Place:

Danish Canadian Club, Valhalla Room
727 – 11th Avenue SW
Calgary AB

Time:
6:00 Cocktails
6:45 Dinner
7:30 Award Presentation & Speaker

Cost:
$35 Adult Members/Senior Non-members
$45 Adult Non-Members
$30 Senior Members (over 65) and Students

Derek Fraser, former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine and presently an associate fellow with the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria, will be the featured speaker at our dinner meeting on November 27th. Mr. Fraser’s extensive international experience and particular interest in Ukraine makes him an ideal candidate to speak on the evolving Ukrainian situation. The focus of his talk will be the current situation in Ukraine, what the government’s priorities should be among available options, what trade-offs may need to be considered, and what types of assistance — economic, financial, diplomatic, political, military and otherwise — from Ukraine’s allies and the west, in general, is essential if Ukraine is to break free of Russia’s grasp, rebuild her shattered economy, restore the rule of law and civil society, and secure her place among the sovereign, independent, democratic, economically developed and prosperous nations of the world.

Derek Fraser is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Global Studies and Adjunct Professor for Political Science at the University of Victoria. In these positions, he has supported democratization in Ukraine, given lectures on various topics, organized or contributed to academic and foreign policy conferences, notably on Eastern Europe, Ukraine, failed states, the European Union, and China. He has also commented in the media.

Mr. Fraser had a long career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A former ambassador to Ukraine, Greece, and Hungary, he also served in Vietnam, Germany, Soviet Union, and Belgium. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, now known as the Canadian International Council, and a former President of the organization’s Victoria Branch.

Mr. Fraser has a B.A. and J.D. from the University of British Columbia and a Certificat d’études françaises from the Université de Montpellier. Besides English, he speaks French, German, and Russian, and is familiar with other languages, including Ukrainian.

Please confirm your attendance to admin@ucpbacalgary.org or by leaving a message at 403 670-5477 by 11 am Monday, November 24, 2014.