Fredericton- you made thousands of new friends!
Picturesque, friendly and hospitable Fredericton was a great destination for the 2011 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The city provided safe transport, entertainment and lodging to thousands of researchers, students and academics who attended Canada's largest, annual interdisciplinary conference. From lobster boils and kitchen parties at the new Convention Centre to art gallery crawls to fleets of shuttles, our delegates were taken care of with typical Maritime warmth and charm.
The success of Congress 2011 wouldn't have been possible without the hard work and enthusiasm of countless people in the community that is Fredericton. Over the past year we got to know a vibrant city, confident about its future and devoted to the quality of life of its citizens. And we appreciated how much our partners strove to link the value and positive impact of Congress to the community.
Thanks to the additional support of the New Brunswick and federal governments, universities across the country, not-for-profit and corporate partners, and countless volunteers, Fredericton was transformed into a "district of discovery." Scholars, students, Big Thinking lecturers, decision-makers and citizens were able to explore a host of issues that concern us as Canadians.
Key to this success was two wonderful universities-the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. Through their teaching, research and community service they contribute tangibly to the well-being of the city and region, putting forward innovative solutions to many challenges that New Brunswick and Canada face. We couldn't have asked for better hosts, and their collaboration, together with that of the city and province make this year's Congress a model to uphold in the future.
Congratulations and thank you to the people of Fredericton and New Brunswick. We hope that many other visitors will soon have the opportunity to experience the commitment, hospitality and warmth that you offer.
Graham Carr
President, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences