Report on Activities 2023-2024

A Short History of UNESCO

Headquartered in Paris, and with field offices around the world, UNESCO has 194 Member States and 12 associated member countries. Threats to peace and global cooperation have taken new forms since UNESCO was founded. Cultural diversity and identities are under steady attack, and new forms of intolerance and threats to freedom of expression challenge peace and human rights. Misinformation and distrust in science threaten the foundations of world peace and order built over decades of international cooperation. These movements endanger the world’s progress towards stability and equity.

In response, the organization continues to champion equity, peace, democracy and sustainable development. Some of its recent flagship initiatives have included:

• Futures of Education—to rethink education and shape the future
• Ethics of AI—to provide a strong ethical basis for artificial intelligence
• A global recommendation on Open Science—to ensure key scientific research is universally available for the good of humankind

UNESCO is the only United Nations agency that has a network of national commissions to help implement its mandate. Established as part of UNESCO’s founding constitution, they coordinate UNESCO-related activities and promote its values locally. There are currently 200 National Commissions for UNESCO around the world, and they constitute a truly global family.

National commissions act as intermediaries between UNESCO and the governments, educational institutions, cultural organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society in their respective countries.

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canada Council for the Arts

In 1957, the Canada Council¹ was established by an act of Parliament based on recommendations from the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences (known as the Massey Commission).

The Council was created to protect and promote Canadian culture and support Canadian artists, writers and intellectuals in the arts, humanities and social sciences.² This reflected a post-World War II desire to nurture a distinct Canadian identity, especially in the face of strong external influences from the United States.

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) falls under under the Canada Council’s legislative mandate. The CCUNESCO’s strategic directions and activities are overseen by an executive committee made up of:

• representatives appointed by the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts;
• representatives appointed by Canadian Heritage, Global Affairs Canada, the Government of Quebec and the Council of Ministers of Education;
• representatives from civil society elected during the CCUNESCO’s Annual General Meeting, with a dedicated seat for a youth representative; and
• ex-officio members—that is, the Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Secretary General of the CCUNESCO.

As a UNESCO Member State, Canada is represented by the Permanent Delegation of Canada located in Paris, France, which operates under the leadership of Global Affairs Canada. The Delegation is led by an ambassador appointed by Global Affairs Canada, and in accordance with the 2006 Canada–Quebec Agreement on UNESCO, also includes a representative of the Government of Quebec.

The CCUNESCO's Strategic Plan, Priorities and Objectives

2021-2026 Strategic Plan

The CCUNESCO’s 2021–2026 Strategic Plan—which includes three strategic objectives and four cross-cutting priorities—aligns with UNESCO’s medium-term strategy and supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other key UN instruments.

The plan was prepared in the context of major social challenges in 2020, including racism, Indigenous rights issues, the climate crisis and gender equity. Its three strategic objectives are:

• advancing education, culture, freedom of expression and anti-racism to build an inclusive, just and peaceful society;
• supporting science, technology, education and culture to contribute to sustainable development; and
• collaborating on government and civil society initiatives to safeguard natural, cultural and documentary heritage for future generations.

The plan’s cross-cutting priorities are to:

• implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to support Truth and Reconciliation;
• promote gender equity and justice;
• mainstream youth leadership; and
• fight racism

The rest of this report highlights the key initiatives undertaken by the Commission in fiscal year 2023–2024 to advance its strategic objectives and serve its cross-cutting priorities. The activities have been organized under their respective objectives.

Strategic Objective no.1: Education, culture, freedom of expression and anti-racism for an inclusive, just, and peaceful society

Supporting the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

In 2023–2024, the CCUNESCO continued to support the objectives of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).

• The Commission created a working group composed of Indigenous researchers, language and knowledge keepers, youth and non-governmental organizations. The group developed and submitted recommendations to Justice Canada for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, with a focus on languages.
• In collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts, the CCUNESCO honoured four cultural carriers whose artistic and cultural endeavours further the use and promotion of Indigenous languages: Celestine Twigg, Daisy Sewid-Smith, Rose Meuse and Sheldon First Rider.
• The CCUNESCO undertook work with partners to deliver workshops on the links between linguistic diversity and sustainable development. One partner was Acfas, a not-for-profit organization contributing to the advancement of science in Quebec, in the Canadian and international Francophonie. Another partner was KWE! Festival, a major cultural event in Québec City that provides opportunities for non-Indigenous and Indigenous people to connect, learn and share, raising awareness of the needs and realities of First Nations and Inuit peoples.
• “Ărramăt – Indigenous perspectives on sustainable development” is the title of an article written by UNESCO Chair Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine. She emphasizes the essential role of Indigenous languages and knowledge in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to health and well-being and quality education.

Decolonizing higher education

Numerous Canadian and international organizations have begun to speak out about the need to decolonize higher education, calling for higher education institutions to include Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and ways of knowing in meaningful ways.

The CCUNESCO co-organized a gathering in Ottawa that brought together scholars and leaders in the decolonization of higher education in Canada. Insights shared during this gathering became the basis for a report launched in March 2024, Toward a Better World for All: Decoding, Deconstructing, and Decolonizing Higher Education in Canada and Beyond, which aims to support higher education institutions, foundations and research councils in advancing this work.

The report indicates that higher education institutions can better position themselves to address the urgent problems of our time and support the achievement of the United Nations SDGs by:

• improving equity;
• decolonizing knowledge;
• opening science;
• tackling racism; and
• offering robust and culturally attuned supports and curricula to students.

Launching the Youth Advisory Council for the UNESCO Associated Schools Network

The UNESCO Associated Schools Network brings educational institutions across the world together around a common goal: building the defences of peace in the minds of children and youth. The more than 11,500 member schools in 182 countries work to support peace, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and quality education.

In 2023–2024, the CCUNESCO, with support from the Centre for Global Education, started a Youth Advisory Council for the UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Canada. The group is composed of 24 high school students from across the country who are helping to make the UNESCO Associated Schools community appealing, accessible and interesting to other young people.

Advocating for press freedom worldwide

The CCUNESCO and World Press Freedom Canada honoured Canadian journalists and cartoonists at an awards ceremony to mark the 30^th anniversary of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day. A Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Rachel Pulfer, Executive Director of the Toronto-based organization Journalists for Human Rights, for spearheading an effort to evacuate some 2,000 vulnerable Afghans, including journalists, interpreters and human rights defenders who were targeted by the Taliban after the fall of Kabul. She also contributed to the publication Half the story is never enough: threats facing women journalists, which was co-developed by the CCUNESCO, World Press Freedom Canada and Journalists for Human Rights.

UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists tracks media workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. During the CCUNESCO’s 2023–24 fiscal year, 74 journalists were killed worldwide.

Providing tools for transformative arts learning

In February 2024, Dr. Ben Bolden, UNESCO Chair in Arts and Learning (Queen’s University), participated in the World Conference on Culture and Arts Education, which was organized by UNESCO and took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. There, he presented Arts for Transformative Education: A guide for teachers from the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.

Written by Dr. Bolden and published by the CCUNESCO in collaboration with UNESCO, the guide recognizes that the arts offer tremendous potential for enriching, enlivening and propelling learning that transforms individuals and communities. It provides teachers with tools for planning transformative arts learning experiences that will increase students’ capacity and motivation to build a more peaceful and sustainable world. It was based on input from more than 600 teachers across 39 countries in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network and includes concrete examples of classroom practices that can engage learners in and through the arts.

Strategic Objective no.2: Science, technology, education and culture contribute to sustainable development

Supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) is an international initiative to build ocean knowledge and encourage marine conservation efforts globally. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission was mandated by the UN General Assembly to coordinate the implementation of the Decade. The CCUNESCO has convened a nine-member expert working group to discuss key issues, undertake initiatives and bring forward Canadian perspectives at relevant international forums.

With the working group, the Commission launched a project titled Community Engaged Ocean Science in Canada, with the endorsement of the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme of the Ocean Decade. The project examines how embedding food security, culture and community health considerations into research and marine conservation programmes can advance conservation and sustainable development objectives.

Showcasing UNESCO Creative Cities

Two international gatherings of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network were held in Canada this year.

• In October 2023, Québec City (Creative City of Literature) hosted the annual meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature, welcoming representatives from 34 cities around the world.
• In March 2024, London, Ontario (Creative City of Music), hosted the annual meeting of Creative Cities of Music, with attendees from 25 countries.

Both events showcased local talent and organizations, included presentations by other international creative cities and offered space for discussions and exchange among participants. The CCUNESCO supported both gatherings by organizing sessions focussed on the role of National Commissions for UNESCO and how cities and culture can advance the SDGs.

Promoting regenerative tourism in Atlantic Canada

The Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor was developed through Destination Canada’s Tourism Corridor Strategy Program in partnership with the CCUNESCO, Parks Canada and the Fundy Biosphere Region. The outcome was a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan for regenerative tourism that connects 13 UNESCO designated sites (six World Heritage Sites, three Global Geoparks and four Biosphere Regions) in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The UNESCO brand can be a powerful way to attract tourists. Using an inclusive approach to community engagement to ensure that the needs of communities and the potential of each site are accurately reflected, the project aims to build collaboration and capacity in Atlantic Canada UNESCO sites.

Sharing research on Black Canadians and public education

The CCUNESCO commissioned the Turner Consulting Group to study and report on the extent to which Black history and Black representation are embedded in Canadian K–12 social studies curricula. Published in September 2023, Black Canadians and Public Education: A scan of elementary and secondary social studies curricula highlights observations, gaps and opportunities for change, with key recommendations for departments of education, school boards and school districts. It supports the CCUNESCO’s priority to reduce inequities in education, fight racism and advance the objectives of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024).

The study found that there is an inconsistent approach to Black representation and how Black history is taught in classrooms. Because each province and territory oversees its own educational curricula, there is no shared mandate for teaching Black Canadian history. The study found that Canadian students often learn about slavery in the United States without learning that slavery also existed in Canada. Likewise, students learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and not the names and stories of important Black Canadian figures. This represents both a missed opportunity by provinces and territories to highlight the contributions of Black Canadians within their regional context and a failure to acknowledge to the parallel experiences of Black Canadians in the fight for civil rights, while inadequately equipping students to understand the historical framework behind contemporary justice movements in Canada.

This report scanned curricula for English-speaking school boards and institutions. The CCUNESCO is planning a second phase of this project that will explore Black representation in French school curricula in Canada.

New UNESCO Chairs

Five UNESCO Chairs were appointed this year, joining the more than 950 UNESCO Chairs in universities and colleges around the world. Each involves a team of researchers who undertake studies, share knowledge and inform public debate and policy in their area of expertise. The Chairs advance UNESCO’s goals through academic initiatives and research. The new Chairs include:

• UNESCO Chair in Socio-Economic Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystems – Université du Quebec en Outaouais
• UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability – University of Calgary
• UNESCO Chair in Migration and Francophonie in a Minority Context: Building Inclusive, Innovative and Resilient Societies Locally and Globally – Université de l’Ontario français
• UNESCO Chair on Educational Policies and the Teaching Profession – Université de Montréal and Université TÉLUQ
• UNESCO Chair in Intervention Research on Natural Resources in Africa and Sustainable Development – Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Université Laval and Université de Moncton

Strategic Objective no.3: Governments and civil society safeguard natural, cultural and documentary heritage for future generations

Advancing dialogue on Intangible Cultural Heritage

In September 2023, in collaboration with Dr. Agnieszka Pawłowska-Mainville, UNESCO Chair in Living Heritage³ and Sustainable Livelihoods, the CCUNESCO published Conversations about Intangible Cultural Heritage. This report summarized the discussions that took place during an online national dialogue earlier in the year about living heritage and the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

The report captures reflections from a diversity of practitioners, government representatives, community members, academics and students. It draws attention to theories, policies and practices for safeguarding ICH as well as community approaches to addressing issues of rupture, revival and continuity in the transmission of living heritage.

Although Canada is not a signatory to the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the report makes it clear that Canadians are actively involved in preserving and promoting living heritage.

Engaging youth in UNESCO designated sites

The Toolkit for Youth Engagement in UNESCO Designated Sites was created to promote the value of youth leadership in Biosphere Regions, Global Geoparks and World Heritage Sites. Developed in consultation with youth from Canadian sites, it offers strategies for site managers to enhance youth engagement and foster meaningful intergenerational dialogue. The goal is to maximize the potential of youth in sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and climate action.

Consistently engaging youth can advance sustainable development and modernize the work related to protecting natural and cultural heritage. Youth have a vested interest in the future and unique contributions to make when it comes to climate change, social injustice and biodiversity loss. CCUNESCO is committed to mainstreaming their leadership in decision-making processes about the environment.

New UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada

In September 2023, two Canadian sites were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• Anticosti Island, a large island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in Quebec. This recognition celebrates the island’s remarkable geological and paleontological significance, particularly for its exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Ordovician Period (approximately 445 million years ago). Anticosti is recognized as containing one of the world’s most complete and accessible records of marine life from this ancient period, offering invaluable insights into the Earth’s history, especially a major extinction event that shaped marine biodiversity.
• Tr’ondëk-Klondike, a sub-Arctic area centred on the Yukon and Klondike rivers, in the Yukon Territory. This is the homeland of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, an Indigenous people that has lived in the region for thousands of years. The area includes immovable archaeological remains, built structures and settlement patterns that illustrate the dramatic encounters between the Indigenous population and colonizing outsiders during the search for precious metals in the late 19th century.

There are now nearly 1,200 World Heritage Sites around the world. These additions bring the total number of sites in Canada to 22.

Upholding excellence in Canada’s UNESCO Biosphere Regions

The International Coordinating Council for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme met in June 2023 and determined that the Lac Saint-Pierre Biosphere Region continues to satisfy the statutory criteria for such sites. This recognition enables the region to maintain its designation for another 10 years.

In September 2023, the CCUNESCO relaunched the Canadian Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Programme (CC-MAB), an advisory group that guides and governs the implementation of UNESCO’s MAB Programme in Canada. Composed of experts and key stakeholders, its mission is to govern the technical aspects of the programme and ensure that Canada’s 19 Biosphere Regions (also called “Reserves”) uphold excellence at all levels.

Geopark renewal

UNESCO Global Geoparks are subject to a thorough revalidation process every four years to assess their functionality and quality.

In 2023, the Discovery Geopark, in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark, in Nova Scotia, underwent a revalidation. Both sites received a yellow card, indicating challenges in fulfilling the criteria and their statuses as UNESCO Global Geoparks will be renewed only for a two-year period, after which a new revalidation will be undertaken. 

In both cases, the decision to give a yellow card was based on unstable funding, employee turnover and the need for greater visibility of the UNESCO designation in their regions. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian Geoparks Network remain committed to supporting both Geoparks through their next revalidations in 2025.

Adding to the Memory of the World

This year, the CCUNESCO successfully proposed two additions to the International Memory of the World Register: the archival records of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the archives of the Augustinians of Canada.

The addition of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation recognizes the global significance of the centre’s archives, which document the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system. The archives of the Augustinians of Canada offer more than 375 years of documentary history about the work of the Augustinian Sisters, a group of nuns who founded 12 hospitals in Canada, including Canada’s first hospital, in 1639.

In addition, four new archives were added to the Canada Memory of the World Register:

• The Canadian Jewish Congress archives
• The John Peters Humphrey archives
• The Anderson Ruffin Abbott archives
• The Mary Ann Shadd Cary archives

In February 2024, the CCUNESCO published a reflection paper by Cody Groat (Chair of the Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World) that looks at the history of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme and its mandate to safeguard and promote documentary heritage. It focusses on how the Canadian Advisory Committee has approached this work to ensure the recognition of Indigenous forms of documentary heritage. The paper includes case studies featuring five Indigenous heritage collections included in the Canada Memory of the World Register.

The CCUNESCO's international reach

At the heart of the CCUNESCO’s work are ongoing efforts to ensure that UNESCO’s priorities take root in Canada and that the perspectives and aspirations of Canadian civil society are shared at global forums.

42nd UNESCO General Conference

November 2023 marked the 42^nd UNESCO General Conference. This important event, spanning 15 days, brought together delegations from the 194 Member States to debate and adopt resolutions and undertakings that will shape the organization’s future. These included:

• the launch of a new normative instrument on the ethics of neurotechnology;
• an initiative to ensure safety of scientists; and
• the adoption of the Global Education Monitoring report.

The CCUNESCO helped coordinate Canada’s participation. It convened planning meetings for members of Canada’s delegation and developed briefing materials. The Secretary General and the Director of the Secretariat were members of Canada’s delegation.

This biannual event is also an important time to connect with other national commissions and global partners in formal meetings.

22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

In April 2023, CCUNESCO co-organized two side events at the 22^nd UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: one focussing on the relationship between Indigenous languages, culture and human and territorial health (in partnership with University College of the North’s Speak Indigenous initiative) and another that zeroed in on the right of Indigenous people to establish their own media in their own languages. The CCUNESCO partnered on these side events with UNESCO, Grist, the Indigenous Journalists Association and Whakaata Māori (Māori Television).

Second Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

In partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the CCUNESCO co-organized a delegation of 24 Black Canadian civil society leaders to participate in the Second Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, held in New York City from May 30 to June 2, 2023. This forum was created in 2021 to engage and influence policies and practices affecting people of African descent, to serve as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly and to advance work in pursuit of equity, justice and human rights for Black communities internationally after the Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024).

The Second Session was attended by UN member state officials and almost 1,000 civil society representatives from 85 different countries. Canadian delegates used this global stage to share their experiences, discuss pathways to change and explore international networking and collaboration opportunities.

Youth leadership

In November 2023, CCUNESCO Youth Advisory Group member Vicky Laprade was Canada’s delegate to the Youth Forum held alongside the UNESCO General Conference. The Forum provides space for youth from across the world to debate and discuss matters of importance to UNESCO. They raise issues and propose solutions. This particular Youth Forum focussed on the social impacts of climate change and equity in the climate transition.

Sher Yao, member of the CCUNESCO’s Youth Advisory Group, attended the 2023 Global Youth Forum in Seoul, organized by the Korean National Commission and the Ministry of Education of Korea. In commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the Forum brought together Korean youth and young people from 22 countries to rediscover and reflect on the meaning of peace. Sher delivered a keynote on the intersection of peace education and national security, attended lectures and visited heritage sites related to the Korean War.

Conclusion

In 2023–2024, the CCUNESCO continued to deliver impactful initiatives that are aligned with its strategic plan. Foundational to its work are the UNESCO networks and committees that are active in Canada and the efforts of members of civil society to advance UNESCO work in Canada. The CCUNESCO has sometimes referred to itself as a “network of networks,” underscoring the incredible importance of its relationships with civil society. These relationships, built on years of collaboration and trust, continue to be at the heart of the CCUNESCO’s endeavours.