State Visit to Germany, October 22-28, 2001
« State Visit to Germany
Canada and Germany already enjoy a close relationship. The goal of this visit was to reinforce the importance of the Canada-Germany
relationship and explore other shared interests, notably, elements of our very complex societies, and the cutting-edge culture
that resulted from this complexity. Specific topics to be explored include the visual, literary and dramatic arts, multiculturalism,
immigration, federalism, the wine industry and the environment.
Governor General Adrienne Clarkson lead an official delegation that included the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister
of Intergovernmental Affairs and five parliamentarians: the Honourable Janis Johnson (Progressive Conservative Senator,
Manitoba); the Honourable Alasdair Graham (Liberal Senator, Nova Scotia); John Godfrey (Liberal Member of Parliament, Don
Valley West); James Abbott (Alliance Member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia, British Columbia); and Gerald Keddy (Progressive
Conservative Member of Parliament for South Shore, Nova Scotia).
In addition, a delegation of prominent Canadians accompanied the Governor General to Germany. This distinguished group
of visual, performing and literary artists, business and environmental leaders, and thinkers, scholars and writers took
part in parallel programs of discussions and exchanges with their German counterparts. Highlights of the parallel programs
are outlined below.
Modern Societies
Canada and Germany, both federal parliamentary democracies, are both concerned with issues such as multiculturalism, diversity,
pluralism, immigration, human rights, the structure of societies and the sociopolitical aspects of linguistic and cultural
diversity. Through roundtable discussions and meetings with a wide range of counterparts, the members of the Canadian delegation
discussed Canada's approach to these issues.
Highlights:
- a roundtable discussion on accommodating diversity in a federal state, called "Dresden Dialogue on
Modern Identities for the 21st Century". In today's world of easy mobility and communications across
national boundaries, countries are becoming increasingly diverse and multicultural. The Governor General and a variety
of delegation members, including Monica Heller, Thomas De Koninck and Sheilah Martin discussed with German participants
issues such as reconciling notions of Acivic" identity or citizenship with other definitions of identity based on
ethnicity, race or religion, and whether individuals can maintain several different "identities" without losing
a sense of belonging in an increasingly globalized community.
- one-day forum at Humboldt University in Berlin entitled "Migrants in the Metropolis". The
Governor General gave a key note address to open the Forum which brought together German and Canadian thinkers and policy
makers to discuss the impact of increased mobility and globalization on Canadian and German immigration, integration and
multiculturalism policies. John Ralston Saul took part in the closing panel.
- a roundtable discussion at the Bombardier plant in Bautzen. The delegation visited Bombardier's
plant in Bautzen (outside Dresden) and discussed with employees and managers the impact of German reunification, the economic
transformation of the former East Germany, and the impacts of foreign investment in the area.
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Environment
Members of the delegation involved in the Environmental program discussed with their German counterparts key issues on
the global sustainable development agenda -- notably climate change and preparations for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable
Development in 2002.
Highlights:
- participation in "Kyoto on the Road to Johannesburg 2002: Climate Change, Energy and Energy Efficiency". The
September 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development marked the tenth anniversary of the seminal UN Conference on Environment
and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This forum in Berlin took stock of progress on climate change and energy
policies in advance of next fall's Summit and explored tax policies, renewable energies, energy efficiency, market incentives
and voluntary commitments by industry.
- a speech by delegation member Maurice Strong. Maurice Strong, organizer of both the Stockholm
Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 and the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit)
in Rio de Janeiro, spoke on the theme, "Where On Earth Are We Going?" to the Foundation of the State of Saxony
for Nature and Environment at the State of Saxony Ministry of Science and Art.
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Cutting-Edge Culture
Through organized roundtable discussions, exhibits of Canadian artworks and presentations of Canadian film, the cultural
program illustrated a vibrant, contemporary and diverse Canada reflected through its ideas, music, film, theatre, visual
arts and design and literature.
Highlights:
- Canadian Film Week in Berlin -- "Imagine Canada: Neues Kanadisches Kino" -- 15 feature films
and 11-20 short films over seven days; "the best of" contemporary Canadian cinema. "Preview
Night" featured The Sweet Hereafter and a post-film discussion with director Atom Egoyan and actor Arsinée
Khanjian. The film Last Night officially opened the Film Week. Prior to its screening, Alex Pauk, the co-composer
with Alexina Louie of the film's musical score, discussed the role and importance of contemporary music in film. The
screening was followed by a dialogue with director Don McKellar, producer Niv Fichman, and actor Arsinée Khanjian
as well as a reception showcasing Canadian wines.
- a "musical dialogue" between Canadian and German musicians. Robert Aitken, a well-known
Canadian conductor, flautist and composer in Germany, conducted the "musica-viva-ensemble-dresden", the orchestra
of the Dresden Centre of Contemporary Music. The program featured delegation member Alexina Louie's Music For a Thousand
Autumns as well as works by Canadian composers Chris Paul Harman, Robert Aitken, R. Murray Schafer, Gilles Tremblay
and Harry Somers.
- a seminar on Francophone literature in Canada, entitled "Francophone literature in Canada: the challenge
of identity". John Ralston Saul, Michel Marc Bouchard, Daniel Poliquin, Pierre Morency, Émile
Martel and Rose Després, discussed their work, their roots and inspirations and the personal and collective effort
of creating a Francophone voice in the North American context.
- a performance by The Holy Body Tattoo dance troupe. Vancouver-based The Holy Body Tattoo
founded by Quebec dancers Dana Gingras, Noam Gagnon and Jean-Yves Theriault is considered one of Canada's most innovative
and adventurous dance companies. German choreographer Pina Bausch has invited The Holy Body Tattoo to perform their work
Circa at her prestigious festival "Ein Fest in Wuppertal 2001".
- a roundtable in Düsseldorf on "Dramatic Arts as a Force for Social Change". Canadian
delegation members Michel Marc Bouchard, Jason Sherman, Tomson Highway and Pia Kleber joined German playwrights and theatre
professionals Albert Ostermeier, Ulrike Schanko and Michael Volk in a discussion of the role or obligation of the dramatic
arts to influence/invoke change in society.
- a "sneak preview" of a new installation by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller at the Ludwig
Museum in Cologne. The Ludwig was being renewed as a "contemporary" art museum. The collection
included the new installation "Playhouse" by Canadian delegation members Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller
who recently won the top prize at the Venice Biennale.
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Wine Industry
The Canadian Wine Industry delegation, which included vintners, leaders of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA), wine educators
and experts from government and the private sector, will continue the Governor General and Mr. Saul's initiatives to promote
the excellence of Canadian wine. The visit offered an opportunity for Canadian wine industry delegates to compare notes
with their German counterparts and to showcase outstanding Canadian wines to the German wine industry.
Highlights:
- meetings with vintners in three German wine districts: Rheinhessen, Ahr and the Mosel.
- tastings of Canadian wines with German wine professionals. German wine writers, enthusiasts
and sommeliers in Berlin and Cologne were invited to taste and discuss Canadian wines with the delegation.
- meetings and roundtable discussions with German wine research and industry associations. The
delegation discussed topics such as current grape and oenology research, marketing of rieslings and sweet wines, wine labelling,
icewine standards recognition, consumer perceptions of quality and potential German grape varieties for Canada, in meetings
with Research Institute Geisenheim (Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim), the German Wine Institute (Deutsches Weininstitut),
the German Association of Winery Co-operatives (Deutscher Raiffeisenverband) and the German Winegrowers Association (Deutscher
Weinbauverbande).
