Allan Rock Announces Advanced Fellowship Program in Honour of Pierre Elliott TrudeauOTTAWA, February 20, 2002 — Industry Minister Allan Rock today announced the endowment of a $125 million fund to encourage promising young students to undertake advanced research in the humanities and the human sciences.
This fund follows up on the commitment made in Canada's Innovation Strategy, released last week, to create a world-class fellowship program to encourage exceptional students from Canada and abroad to conduct advanced work on current issues of social and public policy facing Canadian society.
The fund will be administered by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, and will support up to 100 fellowships for doctoral and post-doctoral students in the humanities and the human sciences. The fund will also help establish a knowledge network to support these students, in part by funding mid-career achievement awards for eminent scholars and encouraging mentor relationships in the humanities.
“Pierre Elliott Trudeau had a vision of a mature and confident Canada, united by shared rights, mutual responsibility and a common citizenship,” said Mr. Rock. “This fund will help promote excellence and encourage promising students, leading scholars and researchers to study issues of interest to all Canadians. These talented individuals will explore and study the values, rights and beliefs that inform Canada's sense of identity, our public policy and our place in the world.”
“My father had great expectations for this country,” noted Sacha Trudeau. “He believed in our capacity as a country to excel at home and abroad. These fellowships represent a vital tool in pursuing this vision of excellence. The best way to commemorate the contribution of my father is to allow his dream to continue through this living memorial. On behalf of my family, I want to thank the people of Canada for this tribute.”
The work undertaken by fellowship and mid-career award winners will be expected to cover specific themes reflective of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's personal interests, including: human rights and social justice, federalism, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world, and humans and their natural environment.
Up to 25 fellowships will be awarded for doctoral and post-doctoral students each and every year, renewable for up to four years. A further five mid-career awards, renewable for up to four years, will recognize eminent scholars at Canadian universities whose work in the humanities and human sciences is internationally recognized. Up to 15 mentors will be appointed in any one year to provide advice, counsel and reflection to the scholarship winners. Their appointments will be renewable for up to three years.
“These fellowships will encourage the exchange of knowledge by these leading scholars using modern technology network. We will also see a sharing of ideas as the best and most experienced scholars will train our best new minds,” said Mr. Rock. “Eminent practitioners in public policy, law and academia will be encouraged to act as mentors and sounding boards for these students and scholars.”
“I also want to thank the distinguished group of Canadians who took up the Government's challenge to recommend a fitting tribute to the former Prime Minister,” Mr. Rock added. “Members of the committee included James Coutts, the Honourable William Davis, the Honourable Jacques Hébert, Roy Heenan, Edward Johnson, Robert Lacroix, the Honourable Marc Lalonde, Dr. Joseph MacInnis, Robert Murdoch, Dr. Martha Piper, Senator Michael Pitfield, Dr. Sean Riley, the Honourable Roy Romanow, and Sacha Trudeau.”
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent, non-profit corporation which will be administered by distinguished Canadians from all parts of the country and varied academic, professional and political backgrounds. A list of the Board of Directors is attached.
Visit http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca for more information, or contact (514) 846-1212.
Backgrounder
Advanced Research in the Humanities
and the Human Sciences Fund
The Government of Canada will provide $125 million, to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, to finance the Advanced Research in the Humanities and the Human Sciences Fund. This fund will be used to support up to 100 doctoral fellowships, 20 mid-career achievement awards, and 15 mentor relationships in the humanities in any given year.
The work undertaken by fellowship and mid-career award winners will cover themes reflective of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's personal interests, including: human rights and social justice, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world, and humans and their natural environment. Winners will work in fields of the humanities and human sciences like: Canadian Studies, History, International Relations, Journalism, Law, Peace and Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Political Economy, Political Science, Sociology and Urban and Community Studies.
Up to 25 fellowships each year will be awarded to exceptional doctoral and post-doctoral students. These fellowships are valued at $50,000 per year for up to four years, and will include a stipend of $35,000 and an allowance of $15,000 for tuition, fees, and travel expenses.
A further five awards per year will recognize eminent scholars at Canadian universities whose work in the humanities and human sciences is internationally recognized. They will receive $50,000 per year for up to four years, and an annual allowance of $25,000 for travel and expenses, such as participation in an annual conference to be organized as part of the fellowship program.
Up to 15 mentors will be appointed in any one year, to provide advice, counsel and reflection to the fellowship winners. Mentors will receive a retainer of $20,000 per year, plus an allowance of $15,000 for travel expenses. These mentors will also participate in the program's annual conference.
The Foundation will ensure that 75 per cent of the fellowships will be awarded to Canadian citizens eligible for the appropriate award.
Fellowship recipients will work with experts at institutions in a province other than that of his/her home university. Similarly, international students will be encouraged to study in fields relevant to the future of Canada.
The Foundation will deliver an annual report to the Minister of Industry, which will detail, for example, its investment activities for the year, the number of applications or nominations for funding, actual funding activities, and its financial statements.
A list of the Directors of the Foundation is attached.
Backgrounder
Directors of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
The Honourable William Davis
William Davis served in public life for 25 years. As Premier (1971-1985), he led Ontario through a period of steady growth and progress. He worked hard to make government more efficient, while never forgetting the needs of the everyday people he was elected to serve.
Louise Fréchette
Louise Fréchette is the first Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Deputy Secretary-General assists the Secretary-General, and chairs the Steering Committee on Reform and Management Policy and the Advisory Board of the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP).
Roy L. Heenan
Roy L. Heenan of Montreal was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in July 1995. Mr. Heenan is senior partner in the law firm of Heenan Blaikie.
Dr. Chaviva Hosek
Dr. Hosek, who received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1973, arrived at CIAR following an outstanding career of public service and academic achievement. Most recently the Director of Policy and Research for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Dr. Hosek's accomplishments also include a term as Minister of Housing for the Province of Ontario and a 13-year career as Professor of English Literature at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Robert Lacroix
Born in Montreal in 1940, Robert Lacroix, Rector of Université de Montréal since 1998, holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Louvain, Belgium, and has been a professor in the Department of Economics at Université de Montréal since 1970.
The Honourable Marc Lalonde
Mr. Lalonde is a partner at the law firm of Stikeman Elliott in Montreal and served as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of Finance, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Minister of Justice. He has written and spoken extensively on various subjects and has also participated in a large number of international meetings.
Dr. Paule Leduc
Until very recently, Dr. Paule Leduc was the rector of the Université du Québec à Montréal. She previously served as president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, director of the Canada Council for the Arts, and president of the Conseil des universités du Québec.
The Honourable E. Peter Lougheed
During his tenure as Premier of Alberta from 1971-1985, The Honourable E. Peter Lougheed became one of Canada's most prominent political figures. His government's strong stand on energy and constitutional issues attracted national attention.
Dr. Martha Piper
Dr. Martha Piper is President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. She is the former director of the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Vice-President of Research at the University of Alberta.
The Honourable Bob Rae
Bob Rae is a partner at the Goodmans LLP law firm. His clients include companies, trade unions, charitable and non-governmental organizations, and governments themselves. He has extensive experience in negotiation, mediation and arbitration, and consults widely on issues of public policy. Mr. Rae served as Ontario's 21st Premier, and was elected eight times to federal and provincial parliaments before his retirement from politics in 1996.
Dr. Sean Riley
Dr. Sean Riley is President of St. Francis Xavier University and also serves on the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. Before returning to the academic sector in 1996, Dr. Riley's career spanned government, finance, and business. For several years, he served as a ministerial advisor on policy in the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and the Privy Council Office.
Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau
The son of the late Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau is a director of his father's Foundation.
Milton K. Wong
Milton K. Wong, Chancellor, is Chairman of HSBC Asset Management Canada Limited. Known for his extensive community involvement and philanthropy, he is the founding Chairman of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival, and is the deputy chair of the BC Cancer Foundation Millennium Campaign. Mr. Wong is founder and chair of the Laurier Institution, an independent non-profit institution dedicated to advancing knowledge of the economic and social implications of cultural diversity.
Dr. Marc Renaud
Dr. Marc Renaud is President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and is currently on the boards of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the steering committee of the Networks of Centres of Excellence, and the executive committee of the Interim Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Dr. Renaud also chairs the Steering Committee for the Canada Research Chairs Program. He has been President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council since 1997.
Dr. Alexander Himelfarb
Mr. Himelfarb became Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage in June 1999. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Toronto in 1975. From 1972 to 1981, he was a Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick. From 1979 to 1981, he was Head of the Unified Family Court Project at the Department of Justice, Executive Interchange.
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