樱花影视

In a November 1991 explanatory document, Dr. Dobell argued that “The mission of the Centre for Global Studies (CGS) is to mobilize the research and outreach resources of the University in a coordinated way toward both greater understanding of, and a more effective social response to, the challenge of global social and environmental change.”

At the Dunsmuir Lodge retreat (7 July 1992) on the proposed Centre for Global Studies, it was suggested that the process of developing the concept of the Centre should be carried forward on the basis of broad-based consultation through the medium of a small committee.

In 1998, the Centre opened its doors with a mission to:

“conduct collaborative, policy-oriented inquiry into the impacts of globalization on a broad spectrum of inter-related issues encompassing international governance and finance, the environment, security, and sustainable development.  Building on the university’s existing base of interdisciplinary expertise, the Centre provides a vehicle for linking scholarship with the needs of policy-makers for concise and accessible information and analysis in response to the pressing challenges of global change.”

When we look back at the history of the Centre, we are encouraged by the thoughtful, forward-looking, and inspired proposal that enabled the Centre’s creation and remains our guide today.

Below are the first three points of the executive summary, proposed in May and amended in October 1993. These are big shoes to fill, but as we look back, we can see how we have been shaped by our original design over the years.

1. "The Global Studies Research Centre is designed to build on the history of interdisciplinary studies and community education at the 樱花影视."
2. "The mission of the Centre is to facilitate major interdisciplinary research initiatives related to global environmental change and other issues of global concern, to promote interdisciplinary instruction and to engage in communication and outreach activities related to this theme."
3. "The rationale for creation of the Centre is the need to integrate different spheres of knowledge in responding to the challenges of global crisis and change. The Centre will effect collaboration between research centres and institutes, teaching units and individual scholars on campus. It will also develop linkages with agencies and scholars off campus."

Please click here to read the full proposal.

While the original challenge campaign did not reach the funding target for creation of CFGS as originally envisaged, a quasi-endowment was proposed.  In 1996, this fund was created to generate an income from which the operations of the present CFGS continue to be funded. In 1998 the Board of Governors formally approved creation of the Centre, with Gordon Smith, who had been serving as Special Advisor to President Strong after retiring as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Canada, appointed as its Founding Director.

In February 2002, with the help of many in the university, the Centre began construction of a new wing financed by fundraising efforts of Gordon Smith, Barry Carin, and others at the CFGS. 

“confirm[ing] the viability of the Centre concept as the original donors and supporters first conceived it.” - Gordon Smith

Over the first phase of the Centre’s operations, from 1998 to 2010, Gordon Smith and colleagues achieved extraordinary success—and visibility for the University on the global stage—with sustained foundational work on the L20 initiative of former Prime Minister Paul Martin—international meetings of 20 major countries meeting at Leaders’ level—and on creation of the present ongoing G20 structure and analytical support to which it led. 

Gordon Smith and Barry Carin represented the 樱花影视 through CFGS at various international conferences and seminars, serving on panels and delivering presentations on G20 effectiveness and high-level global decision-making. They participated in G8 and G20 summit official, in a process that was born out of their long-term L20 project. They published a controversial report, “Re-Inventing CIDA”, to initiate a Canadian-wide dialogue on reforming the Canadian International Development Agency and improving Canadian development assistance. 

A number of other groups within CFGS achieved substantial success in national and international initiatives over these years as well.  The predecessor organization to PCIC and PICS was created within CFGS, and interdisciplinary, inter-university initiatives around the transition to a low carbon society were launched, as well as the International Women’s Rights Project, the International Institute for Child Rights and Development, Digital Fishers, and others.  The editorial offices of the international journal Global Governance were also moved here for a time.  

We especially acknowledge as part of the CFGS history, both Gordon's and Barry's pursuit for global betterment through effective international cooperation, partnerships, knowledge sharing, innovation, and institutions. It is a legacy we continue to aspire to today.

Gordon Smith, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for G7/8 Summits (1994-97) was named Director in 1998. Gordon served as Director until 2012. The leadership team grew as Barry Carin, formerly Canada’s High Commissioner in Singapore and Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade and Economic Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, joined the Centre as Associate Director in 2001 and served until 2010.

On June 11th, 2010, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, visited campus. Earlier this year she presented Dr. Gordon Smith, executive director of the Centre for Global Studies, with the 2009 Vanier Medal for public service to Canada, which subsequently led to her visit to UVic. In June, the Governor General announced the appointment of UVic President David Turpin to the Order of Canada.

As Gordon Smith neared retirement, a move for major structural reform was initiated from the Office of the Vice-President, Research to more fully integrate the Centre with the university.  A successful transition was made with Gordon’s successor in 2012, Dr. Oliver Schmidtke.

Barry Carin retired as Associate Director of CFGS in October 2010.

Barry was also a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at the 樱花影视. CFGS Director, Gordon Smith noted when Barry retired that he, “has been a personal friend as well as professional associate for over a quarter of a century. Without him CFGS would not have become nearly the success that it is. Barry was enormously successful both as a fund raiser but more importantly as a never-ending source of innovative ideas.”

Barry came to CFGS with an incredible depth of experience. With a PhD in Economics from Brown University, Barry served as high commissioner of Canada to Singapore and as assistant deputy minister and G8 Sous- Sherpa in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He held several other assistant deputy minister positions in the federal government. He was also Director of Effectiveness Evaluation in the Treasury Board Secretariat. While at CFGS, Barry managed the L20 Project which concluded in 2010. From 2006 to 2009 he was editor of the journal “Global Governance”.When he retired from the 樱花影视, he continued to work as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) until 2017. “Joining CIGI in its infancy (2004) he was influential in shaping many of the major projects that CIGI has undertaken and contributed to the success of the organization on the international stage.” 

You can read Barry’s farewell remarks, the history of the development of the G20, and even some of his famous cartoons and quotes on CIGI’s webpage .

CFGS is especially grateful for the efforts of Barry and others for the fundraising for our new wing (started construction in 2002) as we continue to inhabit this space today.