2008
SAACS Research Chair Colloquium – 22 February 2008
The South African Association of Canadian Studies hosted a one-day colloquium at the University of Cape Town on the South African Research Chair Programme.
The aim of the colloquium was to inform Research Chair policy development at tertiary institutions in the country by considering the Canadian Research Chair programme, which was used as one of the main models for the South African system, to deepen understanding of the successes and challenges of the Research Chair programme internationally.
Two Canadian speakers participated: Dr Michelle Gauthier, Director, Research and Policy Analysis Division of the Association of Canada and Ms Carmen Charette, Executive Vice-President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Chair of the Canada Research Chairs Management Committee. Panelists and invitees included representatives from the National Research Foundation, the Department of Science and Technology and Directors of Research at various South African Universities. Attendance was by invitation only.
Canadian Public Health Visitors
SAACS and Associate Professor Jane Bennett of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) African Gender Institute (AGI) hosted two Canadian public health policy makers in October. Ms Margaret Haworth-Brockman, Executive Director of Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence, and Linda Snyder, Knowledge Exchange Manager at the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, were involved in discussions with South African public and women’s health specialists. They spent time with staff, including Professor Lynette Denny, UCT Health Sciences, of the Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Project; with Cal Volks, the Director of HAICU, a UCT HIV/AIDS education, training and prevention project, and at an informal colloquium at the Health Systems Trust (HST), arranged by Marion Stevens, the project officer at HST, a large NGO which, amongst other commitments, co-ordinates the dissemination of sexual/reproductive health news. Dr Di Cooper, a Senior Researcher in the Women’s Health Research Unit in the School of Public Health at UCT, also attended, as did Associate Professor Jane Bennett, who facilitated the discussion, and Professor Martin Hall, who had initiated the visit. Unfortunately Barbara Clow, Executive Director of the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health was unable to join the group.
Click here for more information about the visitors.
Commonwealth Writers’ Prize
SAACS congratulates Canadian author Lawrence Hill for winning the prestigious Commonwealth Writers’ Prize at an award ceremony in Franschhoek on Sunday 18 May. He won the Best Book category for his novel “The Book of Negroes” published by Harper Collins.
The winners of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prizes were announced by Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan at the gala event at the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation with the support of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prizes have been awarded for 22 years and books from all four regions of the Commonwealth are considered annually. Scott Richardson, another Canadian, was shortlisted for the Best First Book prize.
Lawrence Hill and Scott Richardson, along with other nominees, attended various events and conducted workshops in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Franschhoek. The SA Association of Canadian Studies had the pleasure of hosting the Canadians at a dinner during their visit.
Canadian academics Professor Elaine Newton and Professor Petra Rethmann presented courses at the annual Summer School at the University of Cape Town. These courses were supported by SAACS.
Critic’s choice: Divisadero: Professor Newton
Critics choice: Half of a yellow sun: Professor Newton
Revolutionary history and its afterlife in post-apartheid South Africa: Professor Rethmann