Dr. Jackie Dawson accompanies the Governor General of Canada on a State Visit to Finland 

Dr. Jackie Dawson accompanies the Governor General of Canada on a State Visit to Finland

ArcticNet’s Scientific Director, Dr. Jackie Dawson, accompanied Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada as a delegate during the State Visit to Finland. During the visit, discussions surrounded Arctic-related issues such as Indigenous culture, education, distance learning, and climate change.  

A main goal of the visit was to illustrate Canada’s commitment to work with Finland, Arctic allies and people of the Arctic, to create a more sustainable, stable and prosperous Arctic, a goal that Dr. Dawson and ArcticNet share alike. 

The University of Lapland in collaboration with the Arctic Centre hosted a panel on the Impact of Climate Change on the Arctic, following remarks on the topic from the Governor General. Dr. Dawson spoke on the opening of the Northwest passageway and other shipping routes, the necessary collaboration between western science and traditional Indigenous knowledge, security challenges, Canada’s relationship with other Arctic nations including Finland, the importance of youth involvement in climate action, and, of course, the direct and obvious impact of climate change on the Arctic.  

Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2023

Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2023

Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2023

Here’s what Dr. Dawson has to say about her visit; “It’s been amazing to see how diplomacy works in action, bringing together arctic nations like Finland and Canada, and different stakeholders representing Sami, Inuit, youth and other diverse groups, it was nothing short of inspiring. For me personally, I’ve learned an enormous amount about how our country works, how the world works, how we need to work more closely together, especially as we move forward in these very uncertain times not only because of climate change, but also because of the war in Ukraine. Together we can discover and innovate and train and teach and just make the world a better place.” 
– Dr. Jackie Dawson 

Click here to watch the panel on the Impact of Climate Change on the Arctic; 

For more information on the State Visit to Finland; 

Photo Credits: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2023