Reflections from the 2011-12 Sauve year

Last August, fourteen young people hailing from countries as different from Canada as the Palestinian Territories, Kenya and Paraguay, embarked on a journey  to learn about leadership and how to contribute to effective responses to the major global challenges of our time. We did so by exchanging ideas with each other and educating ourselves at two world class Montreal universities.  As Sauvé Scholars for ten months, we lived in a house just up the street from our host academic institutions McGill and Concordia.

The first experience to form a bond between us was a camping trip in the Laurentians which we coordinated amongst ourselves. The Canadian lakes gave us a sense of the boundless opportunities in this country. We were deeply touched by the eerie call of the loon, though perhaps that emotion was simply the relief of finding out that it wasn’t the call of hungry wolves.  Canada makes up seven percent of the world’s landmass and is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and beautiful wildlife. Please continue to treasure them for the rest of the world.

We met and exchanged ideas with Canadian leaders renowned in this country and across the world for their visions. The Sauvé fellow from China noted that in his country, it is unheard of for anyone but the central bureau to interact with ministers, let alone former presidents. During our ten months in Canada, we had lengthy discussions with ministers, members of parliament and two former prime ministers. In Canada, unlike many parts of the world, if you write a letter to your MP or a minister, you do eventually get a response.

Canadian and non-Canadian Sauvé Scholars alike realized the rich leadership potential of this country. Talented people from all parts of the earth make Canada their home and this  human capital could broker closer ties with other nations.

In the past, Canada has been an important leader on international issues including the environment. According to the UN, the 1989 Montreal Protocol continues to be the most successful international environmental agreement. Many of our countries have now developed unique ways of ensuring sustainability and low carbon development. In Bhutan, the holistic vision of development focuses both on tangible and intangible aspects of wealth and equally supports the interdependent pillars of human, social, cultural, natural and economic capital. Meanwhile, the Chinese approach to the green economy has been to decouple emissions growth from the economy by increasing financial spending and subsidies on lower carbon energy and leading in the development of renewable energies. We hope that Canada’s commitment to a more sustainable and prosperous world soon returns and we look forward to learning about this strategy.

In one month, twelve new Scholars from countries including Senegal and Cuba will take up residency at the Jeanne Sauvé House. This kind of leadership program thrives in Canada and is a great reflection of Canadian values. 

To our friends in Montreal and across Canada, thank you for an unforgettable experience and for enriching our understanding of the world. We hope that you continue to be proactive in developing good leadership and in ensuring a sustainable environment for your country.