such as miso and soy sauce were made and stored in cedar barrels known as "kioke". With the arrival of the modern era, the use of these wooden barrels dwindled as manufacturers switched to cheaper, mass produced options. In recent years, however, a movement to preserve this tradition has gained momentum, and a new generation of soy sauce and miso manufacturers has returned to using kioke.

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada invites all Canadian Kakehashi alumni to a virtual factory tour and presentations by Yamamoto Yasuo, President of Yamaroku Soy Sauce Co., Ltd. and Kono Naoki, Managing Director of Kono Vinegar Miso Manufacturing Factory Co., Ltd. 

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada invites all Canadian Kakehashi alumni to a special presentation on kimono and virtual dye-works tour delivered by Atsushi Tomita, fifth-generation head of Tokyo-based Tomita Sen-Kougei dye works. Capturing the spirit of Old Edo through a contemporary lens, Tomita Sen-Kougei adapts traditional designs and motifs to modern needs and contexts such as the Tokyo Olympics. Join us for a fascinating look at how the centuries-old kimono remains relevant in the 21st century.    

Career and Mindset Workshop for Global Professionals: Building a positive mindset and success toolkit to align career and lifestyle. Presented by the Kakehashi Alumni Committee & Kristy Mariko LLC.

Speaker: Kristy Ishii is a Kakehashi Project alumna from the Japanese American Citizens League (Nikkei) cohort (2014). Following Kakehashi, she worked in Gunma, Japan through the JET program and as a recruiter in Tokyo for two years. She returned to the United States in 2020 and started a coaching company, Kristy Mariko Coaching, later that year. As a Career Transitions and Mindset Coach, she works with people all over the world, helping them find clarity in their career paths, rediscover their passions, and anchor their core values and life purpose.