22 April 08
In celebration of Earth Day 2008, the Battle Creek Academy Band, from Battle Creek, Michigan, has taken Toronto by musical storm. Noting that these were the first international performances by the group, Battle Creek Academy alumnus Consul General John R. Nay introduced the band and spoke of the importance of Earth Day. In a display of cross-border friendship, the 54 high school students played for hundreds at the Toronto Zoo's Earth Day commemoration, performed a pre-game show when the Detroit Tigers faced the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, and entertained the students at Toronto's Carleton Village Public School. For a slide show of the visit, click here.

17 April 08
The U.S. Consulate and the Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Toronto sponsored a discussion on "Competing visions of America: the race to be the next U.S. President" with former U.S. Ambassadors to Canada Paul Cellucci and James Blanchard. The two Ambassadors also spoke about the upcoming U.S. presidential election at a meeting of the Empire Club of Canada moderated by the Globe and Mail’s Washington Correspondent John Ibbitson.

10 April 08

The U.S. Mission to Canada is pleased to announce the newest Virtual Presence Post - Southwest Ontario Gateway.

10 April 08
The Canada Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars released the ninth paper in the One Issue, Two Voices series in Toronto on April 9. Antonia Maioni, Director of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, and Theodore Marmor, Professor Emeritus, Politics, Public Policy, and Law, Yale University, presented their findings in the paper, “Health Care in Crisis: The Drive for Health Reform in Canada and the United States”.

08 April 08
Ambassador Wilkins spent Tuesday, April 8 visiting the Waterloo region of Ontario where he gave the keynote address at a lunchtime gathering of the area's five Rotary Clubs. He also met with local business leaders, media, visited Research in Motion (the home of the BlackBerry), and spoke about education and its role in economic prosperity with university presidents at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). The day concluded with an Oktoberfest celebration hosted by Canada's Technology Triangle. For the Ambassador's speech - click here to read / here to listen. View slideshow here / Read the Ambassador's Journal.

07 April 08
On April 3 and 4, the University at Buffalo, in conjunction with partners Brock University, the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo and the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto, hosted the annual Crossing Borders conference Sixty students from nine colleges and universities presented papers on border-related issues this year. Lauren Rachlin opened the conference with a provocative talk on “Regional or binational . . . call it what you will. It’s our future or we have none” and USAF Col. Keith “Swede” Swensen delivered the lunch keynote address on the 50th anniversary of NORAD. Slideshow of the conference.

07 April 08
U.S. Consul General John R. Nay moderated a panel called “Beyond the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Breaking Down Other Barriers to Collaborative Cross-Border Tourism Development Along the Northern Border” at the Binational Tourism Summit “Shift Happens,” sponsored by the Binational Tourism Alliance. Participants on the panel were Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, New York State Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles David Swarts, and Ontario Minister of Tourism Peter Fonseca.

29 March 08
Earth Hour Toronto 2008
The staff of the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto participated in Earth Hour 2008 by turning out our lights for one hour from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night, March 29, 2008 to raise awareness about climate change and to demonstrate that working together, we can make a difference. For more information visit Earth Hour Toronto 2008.

Related: Ambassador David H. Wilkins' Statement on United States Mission Canada Participation in Earth Hour 2008

27 March 08
John Austin, University of Michigan Professor and Senior Nonresident Fellow at the Brookings Institution, visited Toronto to present the Metropolitan Policy Program's latest analysis, "The Vital Connection: Reclaiming Great Lakes Economic Leadership in the Bi-National U.S.-Canadian Region" to a variety of audiences.The report shows how the region, comprised of the U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes, the upper Mississippi and Ohio watersheds, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, can continue to model what economic regions will look like in the global economy—and also how they can thrive. To read the full report, click here.

14 March 08
Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism Report
This report is meant to be used as a resource for increasing understanding of and informing public discourse about contemporary forms of anti-Semitism and for shaping policies to combat anti-Semitism worldwide [View the Report].

10 March 08
The International Joint Commission of Canada and the United States announced that the Centennial Celebration of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the Creation of the Commission will be held in Niagara Falls in June of 2009. For more on the centennial celebration click here.

03 March 08
Consul General John Nay joined California Walnut Marketing Board Executive Director Dennis Balint and Bakers Journal Editor Jane Ayer to judge the California Walnut Inspirations Contest at the Canadian Food and Beverage Show. The winning bread was the Walnut Raisin Rye, baked by Park’s Bread ‘N’ Buns Factory from Coquitlam, British Columbia. For more on the health benefits of California walnuts, visit www.walnuts.org.

03 March 08
Mercedes Stephenson hosted Consul General John Nay on The URC Investigates which airs on the iChannel. The topic of the hour-long discussion was a look at how Americans who live and work in Canada view their adopted home. Other panelists on the show were Kelli Wight from Republicans Abroad and Toby Condliffe from Democrats Abroad.

21 February 08
Ambassador David Wilkins spoke to more than 250 people at the annual meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada. As the Honorary President of the organization, Ambassador Wilkins spoke of the Three As: Africa, Afghanistan, and America. To listen to the speech, click here. The Ambassador also sat down with Amanda Lang from Business News Network about the U.S. election, economy and bilateral relations [Click here to listen] [Read more].

21 February 08
The Michigan Department of Transportation is accepting comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement / 4(f) Evaluation for the Detroit River International Crossing through April 29, 2008. To read the draft report and file a comment, click here.

19 February 08
Consul General John Nay welcomed performers from the Detroit based youth ensemble, Mosaic Youth Theater to the Second Annual Youth Exchange of Arts and Awareness at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. During the evening the Mosaic and the Randolph students participated in workshops and shared the stage in theatrical and musical performances. Over 100 American and Canadian students participated in the energy filled program, another exciting example of the cultural and youth exchanges between our two countries.

05 February 08
Consul General John R. Nay hosted an election watch reception for Toronto’s multicultural media on Super Tuesday. During the course of the evening the journalists and broadcasters followed the results from the 43 races in 24 different states and had an opportunity to interact with the Consulate staff. [Text of the Consul General’s welcome remarks.]

See the Consul General's biography and public remarks

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), for entry into the United States at land or sea borders, as of January 31, 2008:
- Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted;
- U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate;
- Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate;
- Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel. All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. A passport has been required for air travel since January 23, 2007. [read more on WHTI]
NEW. Entry requirements at land or sea borders in effect June 1, 2009:
Washington -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009 [Press Release] [FAQs] .

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) jointly operate the NEXUS trusted traveler program. To learn more about NEXUS, enroll in the program online or renew an expiring NEXUS card, click here.

Department of Homeland Security
Traveler Redress Inquiry Program
Travelers can now resolve possible watch list misidentification and travel screening problems with any of the department’s component agencies with DHS TRIP, an easy to use web site.

The Olympic Experience. An eJournal from the Department of State, April 2008.
The Olympic Games remind us of certain universal human values. Every Olympian has a story that echoes the shared human struggle for excellence and our devotion to pursue purpose in life. In this issue of eJournal USA, we celebrate the Olympics through the individual experiences and insights of athletes who share their memories of the Olympic Experience.
Click here for earlier editions of eJournal.

Help stop terrorism through the U.S. Government's Rewards for Justice Program.

Interested in Studying in the USA?

The flagship international educational program sponsored by the United States Government, the Fulbright Program is designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries..." The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program provides grants for Canadian and American students and scholars to lecture, research and pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada, respectively (other nationals are advised to consult the Fulbright Commission in their country for grant opportunities). For more information, visit www.fulbright.ca.   Fulbright Commissions in other countries.

Security Notice to all Consular Visitors.

Are you an American citizen travelling or residing in Canada? Please register

Employment and Student Internship Opportunities at the U.S. Consulate Toronto

17 January 2008 Travel Alert - Worldwide Caution
This Worldwide Caution updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests throughout the world. American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. [Full text.]

1 February 08
Consular Warden Message - Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors. [Full Text]

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