The Canadian Century

Canada is being increasingly recognized as a role model for other countries, due to its better performance through out the global economic crisis. Jim Flaherty, Canada's Minister of Finance has been a global rock star taking the lead of many conversation of financial reform on the world stage, and Canadian banks have been ranked as the soundest in the world for 2 years in row by the World Economic Forum. Also with the G8 and G20 Summits taking place in Canada only puts Canada even more in the spot light and simultaneously growing its relevance in the global conversation. A great article has been published in a very influential magazine called Foreign Policy on the subject of how the United States should follow Canada's model if it doesn't want to be left behind.   
If Canada continues on the path it is following today, it's not unreasonable to think that this will be the Canadian century, the era in which the country comes into its own as a world economic power and finally steps out of America's shadow.

Canadas World Project was a 3 years citizens dialogue that engaged Canadians in developing a new story for Canadas role in the world. The SFU Centre for Dialogue brought Canadians together for conversation on issues that define the current global environment. They then focused on how to share the results of those conversations and how to implement changes made based on the priorities the conversation participants across the country game them.

The project was not lead or funded by the Government of Canada, but rather funded and lead by individuals, businesses, international organization, and foundations who wanted to inspire citizens to author a new story for Canada. This project is a great example of how citizens can take charge and get actively engaged with the story writing of their own country oppose to soley leaving the task to their Governments to define their nation on the world stage. You can watch the documentary of the whole process it took to accomplish this amazing and innovative project at http://www.canadasworld.ca/