newsletter april 27, 2017 - constant...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter April 27, 2017
Consul General Baram had her first official trip to Alberta during the week of April 3-7, 2017.
She visited universities, met with politicians and bureaucrats, and got to know members of
the Jewish and interfaith communities.
University Visits
While in Alberta CG Baram met with the University of Calgary administration, including Jim
Dewald, Dean of the Haskayne School of Business and Samuel Weiss, Director of the Hotchkiss
Brain Institute. She also met with the heads of the School of Public Policy. CG Baram toured the
University of Calgary campus.
While at the School of Public Policy, CG Baram addressed a group of students who visited
Israel a few weeks earlier. Her lecture was on the spirit of Israeli innovation, entrepreneurship
and student life in Israel.
CG Baram with the Senior Administration at the University of
Alberta.
Technology
In Calgary, CG Baram met with the heads of Innovate Calgary. While in Edmonton, CG Baram
met with TEC Edmonton. At both meetings she had productive conversations about how
Alberta and Israel could expand economic cooperation and they identified areas of mutual
interest.
Politics
Courtesy calls
In Edmonton, CG Baram spent a full day meeting with elected officials and bureaucrats. She
met with Robert Wanner, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; Ricardo Miranda,
Minister of Culture and Tourism; Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; Marlin
Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education; and Brian Jean, Leader of the Official
Opposition. As well, CG Baram had the honour of being welcomed in the Legislature by
Minister Bilous.
On the final day of her visit she had lunch with Jason Kenney, leader of PC Alberta, and Kelly
McCauley, MP for Edmonton West, where she discussed furthering Israel-Alberta relations.
Jewish Community
During her time in Alberta, CG Baram met with members of the Jewish community. From
Calgary to Edmonton she was warmly welcomed by the Jewish communities.
At the Calgary JCC, the Consul General had a far-ranging discussion with local Hebrew
speakers. Afterwards, she provided a political briefing about the Middle East and Israel-
Canada relations. In the evening, CG Baram toured the Calgary Jewish Academy and spoke
with the local Jewish community.
Calgary JCC organized an incredible night and we thank them for their hospitality.
CG Baram, who comes from a family of Holocaust survivors, visited the impressive Holocaust
Memorial monument at the Calgary JCC with Judy Shapiro, Associate Executive Director of
Calgary Jewish Federation. She also had a heart-to-heart discussion with, Fanny, a
local Holocaust survivor.
After a productive trip to Calgary, CG Baram traveled to Edmonton where she met with the
local Jewish community leadership to learn more about the community, and their successes
and challenges.
Lecture at Talmud Torah Day School with Edmonton Jewish
Community
In Edmonton CG Baram gave a presentation at Talmud Torah School which was the first
Jewish day school in Western Canada, founded in 1912.
While touring the Jewish community, the CG
had the pleasure of meeting Rabbi Mark
Glickman of B'nai Tikvah in Calgary.
Interfaith Relations
In Edmonton, on the last day of her visit, she met with Father Stefano Penna and Reverend
John Louis Mariapragasam and toured the beautiful Annunciation Catholic Church.
Afterwards, she visited Beth Israel Synagogue, met with the synagogue's leadership, and
learned more about the Edmonton Jewish community. Finally, she had coffee with Peter
Schalin and David Nemes of Christians United For Israel Alberta.