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Our Vision
Founded in 1998 by faculty and community members, the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser provides a focal point for faculty, students, and members of the public interested in exploring Scottish history and culture and connections between Scotland and Canada in the contemporary global landscape.
The Centre promotes teaching, research and community programming in Scottish Studies with a particular emphasis on the Scottish legacy in BC. Our activities include non-credit and credit instruction, the "Scots in BC" archive/website and the “Scottish Voices from the West” oral history project, an annual St. Andrews and Caledonian Society talk, as well as colloquia, conferences, concerts and visiting speakers, and we offer an annual scholarship to a graduate student working in the area of Scottish Studies.
It is our goal to become a Centre of Excellence and Research on Scots in BC, as well as a community hub that engages the local, national and international community of Scots. Donations made to the Centre will advance our research, teaching, community engagement and international objectives. These are some of our goals:
Community Outreach:
-offer non-credit courses for community members in topics like Gaelic language, Scottish history, contemporary Scottish literature and genealogy
-offer educational tours of Scotland for members of the public (focusing on topics like Scottish archaeology, the history and culture of whisky, the tourism industry and the environmental movement in Scotland)
-offer day-long public events focusing on Scottish topics
Research:
-create a permanent Special Collection of Scottish-interest books in the library
-consolidate and expand the Scots in BC Archives with materials related to the history of the Scots in BC
-expand the "Scottish Voices From the West Oral History" project, connecting with individuals in Scotland who had family members emigrate to Western Canada
-construct online academic and general interest resource focused on “Scots in BC”
Teaching:
-guarantee the teaching of credit courses in Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University
-provide resources to encourage a focus on Scotland in other courses at SFU
-develop exchanges between students at SFU and Scottish universities
-create a permanent field school to introduce SFU students to Scotland in a learning environment
-create scholarships to encourage undergraduates and graduates to choose Scottish Studies as a focus
International Connections:
-organize a high-profile speaker series bringing members of Scotland’s cultural, educational, governmental and business communities to Vancouver to address a variety of local audiences
-serve as a focal point in Western Canada for Scots abroad
-provide a link between universities in North America and Europe and those in Asia who are interested in Scottish Studies
Ways to Give
Donation: Support the Centre’s projects, public activities, teaching and research with a one-time or annual donation or make a donation as a gift for someone else.
Special Gifts: A donation of $5,000 or more can be made to sponsor a public lecture, concert or one-day event focusing on a particular subject.
Scholarship: A donation of $100,000 (which can be made over a five year period) can create an endowed scholarship fund.
Endowed Lectureship: A donation of $300,000 (which can be made over a five year period) can create an endowed Lectureship in Scottish Studies to further promote the teaching of Scottish Studies at SFU.
Endowed Chair: The Centre is seeking $3 million to create an endowed Chair of Scottish Studies to ensure the long-term viability of the research and teaching of Scottish Studies at SFU.
Planned Gifts: Create a lasting legacy by leaving funds in your will for the Centre for Scottish Studies.
