Off to see the High Commissioner, eh!?

 The High Commissioner is....

the senior diplomat (equivalent to an ambassador) in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. 

So before you think there are only a few countries that have High Commissions...here's the list: 

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia. 

 

So Canada's part of the Commonwealth club....

Here's the flag....probably never seen it! 

 So the Canadian High Commission to the UK is located in Trafalgar Square (London). Seriously, the BEST location ever! I had the opprotunity to present my research findings at a Conference for the High Commissioner. There was a group of graduate students with topics ranging from Gene therapy for Cystic Fibrosis to the Arctic Council boundary disputes. Common link...the students were Canadian or the research was Canadian-based. It was very interesting and refreshing.

I learned many things....first of all I adore CANADA and Canadians! It was a piece of home....and so comforting hear a few "eh's". I met a fellow presenter from Fort Frances. Talk about a small world. He presented his PhD topic concerning using wood for high-rise buildings. It was incredibly interesting. I especially enjoyed the finance presentations studying what made Canada weather....and "safe" during the US housing crisis and recession. 

Incredible view!!!

Overall, it was inspiring to think about the uniqueness, quaintness and inventiveness that makes Canada. I have so much to be grateful for....honestly, Canada stands in such a unique place--comparatively stable economic stability, growing investments, environmental innovator, peace mediator, human rights example, educational leader, rich in natural resources, etc. 

At the end of the day, Canada's asset is truly it's people. Each research project was strikingly "Canadian". I don't really know how to describe it. But the questions you determine to ask reflect what you believe. We asked "Canadian" questions....which were refreshingly meaningful and world-changing in their own ways.