$10,000 raised for International Relations program

On Nov. 29, a black-tie event hosted by the Calgary Consular Corps (CCC) successfully raised $10,000 for the Department of Political Science's International Relations (IR) Program bursary. The cheque was presented to UCalgary President Ed McCauley, with Provost Sandra Davidson and Martha Hall Findlay from the School of Public Policy (SPP), and Dr. Rob Huebert from the Department of Political Science in attendance.

The event, which celebrated the next generation of leaders in International Relations, was made even more special through the collaboration of Judith Romanchuk from the CCC and Bonnie Walter from the Department of Political Science. They worked together to secure 16 sponsored seats for top IR students, as well as 3 sponsored seats for SPP students. The sponsorship came from several organizations, including the School of Public Policy, Navigator, Shell Canada, Rotary and the Macenko Merkley Group.

A generous donation from TELUS also added a personal touch to the event. The company donated a new phone, which was awarded to the student who first met the challenge set by the event’s MC, the Hon. Gary Mar, KC, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation. Mar called on the 16 students to stand and be recognized for their exceptional academic achievements in the IR program. He then challenged them to network and collect 10 business cards from attendees, encouraging them to take full advantage of the opportunity to connect with professionals. The first student to meet the challenge won the TELUS phone.

The event not only raised significant funds for the bursary but also provided students with a valuable networking opportunity, connecting them with influential figures in the fields of international relations, policy, and business. The evening highlighted the importance of the IR program at UCalgary and the commitment of the Calgary Consular Corps to fostering the next generation of global leaders.