What's New
08 July 08
July 4 Celebrations - Vancouver
The U.S. Consulate General celebrated July 4th in grand style with more than 400 invited guests from British Columbia, the Yukon and other parts of Canada. Guests included eight of ten Vancouver city councilors, several local mayors, seven MLAs including five BC Ministers, and Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson. Emerson spoke about the ties that bind Canada and the U.S. and commented that he was honored to wish the United States a happy birthday during his second official event after assuming his duties as Foreign Minister. BC Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Joan McIntyre echoed Emerson's remarks and stressed the positive role the consulate has played fostering dialogue on cross border issues. Consul General Lewis Lukens thanked the American businesses who helped support the celebration and took the occasion to bid adieu to the many close friends and associates gathered at the residence. [Larger Photo].04 July 08
The many ties that bind Americans and Canadians
Op-ed by Consul General Lewis Lukens in the Vancouver Sun, July 04, 2008 [Read More].02 July 08
Presidential Message, Independence Day 2008
GEORGE W. BUSH - I send greetings to all Americans on Independence Day.
More than two centuries ago, bold and courageous visionaries pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in signing the Declaration of Independence. Guided by ancient and eternal truths, our forefathers proclaimed to the world that liberty was the natural right of all mankind and in doing so began one of the greatest chapters in human history. On the Fourth of July, our country commemorates the great achievements of these heroes and reaffirms its unwavering confidence in the power of freedom.
It was the desire for freedom that inspired our Founding Fathers, and it is the belief in the universality of freedom that guides our Nation. On this occasion, we pay special tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, both past and present, who have answered freedom's call and defended the values that make America the greatest country on earth.
May God bless America.14 May 08
U.S. adds Polar Bears to List of Threatened Species
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the ESA for designating a threatened species. [More].
The proposed ESA special 4(d) rule is available at - http://www.doi.gov/issues/polar_bears.html - for a 60 day public comment period.
08 May 08
Minister Baird and Secretary Kempthorne Hold Bilateral Meeting
OTTAWA — Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, held a bilateral meeting earlier today with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The Minister and Secretary were also joined by the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mary Simon, as well as a number of officials from both countries.
"Today's bilateral meeting included a number of cross-border issues, including the recent announcement by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on the status of the polar bear, and other important issues that cross the 49th parallel," said Minister Baird. [More].-
9 January 08
Cross-border shoppers are likely to see a new US$5 bill when the bank note starts circulating March 13.The bill will have a new purple tint around President Abraham Lincoln. A big numeral “5” is on the back, not so much a counterfeiting deterrent as an aide for the visually impaired.The many new security features being added to the $5 bill are fully described on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website.
Gregory Almaraz, Resident Agent in Charge of the Secret Service office at U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver, says he and his staff are available to brief merchant and banking groups on the new currency and how to detect counterfeit US currency. Please direct any inquiries to pavancouver@state.gov. On November 29 there was a Video WebCast on: Native American Traditions, Oral History and the Indian Wars of the American West. In commemoration of National American Indian Heritage Month, Dennis Zotigh and Peter Cozzens looked at Native American traditions and the climactic struggles between Native Americans and the white man in the American West. View the webcast.
Teleconference with Ambassador Wilkins
24 July 2007 - In Whitehorse, Yukon, Vice Consul Thomas Schmidt hosted a teleconference between Ambassador Wilkins and leaders from Canadian/US arctic communities. Nine local community and native leaders participated, including representatives from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle, The Arctic Athabaskan Council, Dana Naye Ventures, The Cold Climate Innovation Centre, and The Yukon Conservation Society.
Topics discussed during the teleconference include community development, transportation of goods between the US and Canada, health issues in native communities, preservation of shared food sources, and issues affecting Aboriginal women. Feedback on the conference was very positive. All participants expressed a desire for similar discussions in the future.
During his five-day trip to the Yukon, the Vice Consul also conducted American Citizen Services outreach visits in Whitehorse and Dawson City. He met with several families in these communities, assisting with reports of birth abroad, claims to US citizenship, and passport renewals.Internet Tools & Curriculum Design for Young Learners of English: Technology and Classroom Activities: USINFO webchat covered new ways to teach younger learners
On June 14, English as a Second Language (ESL) expert Judie Haynes discussed new ways to motivate students and make language learning fun. Transcript.“The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada and The Center for U.S. Studies and the International Geopolitical Center of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Québec at Montréal (UQAM) hosted an online webchat at the at the International Conference, “The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”. Montréal, Québec, April 19 – 20, 2007.- CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Legislative Actions Through the 109th Congress. Updated April 9, 2007.
- CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): New Directions in the 110th Congress. February 8, 2007.
16 March 07
Audiences in British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alberta participated in a Webinar March 14, 2007 with Zuni artist and jeweler Veronica Poblano who spoke from the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.- Steve Wikviya LaRance, Hopi artist, visited Yukon and British Columbia January 25-28, 2007.
He was in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Thursday, January 25 when he spoke about his native American Hopi culture and his art from 10 to 11 a.m. at the MacBride Museum. He also gave a demonstration on tufa casting jewelry making at Arts Underground, Hougens Centre on Main Street. March 07. "Ask the Ambassador" Live Web Chat -- Friday, February 16, 2 pm EST (1900 GMT).
Ambassador David H. Wilkins was available live to answer questions on this "Ask the Ambassador" web chat. The Ambassador invited Canadians to engage with him on a dialog on issues of concern to Canadians "North of Sixty". Transcript of web chat.- U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) officials from the U.S. Embassy made an outreach trip to Whitehorse, Yukon, 11-13 July 06.
- Visit to Whitehorse, Yukon by Marissa Maurer, Political Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver, 4-5 May 06.
- American and Canadian scientists explain NASA's THEMIS project to Northern audiences. Videoconference Sheds Light on Aurora Borealis Study, 18 July 05.
- Yukon Government Publishes Paper Documenting the First Alaska Highway Journey. This preface, penned by Elmer Harp Jr., Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, is the author's 2004 introduction to the publication of his field notes of the 1948 Andover-Harvard Expedition to the Yukon. 9 May 05.
- Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski and Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie sign memorandum of understanding (MOU) to Study Railroad Feasibility, 25 April 05.
- Transcript of former Ambassador Cellucci's online dialogue, 9 March 05.
- Former Ambassador Paul Cellucci formally launched the "North of 60: U.S. Virtual Presence Posts in Canada" at the Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa, 2 March 05.
"Totems to Turquoise," an exhibit of 500 pieces of stunning jewelry by U.S. Native artists from the U.S. Southwest and First Nations artists from western Canada, is on display until March 25, 2007 at the Vancouver Museum. "The exhibit is fantastic," said Consul General Lewis Lukens who attended the October 23rd grand opening.
The U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver will be sponsoring a speaking tour this winter of one of the Totems to Turquoise artists. More details and dates will be announced in the near future.
This exhibit was initially organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Learn about the exhibit.