As a part of the Consulate’s Speakers Bureau Program, Vice Consul Amelia VanderLaan gave a presentation to 11th grade International Business students at Chinguacousy Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario on April 21, 2016. The school is part of the Peel School District and is ethnically and socio-economically diverse. VanderLaan’s PowerPoint presentation focused on an overview of her time in the Foreign Service as a diplomat, the Department of State, and the U.S. Canada trade relationship. The students asked a variety of questions, among them, “What is diplomatic immunity?” “Do you think that taking individuals and placing them in roles around the world [as foreign service officers] is efficient?” “What is the US stance on allowing refugees into your country?” In addition to answering their questions, VanderLaan also sprinkled questions throughout her presentation to keep the students engaged, awarding prizes for correct answers.
