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History
In the Fall of 1969, Professor Christopher Levinson of the English Department of Carleton University published a full-page statement in the first issue of a new journal, Comparative Literature in Canada Newsletter, in which he suggested that "a group be formed of Canadian university professors who have an interest in Dutch studies, their names circulated to all Arts faculties in Canada so as to encourage interest and support for programs of Dutch studies at selected universities." He furthermore suggested cataloguing Dutch holdings in libraries, and the circulation of a Newsletter giving information on conferences, publications, exhibitions etc.
Despite these auspicious beginnings, activities were initially almost exclusively limited to small, albeit enthusiastic participation by individuals at the following Learned Societies’ conferences. As Joan Magee has put it, "During the years of effort which followed, the members from Ottawa and Kingston . . . saved CAANS from collapse." The formation of local chapters had been encouraged from the beginning, and it is these which to some extent kept the Association alive. In fact, it could be argued that it was a conference organized by the CAANS – Windsor Chapter in 1978, in which 19 professors and students participated, which gave new impulse to the Association, for the following decade, the 1980s, saw the mandate originally enunciated by Prof. Levinson beginning to be fulfilled in earnest. To begin with, two more conferences were held in Windsor, each time with a larger attendance and an expanded program. These meetings set the example for a major conference on Dutch Emigration to Canada in Toronto, organized by Mark Boekelman. The founding of the Montreal Chapter in 1980, and of chapters in Winnipeg and London set the stage for further expansion. In addition, Dutch courses were started at the University of Windsor (Dr. Louise Nelson), the University of Waterloo (Prof. Sander Zweers and Dr. Remkes Kooistra), in Toronto (Prof. A. P. Dierick), and, with a few years interval, at Brock University and the University of Calgary. The "years of effort" were over, the "advancement" of Netherlandic studies well on its way. Symbolic of the more formal arrangement of the Association was the adoption, after broad consultation, of a constitution by the Association at its meeting in Ottawa in 1982. Let me summarize the achievements of the Association following the detailed report on the first decade published by Joan Magee in the Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies, Fall 1981, Spring 1982. Since its foundation in Newfoundland, CAANS/ACAEN has organized an Annual Conference at each meeting of the Learned Societies (since 1998 the Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities), from Prince Edward Island to Victoria, B. C. and many university locations in between. In addition, local chapters have organized conferences on a host of topics, such as "La présence des Néerlandophones au Québec" (Montréal), "Dutch Culture in Perspective" (Toronto), "Literature and Religion" and "Literature and the Second World War" (Waterloo), a conference on Hugo Grotius (Montreal) and one in Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1984). CAANS/ACAEN has vigorously supported the teaching of the Dutch language at all levels. Under the auspices of the Secretary of State, it has organized language classes at the elementary level under the Language Heritage Programme in many cities. At the post-secondary level, as indicated above, courses in language, literature and culture were given in several universities. CAANS/ACAEN also participated in a number of important surveys on language instruction initiated by Dutch government agencies, and organized workshops on language teaching in London, Ontario (with the participation of Prof. Jos Wilmots, director of the Courses in Dutch for foreigners in Diepenbeek, Belgium), and in Ottawa. In the area of literature, CAANS/ACAEN was able to welcome a number of distinguished authors, among whom Marga Minco, Renate Dorrestein, Irene van Goeree, and Kristien Hemmerechts. A highlight in this connection was the Annual Meeting at McMaster in Hamilton (1987), when, under the auspices of the Dutch Bureau of Translation and the Taalunie, we welcomed five (!) authors and journalists.
In 1996, at Brock University in St. Catherines, the Association celebrated its 25th anniversary with a splendid reception at the home of Prof. John Michielsen. On that occasion a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies was prepared, containing some of the best writings published in the Journal. It has been particularly gratifying to see the efforts of some of the most committed and productive members of the Association being awarded distinction by the Dutch Government. Our President-Emerita Joan Magee and our present editor of the Journal have both been honoured by the Dutch government. Not all efforts have come to fruition, to be sure. Plans for a Center of Netherlandic Studies in Montreal, of endowed Chairs in Toronto and Vancouver have had to be abandoned. But CAANS/ACAEN continues to flourish and to be a presence in Canada, thanks to its faithful active members. Why not join? A. P. Dierick (Archivist) – with thanks to Joan Magee |
