Over 75 Years of Shaping Global Changemakers: WUSC’s International Seminar

For more than 75 years, WUSC’s International Seminar has connected Canada to the world—and the world to Canada. This program brings together young people from around the world to collaborate on research addressing some of today’s most urgent global challenges. To date, more than 2,300 Canadians have taken part.

Launched in 1948, in Ploen, Germany, the first Seminar brought together 130 students from 16 countries. Its goal was to promote international understanding and rebuild connections between Canadian and European universities in the aftermath of World War II. At its heart, it was an effort to reconnect young people and help rebuild a fractured world.

As the world evolved, so did the Seminar. By the 1970s, it had been revitalized to respond to emerging global development challenges, with participants working together to develop practical, research-driven solutions. 

Over the decades, the International Seminar has left its mark in over 40 countries. 

A Pivotal Moment in Seminar History

One of the most defining chapters in the Seminar’s history took place in 1957, the year Ghana gained independence. The energy of a newly independent nation made the experience  especially transformative. 

Before departure, students prepared extensive research papers on African socio-political issues. They then participated in a week-long orientation in London, where they consulted with experts across disciplines. The journey continued with 10 days of travel in small groups in Nigeria and Ghana, followed by three weeks at the University of Accra, where participants engaged with scholars and leaders from across Africa. 

For many, including Evelyn Greenberg and Joan Burrows, the experience became a turning point that shaped the course of their lives.

Evelyn, then a commerce student at Carleton University, first learned about the International Seminar through her WUSC Local Committee. She was drawn to the opportunity to connect with young people from across Canada and around the world.

The experience ultimately redirected her path toward the arts. Evelyn spent 23 years in the Music Department at the University of Ottawa. An accomplished musician and educator, she became the Founding President of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Association and was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General of Canada in 2016.  

For Joan, the most lasting impact came from the people she met. From the bustling markets of Ghana and Nigeria to insightful discussions with fellow students, the connections she formed became lifelong friendships. After earning a degree in Modern Languages and Literature from the University of Toronto, Joan went on to complete a diploma in teaching and taught in Scotland and in British Columbia, later working as a social worker. She credits the Seminar with shaping her lifelong commitment to equity and social justice. 

For both Evelyn and Joan, the experience was life-changing. 

“I believe that each of us saw our country and the world through a changed lens, that each of us was changed, and that we all have made contributions throughout our lives with a desire of making the world a better place for everyone,” says Joan. 

The International Seminar’s most enduring legacy is the friendships that were created. Nearly 70 years later, Joan and Evelyn still connect with each other. They reflect on their time in West Africa not as a distant memory, but as a vivid, defining chapter of their lives. 

“The several reunions we 1957 participants enjoyed were uplifting and delightful. To this day, some of us keep in touch,” says Evelyn.

A group of participants are meeting during the International Seminar.

Participants are joining a discussion during the International Seminar.

A group of participants are travelling during the International Seminar.

Participants from the 1957 International Seminar are reuniting several decades later and talking about their experience.

A Legacy of Leadership and Lifelong Friendships

The International Seminar’s influence has reached the highest levels of  Canadian leadership. Among the 1957 participants was future Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. 

As Prime Minister, Trudeau worked closely with fellow Seminarists, including Bob Kaplan (Solicitor General), Don Johnston (President of the Treasury Board), and Tim Porteous, who served as his Executive Assistant and speechwriter. 

Many other participants from the 1957 cohort went on to receive honours such as the Order of Canada, the Queen’s Gold Jubilee Medal, and Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to Canadian society.

“Not only did those weeks have an enormous impact at the time, but also what we learned and experienced together was invaluable to each of us in our personal lives, and long-lasting and deep friendships were forged that continue to this day,” says Joan. 

Evelyn reflects on the same sense of shared purpose: 

“I often wondered how I could have been chosen to be part of such a distinguished group. Yes, they were exceptional young people who all went on to have important careers, contributing to Canadian society in meaningful ways,” she says. 

An Incredible Opportunity for Today’s Young Leaders 

For many Canadian participants, the International Seminar is their first exposure to global development and cross-cultural collaboration. It has helped launch careers in law, politics, education, and social justice.

More importantly, it has shaped generations of young people who challenge assumptions, think globally, and commit to building a more equitable world.

As former Prime Minister Trudeau once said: “At the very least, these symposia give our country, indeed the whole world, a more informed awareness. They help us become better Canadians and better citizens of the world.” 

The Seminar is more than an exchange of ideas. It is a foundation for lifelong friendships, professional pathways, and global citizenship.

“I believe that every single one of us who had that wonderful experience in 1957 went on to make a difference in their own immediate worlds, if not beyond,” says Joan. 

For today’s young leaders, Evelyn and Joan’s message is simple: Apply.  

“You will learn much, no doubt have a lot of fun, and have your life changed for the better,” says Joan.

“My Seminar was almost 70 years ago. I will be 89 in the fall and the memory of that experience is as vivid as ever,” says Evelyn. 

Looking Ahead: The Seminar Returns to Ghana

This year, the International Seminar is returning to Ghana for its 80th edition. Young people will once again come together in Ghana to conduct collaborative research and learn from one another.

The global challenges we face today require the same spirit of collaboration that brought students to Ghana in 1957. The Seminar shows that when young people come together to engage with global issues, the impact is not measured in weeks or months—but in lifetimes.

Stay Connected

Are you a former Seminarist? We would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and share how the International Seminar impacted your journey.