Five Canadians working in areas relating to economic development will visit Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities from March 24 to April 11 as participants in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Economic Partnerships in the U.S. The program is organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
This program will focus on existing and potential future areas of U.S.-Canada cooperation in producing for and exporting to the rest of the world, with an eye to how, by working together, the U.S. and Canada can keep their edge in an increasingly competitive world market.
Participants in this program are:
- Geoffrey Kirbyson, Journalist, Winnipeg Free Press (Winnipeg)
- Leah Littlepage, Director, Canada-US and Transboundry Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Ottawa)
- Patrick McSweeney, Trade Policy Advisor, Department of Finance and Economy, Government of Quebec (Quebec City)
- Roxana Giraldez, Regional Export Coordinator, Carrefour Québec International, (Sherbrooke)
- Scott Wenger, Manager, Government Relations, Suncor Energy Inc (Calgary)
The IVLP enables Canadians who are emerging leaders in their professional field to observe U.S. institutions and culture first-hand, and to meet with professional counterparts to explore issues of common interest. Approximately 40 Canadians a year benefit from three-week study tours, as guests of the United States, through this program. Founded in 1940, the IVLP has given hundreds of thousands of emerging leaders — including hundreds of Canadians — the opportunity to observe and interact with American culture and society on a personal level. For more information, visit eca.state.gov/ivlp.
Participants are available for interviews before and after the program upon request.
Media Contact
Jennifer Young
Media Assistant
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Tel: 613-688-5315
Email: youngjm1@state.gov
