After the U.S. election, it would have been all too easy to wallow in feelings of hopelessness. But as wildfires rage on and as tensions rise in global trade, the need for taking part in sustainable change, not defeatism, has become ever clearer.  

These themes drove a recent virtual conversation with Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke to the University of Guelph community during International Development Week. 

There, U of G students came face-to-face with Rae to ask questions ranging from gender equity to immigration and more – a rare opportunity to engage with one of the most influential voices on international development and global affairs.  

“Are we simply a world of competing nation states, in which some superpowers have more powers than others?” Rae said. “Or are we a world where we perceive ourselves as having a strong sense of moral obligation?” 

Canada’s UN ambassador since 2020, Rae was elected president of the UN Economic and Social Council last year. In 2020, he was appointed Canada’s Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues.  

Rae reminded participants to stay resilient during times of political unease.  

“The most lasting peace and security come when you have opportunities for human development and when you have people’s ability to express themselves freely,” he said. “I think these things go together, and that they should continue to be the focus and the approach that Canada takes.”  

U of G at forefront of international development education  

“Politics has become inwardly focused and less globally minded,” said Dr. Andrea Paras, moderator of the event, as she reflected on the conversation.

Andrea Paras standing outside, wearing a blue cardigan and blue polka dot top with large earrings.
Dr. Andrea Paras

Paras is a professor of political science in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and director of the Guelph Institute for Development Studies (GIDS)

“Bob Rae reminds us that we must play the long game,” she said. “That starts with educating ourselves and our communities, an area that sets U of G apart.”  

At U of G, GIDS is home to one of the first International Development Studies (IDS) undergraduate programs in the country, in which students are trained to develop equitable, inclusive and anti-oppressive strategies for global problems. 

U of G alumni are now found in government positions, international organizations and non-governmental organizations around the world, Paras added.

She ascribes that success to how GIDS creates links across different U of G programs: the One Health Institute, the Arrell Food Institute, the social sciences, the arts and more. 

“The problems we face today are not going to be solved by one discipline,” Paras said.  

Dr. Dominique Charron poses for a photo outside on the OVC building steps
Dr. Dominique Charron

As such, she commended the efforts of those from multiple disciplines who helped organize the event, especially Dr. Dominique Charron, a visiting scholar at the One Health Institute. 

One Health is an approach that considers how human, animal and environmental health are integrated. It is well positioned to address the complex barriers towards sustainable, equitable and inclusive development, Charron said.

“The big challenges we face in Canada are also global challenges: climate change, catastrophic biodiversity loss, recovering from a global pandemic and preventing the next one,” said Charron. “The University of Guelph’s One Health programs create problem solvers and innovators who can look at the big picture and see new solutions.” 

She added that we are fortunate in Canada to have experienced and thoughtful leaders like Rae to deliver both important international development lessons as well as the inspiration that many people need during political crises. 

“We’re living in politically perilous times, where the world is at risk of moving away from the concepts of multilateral development and multilateral human rights,” Rae said. “I don’t say this to depress you or make you feel this is all worthless… I say this in order for people to realize what I call ‘the fight we’re in’ and ‘the challenge that we face,’ and the reason why this fight is an important one.” 


For a full recording of this event, visit this link.

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