NEWS RELEASES
HUNDREDS OF YOUTHS TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE ON ASIA PACIFIC
September 23, 1997 No. 151
HUNDREDS OF YOUTHS TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL YOUTH
CONFERENCE ON ASIA PACIFIC
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that 200 Canadian youths
from across the country will gather in Winnipeg for Asia Connects, a national
youth conference exploring Canada's relations with the Asia Pacific region, from
September 28 to October 5. Hundreds more youths will participate in conference
activities at multi-sites across the country and by accessing the Internet.
Asia Connects is the premier youth event to mark Canada's Year of Asia Pacific. In
addition to the 200 delegates from high schools across Canada, the Winnipeg
conference will include Asian students studying in Canada, delegations of youth
from the Philippines and Malaysia (APEC hosts in 1996 and 1998 respectively) and
other youth from Asia Pacific. Eleven multi-sites have been established in
classrooms and other locations across the country, enabling teachers and students
to participate in the Winnipeg proceedings via video-conferencing.
"This conference is designed to give hundreds of young Canadians the latest tools
and information they need to learn about Canada's trade, foreign policy and
cultural ties to Asia Pacific," said Mr. Axworthy. "Asia Connects will help these
young people make contacts with other youth in Canada and Asia to share
information and discover the kind of career opportunities that exist in one of the
world's fastest-growing regions."
A conference Web site has also been created, inviting youth to register to
participate in the conference via the Internet at www.tgmag.ca. Schools in Asia
Pacific countries are also participating via the Internet.
Minister Axworthy will be joined at the Winnipeg conference by Malaysia's Foreign
Minister Abdullah Badawi, and both will address youth at the opening ceremonies on
September 29. Raymond Chan, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), will attend the
closing ceremony for the Vancouver multi-site, located at Burnaby South Secondary
High School.
Thanks to support from local sponsors, youth delegates will visit Winnipeg-area
businesses involved in trade with Asia Pacific. Support from national corporate
sponsors is also helping to defray conference costs and broaden the scope of the
conference.
Asia Connects is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade and organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, in co-operation with
The Students Commission, a youth training organization with expertise in high-tech
conference delivery. Human Resources Development Canada, the Canadian
International Development Agency and Canadian Heritage have also provided funding
for the conference.
Funding for the conference was provided for in the February 1997 federal budget
and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Originally scheduled for May 4 to 11, the conference was postponed due to flooding
in Manitoba.
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A list of national and local corporate sponsors is attached, along with a listing
of the multi-site locations.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Leslie Zegalski
Asia Pacific Foundation Winnipeg Office
(204) 945-2256
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Asia Connects National Youth Conference,
September 28 - October 5, 1997
NATIONAL CORPORATE SPONSORS
Bell Canada
Canada Trust
Canadian Airlines International
CBC/SRC
Corel Computer Corp.
Delta Hotel & Resorts
Federal Express Canada Ltd.
The Great-West Life Assurance Company Ltd.
Investors Group
Malaysia Airlines
Reuters Canada
Sympatico
Tourism Malaysia
LOCAL CORPORATE PARTNERS
Boeing Canada Technology Ltd.
The Canadian Wheat Board
Cantel
The Filipino Journal
Gemini Fashions of Canada Ltd.
INFOCORP Software Solutions
International Institute for Sustainable Development
J.M. Schneider Incorporated
Loewen Windows
Mennonite Central Committee
Mondetta World
Palliser Furniture Ltd.
Panache. Agency. Models. School
Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages and E=MC2
Royal Canadian Mint
SAAN Stores Ltd.
Standard Aero Ltd.
St. Norbert Arts & Cultural Centre
University of Manitoba
University of Winnipeg
Vita Health Company Ltd.
Western Glove Works Ltd.
Winnipeg Airports Authority
XCAN Grain Pool Ltd.
PROVINCIAL MULTI-SITES
British Columbia Burnaby South Secondary School (Vancouver)
Alberta Shaw Cable Communications Facility and University of Calgary (Calgary)
Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)
Ontario The Bell Centre, George Brown College (Toronto)
Quebec Café Électronique (Montreal)
New Brunswick McNaughton Science and Technology Centre (Moncton)
Prince Edward Island University of PEI at Mayfield Meadows Country Resort
(Charlottetown)
Nova Scotia Auburn Drive High School (Dartmouth)
Newfoundland Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts)
Labrador JR Smallwood Secondary School (Wabush)
Yukon Maaniulujk High School (Rankin Inlet)
For more information on the multi-sites, please contact: Stéphane Delisle at (819)
777-8253.
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