SHIRLEY SEWARD
Three events in my life changed me profoundly and changed my view of Canada in the world.
As a young woman in my early 20s, I went overseas to teach and learn. I taught in bare bones schools in poor countries and learned the importance of education in tackling poverty. A decade later, while working in the outback of Africa on international development, I fell in love with the man who would become my husband. In our 40s, we adopted two beautiful baby girls in China.
Through these experiences, I built an emotional and professional commitment to making Canada a country tied to helping others in the world.
It’s 150 years since Confederation. How our country can make a difference in the world has evolved. In our public schools today we work with refugees from around the world, including the recent influx of Syrian refugees whom we welcomed as a country. We are also changing emphatically the way we relate to indigenous communities. In our schools, we are learning to shine a spotlight on the history, culture and languages of First Nation, Metis and Inuit people, in co-operation with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We have also learned environmental responsibility at home is a major part of world improvement.
My daughters are building their links with the rest of the world — one is working right now on animal conservation and reforestation in Africa, and the other has just returned from a year studying in Asia. Both are practising the international responsibilities that I hope Canada will continue to pursue.
My own life and that of my daughters reinforces my dream of an education system that sees itself very much as part of the world. In our public schools, we have built an international climate in which hundreds of overseas students study in our classrooms, and we provide scholarships to our own students to gain learning experiences abroad. Our international certificate program is designed to ensure that our students see everything through an international lens. And our teacher international exchanges ensure that the people with whom we entrust our children have a broad vision of Canada’s place in the world.
My dream and hopes for Ottawa and Canada are to build this sense of international caring in our city and our country in our next 150 years. Shirley Seward is the chairwoman of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.