Event Archive

Japan Studies Association of Canada's 2023 annual conference (JSACAC 2023) will be held at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon from September 28 to October 1, 2023. The conference will begin in the late afternoon of Thursday September 28 with a keynote address. The conference will run all day Friday September 29 and Saturday September 30 and for the morning of Sunday October 1. 

APF Canada's President and CEO, Jeff Nankivell will be speaking at the event, as will two members from our Northeast Asia research team – Senior Program Manager, Dr. Scott Harrison, and research analyst Momo Sakudo.

Friday September 29, 2023

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Scott Harrison and Momo Sakudo from our Northeast Asia research team will present their recent report: Japan Needs More Labour. Is Immigration the Answer?

3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: APF Canada’s President and CEO Jeff Nankivell will participate in the Canada Japan Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Think-Tank Panel.

Saturday September 30, 2023

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Scott Harrison, Senior Program Manager, Northeast Asia, will chair a panel on Tourism in Japan and Canada.

Sunday October 1, 2023

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Scott Harrison, Senior Program Manager, Northeast Asia, will participate in a panel titled, 'Reconciliation and Symbiosis in East Asia from Comparative Perspectives.'

Belair Center Speaker Series with EASIA291R: Special Topics in East Asian Studies Reconciliation and Symbiosis form Comparative Perspectives.

Sponsored by Eurasia Foundation (from Asia).

APF Canada Senior Program Manager - Engaging Asia/ Canada-Asia Sustainability Tracker, Dr. Scott Harrison will be speaking at this event.

Recent years have seen Canada and Japan increasingly collaborate and express the need to maintain long-standing and stable ties while diversifying and deepening the bilateral relationship. For example, in October 2021, the governments of Canada and Japan announced the Canada-Japan Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which the two countries agreed to work together on six shared priorities: the rule of law, peacekeeping, health security, energy security, trade, and climate change. In November 2022, the Government of Canada released its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which outlines a policy of strengthening co-operation in the Indo-Pacific in a wide range of fields; it explicitly discusses the importance of partnering with Japan. And in May 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participated in the G7 Hiroshima Summit held in Japan.

Our multi-partner event will commemorate the 95th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations by discussing the G7, Japan’s new Free and Open Indo-Pacific outlook, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, and what these initiatives mean practically for deepening Canada-Japan ties. The September 27 event will include presentations by academics detailing their respective visions for collaboration between Canada and Japan in the region. The academic presentations will be followed by a panel of experts that will review key elements of each country’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region to identify areas of mutual interest and potential for further collaboration.

A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion.

Agenda

8:30-9:10 – Informal networking before event begins

9:10-9:15 – Welcome, traditional land acknowledgement, introduction of event topic and speakers (APF Canada CEO & President, Jeff Nankivell)

9:15-9:25 – Background to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (APF Canada CEO & President Jeff Nankivell)

9:25-9:40 – Presentation: Takes on the future of Japan-Canada relations in the Indo-Pacific – Part 1  (Prof. Stephen Nagy, International Christian University, Tokyo)

9:40-9:55 – Presentation: Takes on the future of Japan-Canada relations in the Indo-Pacific – Part 2 (Prof. Tsuyoshi Kawasaki, Simon Fraser University)

9:55-10:05 – Change of speakers / Break

10:05-10:35 – Panel Discussion: What do key elements of each country’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region mean for practically deepening further collaboration and people-to-people ties

• Moderator: APF Canada CEO & President Jeff Nankivell
• Professor Stephen Nagy, International Christian University, Tokyo
• Professor Tsuyoshi Kawasaki, Simon Fraser University
• Ms. Kyoko Kuwahara, Visiting Fellow, Macdonald Laurier Institute

10:35-11:15 – Audience Q & A with moderator and panellists

11:15-11:20 – Closing Remarks (APF Canada CEO & President Jeff Nankivell)

11:20-12:00 – Networking light lunch / snacks

This event is presented with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver. 

Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy holds enormous potential for our country's expanded trade. Yet, developing new trade relations with the world's fastest-growing economies is not without major challenges. A region fraught with geopolitical tensions, Canada's strategic approach to the Indo-Pacific includes negotiating new trade agreements, establishing additional regional trade offices and resources, and expanding Canada's 'mind-share' for greater national awareness within emerging markets.

As a trading and maritime nation, Canada has launched an ambitious agenda as it seeks to diversify its trade and advance its interests in a shifting international order. Please join The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Pacific Chapter in Vancouver on September 21 to hear one of Canada's foremost Asia experts on this timely and important national initiative. 

Featuring our President and CEO, Jeff Nankivell, as a speaker. 

Nestled in the hills of the ancient capital of Kamakura, Engakuji Temple is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temple complexes in Japan. Founded in 1282 to serve the spiritual needs of the samurai, today Engakuji offers instruction in the practice of Zen meditation to the public. This virtual Zen meditation experience led by Engakuji Temple Zen priest Ichido Uchida will feature a meditation workshop followed by a discussion about Zen philosophy and how to incorporate Zen into our daily lives.

Hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE). This event is open to all Kakehashi alumni and participants.

The World Trade Centre Vancouver is proud to partner with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Vancouver, to host a market information session around business opportunities in Taiwan.

The event aims to showcase trade and investment opportunities between our province and Taiwan and Canada's decision to enter formal bilateral trade talks with Taiwan as part of a broader strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.

Join the World Trade Centre Vancouver and fellow business community members from the Greater Vancouver region for this informational session to learn about the investment opportunities in Taiwan and how it could benefit your business.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with Consulate officials and delegates from the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei to discover how businesses can effectively capitalize on investment opportunities offered by Taiwanese companies.

Relations between Canada and Korea have developed significantly since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties 60 years ago. Based on strong people-to-people ties, shared values and interests, and due to the complementarity of their economies, both countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership and developed a multifaceted relationship. Several recent high-level diplomatic visits between Canadian and Korean officials, including a visit by President Suk Yeol Yoon to Ottawa in September 2022 and a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Seoul in May 2023, underscore the current strength of the bilateral relationship and the potential for increased collaboration.

Especially as both Canada and Korea are redefining their relations with the Indo-Pacific, with both having released a strategy for the region at the end of 2022, the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations in 2023 provides an opportune time to reflect upon the strong ties that bind both countries and discuss how the relationship can be deepened in the years ahead.

This multi-partner event will include presentations by senior Canadian and Korean officials detailing their respective visions for the Indo-Pacific. The presentations will be followed by a panel of experts from academia, government, and the private sector that will review key elements of each country’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region to identify areas of mutual interest and potential for further collaboration. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion, and the event will be held under Chatham House Rule.

We are pleased to invite you to a Women's Networking Roundtable focused on trade with the Indo-Pacific, hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and the Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN), with support from McCarthy Tétrault and the Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec. The event will take place on Thursday, August 31, 2023, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM ET, at McCarthy Tétrault Boardroom, 1000 Rue De la Gauchetière O Suite, Montréal, Québec. Lunch will be provided. 

As you know, the Indo-Pacific region has become a significant economic powerhouse, and Canada has been actively engaging in trade relations with this region, launching a whole-of-society strategy. Women and gender-diverse people can play a pivotal role in promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Indo-Pacific. The event is an opportunity for women and gender-diverse people to connect, share experiences and ideas, build relationships, and learn about upcoming opportunities to explore new global markets in the region.  

The event will feature guest speakers who will share their insights on the Indo-Pacific region's economic landscape, as well as panel discussions on various aspects of trade with the Indo-Pacific. APF Canada will also share more information about the recently launched women-only business mission to South Korea and Thailand later this year, Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand.There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with like-minded women and gender-diverse people from various backgrounds, industries, and organizations that support women in trade. A downloadable link to a simultaneous interpretation app will be shared with participants prior to the event.  

Join us to learn about “ikebana” – Japanese flower arranging – from a master “kado-ka” flower artist at one of Tokyo’s most prestigious ikebana schools. The koryu-toyokai school believes flowers are most beautiful in their natural, wild state, and their arrangements reflect this respect for the natural and ephemeral. Participants will watch Miyamoto san create a beautiful flower display and learn about the tools and tricks required to create their own magnificent displays. 
 

Hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE). This event is open to all Kakehashi alumni and participants.  

We are pleased to invite you to a Women's Networking Roundtable focused on trade with the Indo-Pacific, hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN), and House of the Wolf & Associates Inc. The event will take place on Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at the NorthwesTel Event Room, 2180 2nd Ave., Whitehorse, YT.   

As you know, the Indo-Pacific region has become a significant economic powerhouse, and Canada has been actively engaging in trade relations with this region, launching a whole-of-society strategy. Women can play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Indo-Pacific, and this event is an opportunity for women to connect, share experiences and ideas, build relationships, and learn about upcoming opportunities to open new global markets in the region. 

The event will feature guest speakers who will share their insights on the Indo-Pacific region's economic landscape, as well as panel discussions on various aspects of trade with the Indo-Pacific. APF Canada will also share more information about the recently launched women-only business mission to South Korea and Thailand later this year, Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds, industries, and organizations that support women in trade. 

We are pleased to invite you to a Women's Networking Roundtable focused on trade with the Indo-Pacific, hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and the Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN). The event will take place on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at Verafin, 100 Hebron Way, St John’s, NL. Refreshments and snacks to be provided. 

As you know, the Indo-Pacific region has become a significant economic powerhouse, and Canada has been actively engaging in trade relations with this region, launching a whole-of-society strategy. Women can play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Indo-Pacific, and this event is an opportunity for women to connect, share experiences and ideas, build relationships, and learn about upcoming opportunities to open new global markets in the region. 

The event will feature guest speakers who will share their insights on the Indo-Pacific region's economic landscape, as well as panel discussions on various aspects of trade with the Indo-Pacific. APF Canada will also share more information about the recently launched women-only business mission to South Korea and Thailand later this year, Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds, industries, and organizations that support women in trade. 

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting an in-person roundtable discussion with Executive Director at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Jim Nickel. He will be discussing Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

Jim Nickel assumed his responsibility as Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei in September 2022. He is a career Foreign Service Officer who previously served as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada in Beijing, China, from 2018 to 2022. From 2014 to 2018, Mr. Nickel served as the Director General, North America, at Global Affairs Canada. Prior to that assignment, he served as Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi, India, from 2009 to 2014.

Mr. Nickel’s earlier assignments with Global Affairs Canada have included Senior Departmental Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Director, South Asia, with overseas assignments at Canada’s missions in Japan, Indonesia and India. He also worked as a university teacher in China in the late 1980s before joining Canada’s (then) Department of External Affairs in 1991.

Mr. Nickel is originally from Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Regina and a Master of Arts from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. He and his wife, France Viens, have two adult daughters.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will host an in-person roundtable discussion with Karmina Constantino. In her talk, Karmina will discuss the need to relentlessly inform the public of a journalist's role in a democracy and why journalists should ask critical questions. She will also describe how the public misunderstands the media's role and the need to clarify its role as a watchdog.

About Karmina Constantino

Karmina Constantino is a broadcast journalist and TV and radio news anchor in the Philippines. For more than 25 years, she has worked for ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries and currently anchors Dateline Philippines, the flagship midday newscast of the ABS-CBN News Channel. She also co-hosts "On the Spot," a daily radio talk show on ABS-CBN's Teleradyo platform.

She is the recipient of the 2022 Marshall McLuhan Fellowship award for her "unflinching commitment to speak truth to power, an admirable consistency in ferreting out the most complicated issues of the day, and a stirring courage to ask the toughest questions.”

About the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship

The Marshall McLuhan Fellowship is the Embassy of Canada's flagship public diplomacy initiative in the Philippines. Launched in 1997, it is part of the Embassy’s advocacy to encourage responsible journalism in the Philippines with the belief that a strong media is essential to a strong democratic society.

Every year, the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) assists the Embassy in choosing a Filipino journalist whose work has contributed to positive changes in the social arena or at least has raised the level of public discourse in a relevant issue usually concerning governance and human rights.

The Indo-Pacific region comprises 40 economies, over four billion people, and $47.19 trillion in economic activity. It is also the fastest-growing region in the world and home to six of Canada's top 13 trading partners. By 2040, it is projected to account for more than half of the global economy. Vancouver's geographical proximity, deep cultural ties, and trade connections to the Indo-Pacific are generating local economic benefits and driving entrepreneurship in the region. As such, Canada's relationship with the Indo-Pacific is crucial to the country's long-term prosperity and economic success.

Join the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, as she shares a timely update on Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the federal government's vision for engagement with this strategic region and what Vancouver businesses need to know about these opportunities.

Information and registration. 

The Canada-ASEAN Initiatives and the Malaysia-Canada Business Council has an interactive panel discussion on "Canada-Malaysia Business: Capitalizing on the CPTPP."

The event will highlight how the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) can benefit Canadian companies interested in doing business in Malaysia. Malaysia's ratification of the CPTPP and Canada's recent announcement of its Indo-Pacific Strategy underline the value of deepening Canada's economic engagement and facilitating trade with Southeast Asia. The High Commissioner of Malaysia in Canada Her Excellency Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin, former High Commissioner of Canada in Malaysia Ms. Julia Bentley and speakers will highlight how capitalizing on the CPTPP can unlock opportunities for Canadian business in Malaysia.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

• Nigel Neale, Director of the Inclusive Trade, FTA Promotion and Trade Missions Division, Global Affairs Canada
• Aida Safinaz Allias, Minister of Economic Affairs, Embassy of Malaysia (Washington), Malaysia Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (TBC)
• Nelson Samuel, Director, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (New York)
• Nyaee Ayup, Trade Commissioner, Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (New York)

This event will also be of interest to academic and government experts who follow economic relations, trade policy, Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and Canada's engagement with ASEAN.

The Canada Korea Business Council is pleased to host the Canada Korea Business Forum 2023, an event (in-person and via Zoom) bringing together Korean and Canadian executives, entrepreneurs, and investors for an engaging and interactive discussion on business opportunities.

Canada has announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy as diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea enter their 60th year.

• What are the opportunities presented to investors and those interested in the Canada-Korea trade corridor?
• How will the relationship fare in the current global economy?
• What are the business opportunities between Canada and South Korea in the era of strategic competition between the U.S. and China?
• What should you know about the Investment Canada Act and the National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments?
• How should executives navigate the turbulent waters ahead in dealing with autocratic nations for the exports and materials essential to vital industrial sectors?

The Indo-Pacific Opportunity: Women, Trade, and the Indo-Pacific Region

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is pleased to invite you to a Women's Networking Roundtable focused on trade with the Indo-Pacific, hosted by APF Canada and the Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN). This in-person networking event will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT at 1066 West Hastings Street (Pender Room) in Downtown Vancouver.
 
The Indo-Pacific has become a significant economic powerhouse, and Canada has been actively engaging in trade relations with this dynamic region, launching a whole-of-society Indo-Pacific Strategy. Women can play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment between Canada and the Indo-Pacific, and this event is an opportunity for women to connect, share experiences and ideas, build relationships, and learn about upcoming opportunities to open new global markets in the region.
 
The event will feature guest speakers who will share their insights on the Indo-Pacific region's economic landscape, as well as panel discussions on various aspects of trade with the region. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds and industries.

Join Jack Austin Centre of Asia Pacific Business Studies on April 13 for a conversation with former federal cabinet minister and senator Jack Austin as he discusses the launch of his political memoir Unlikely Insider: A West Coast Advocate in Ottawa, a forward-looking reflection on challenges facing Canada and its citizens.

The event will also feature a panel of distinguished commentators on the book: Sarah Kutulakos (Executive Director, Canada China Business Council), Jeff Nankivell (President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada), Paul Evans (Professor of Asian and Transpacific International Relations, UBC), and Jing Li (Co-Director of the SFU Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies). This session will be moderated by Evaleen Jaager Roy (Chair, SFU Beedie School of Business Advisory Board and former Board Member of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada).

Our President and CEO, Jeff Nankivell will be speaking as a panellist. 

The Indo-Pacific is rapidly becoming the global centre of economic dynamism and strategic challenge. Encompassing 40 economies, more than four billion people, and more than one-third of all economic activity worldwide – what happens in the region will play a critical role in shaping the future of the international order.

Recognizing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to global peace and prosperity and Canada’s national interests, the government of Canada released in November 2022 its own long-anticipated Indo-Pacific Strategy. This long-term plan includes ambitious, interconnected objectives to promote peace, resilience, and security; expand trade, investment, and supply chain resilience; invest in and connect people; and build a sustainable and green future.

As a Pacific nation, Canada shares 25,000 kilometres (more than 15,000 miles) of Pacific coastline, robust trading relationships with economies across the region, deep people-to-people ties, and a rich history of cultural exchange. Through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, funded by an initial investment of $2.3 billion over five years, Canada will work to further deepen relationships with regional partners that have been built through decades of government, private sector, security, and civil society co-operation, and advance Canada’s overarching priority to be an active, engaged, and reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion examining the role and significance of Canada’s enhanced engagement in building a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable Indo-Pacific region.

Rana Sarkar, Canada’s consul general in San Francisco, and Yves Tiberghien, professor of political science, Konwakai Chair in Japanese Research, director of the Centre for Japanese Research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and a Distinguished Fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, will hold a fireside chat exploring this new horizon of opportunity, as well as the importance of the Bay Area as an international cultural, commercial, and financial hub and vital gateway to the Indo-Pacific region.

For more information, please visit the Commonwealth Club website where you can also register for the event.

A limited number of complimentary tickets to attend in person are available here. These are available on a first come, first served basis.

Additional background on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is available here with analysis by APF Canada here and here.

The Canada-Japan relationship stands at a pivotal moment. Canada recently announced its much-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promises a “generational Canadian response” to the rising influence of the region. For its part, Japan has emerged as a key defender of the rules-based order, and the Kishida government is overseeing a transformational shift of the country’s national security strategy.

Both countries face major challenges in retooling their domestic and foreign policies to align with 21st century challenges such as economic and technological disruptions, the rise of China, climate change, and global democratic backsliding. How should we understand recent policy transformations in each country? How can the two countries co-operate to address regional and global concerns?

This webinar event assembles a panel of leading experts to address these questions on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan at the University of Toronto.