Every semester at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU), MSSU spotlights a particular country and allows students and faculty to immerse themselves in the culture, history, and traditions of that country. In the past years, countries such as Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Japan have been major hits for students and faculty. As the new semester begins, MSSU has chosen to spotlight Canada and offer a variety of events, talks, and activities for the MSSU community to enjoy and learn from.
Dr. Chad D. Stebbins, the Director of the Institute of International Studies at MSSU, discusses the Canada semester. Dr. Chad D. Stebbins addresses specifically why Canada was selected for this fall semester, emphasizing that a large number of Americans are not aware of the rich cultural diversity and historical background of Canada.
“We discovered that Americans know very little about their neighbors to the north. Most Americans can’t name more than one or two of the 10 Canadian provinces, yet Canadians can name the majority of U.S. states. Canada and the U.S. are important trading partners, and they share the longest boundary in the world.”
In the past month, a variety of events have taken place on campus, including Canada Trivia Night, Joseph-Armand Bombardier: The Story of the Inventor and His Legacy, A Taste of Canada, and The Great Canadian Potato Chip Tasting. Students were able to take part in activities and discover more about Canada through these events.
At the Canada Trivia Night, students were able to bring their friends and test their knowledge on Canada in order to win prizes. At the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Event, students were provided with additional knowledge about the Québécois self-taught inventor who created the Snowmobile.This talk highlighted Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s life journey, including his inventions, difficulties, and ways in which he overcame challenges to leave a lasting impact on Canadian transportation. Furthermore, students had the opportunity to enjoy a full Canadian meal made by MSSU Fresh Ideas executive chef Saul Paniagua during the Taste of Canada event. A more recent event invited students to create their own custom potato chip and craft their own custom season breads by getting inspiration from Canadian tastes such as ketchup, poutine, and maple bacon.
In addition to the Canada semester, MSSU hosts a film festival that will show a film every 7 p.m. on Tuesday in MSSU’s Cornell Auditorium throughout the semester.
According to Chad D. Stevens, turnout has been comparatively good for these events, particularly for the Tuesday night movies, where about fifty people attend each one. He encourages that more individuals attend the presentations in order to learn more about the country we often take for granted.
The lectures and presentations about Canada can be found on KGCS – Missouri Southern State University Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbnul6oVyo&list=PL-2Pw8KLrX7UgSTngO7hharWKFIbOUTrp
Several more Canadian themed events are upcoming at MSSU, such as a lecture on “Canada’s Ripper.” The Canada’s Ripper event on Oct. 24, 2024, highlights the many serial murders that have occurred in Canada and is presented through Dr. Mike Hulderman, a professor of criminal justice at MSSU. Another upcoming event is a lecture titled, “Sweet Dreams are made of this: A history of Maple Syrup Making in North America.” Taking place on November 1 at 11 a.m., Dr. Alan Buchele will discuss how maple syrup has played an important role in trade and international politics. There will also be a demonstration of tapping techniques.
Overall, be on the lookout for more events about Canada through posters throughout the school and daily posts on the CAB Instagram. These events provide an opportunity for students to learn more about Canadian culture, as well as engage in discussions with their peers. Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities to expand your knowledge and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Canada at MSSU!
