From 2 to 7 March 2020, five CERES students had the opportunity to travel to Quebec City to attend Laval University’s Winter School on the Practice of International Relations. The course consisted of 45 hours of lectures from leading industry specialists, including present and former diplomats, military leaders, policy experts, and UN officials. The lectures discussed Canada’s foreign policy and covered practical tips for being a successful diplomat: leadership, integrity, open communication, cultural respect, negotiation, teamwork, and more. Organized by Pierre Guimond, a Laval University professor and former Canadian diplomat, this was the Winter School’s third year and the first time it invited students from Ontario. Along with CERES students, participants included students from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Laval students, young professionals from the Quebec provincial government, and UN representatives from francophone countries, including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. The course provided the students the chance to learn from the experts and each other through workshops, networking lunches, and the final crisis simulation. “I really enjoyed being able to talk to people working in the field to get perspective beyond just what the theory has to offer,” remarked first-year CERES student Grace van Vliet.

Conducted entirely in French, the course was also an opportunity for the CERES students to brush up on their language skills. “It was great to be immersed,” reflected second-year CERES student Elizabeth Haig. “Living in Toronto, I don’t often get the chance to speak French, but having good language skills is absolutely essential to international relations work. It was also a great chance to hear about the work done in French, in the federal and provincial governments and across the Francophonie.”

The students agreed that a highlight of the course was a presentation by Louise Blais, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in which she discussed Canada’s priorities at the UN, including the ongoing campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council. Blais took questions  about Canada’s platform from the audience, which included UN officials who will be casting their votes in 2021. “It was amazing to see that play out live” said Haig. “It felt like being a fly on the wall at the United Nations. I feel very honoured to have seen international diplomacy in action.” Ms. Blais also took the time to discuss her career path, and the challenges and rewards that come with working as a diplomat, both professionally and personally. “It was nice to get such personal insights from a woman in diplomacy,” noted first-year CERES student Catherine Lukits. Second-year student Daniela Bouvier-Valenta agreed: “It was particularly captivating to hear her talk about her own struggle to find a long-term work-life balance.”

So, after this week, do any of the CERES students see themselves becoming a diplomat? “After having done the crisis simulation at the end of the week, it is definitely a professional path that I can envision myself pursuing,” concluded first-year MA student Sara-Jane Vigneault. “I had so much fun putting what we learned throughout the week into practice!”

During their week in Quebec City, the students also took advantage of the snowy weather and explored Old Town Quebec, one of Canada’s most beautiful winter cities – a welcome break for the snow-deprived Torontonians.

The Centre for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto would like to thank Pierre Guimond, Pauline Curien, and the École supérieur d’études internationales at Laval University and the Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques for sponsoring our students at this event. For more information on the program, please visit: https://www.eti.ulaval.ca/etudes/ehpratiqueri (in French).