sunia & the united nations
Every year, four United Nations officers come to SUNIA and spend the week with all of you! Not only do they help run our program, they tag along on hikes, canoe rides, and even join us around the campfire.
Our long-standing relationship with the UN is at the heart of SUNIA. Our program would not exist without the UN and we have been honoured to partner with the UN since our founding in 1952.
At SUNIA, you will get hear a UN officer speak about their experiences and deployments, participate in workshops with them, and ask as many questions as you want. A very cool bonus is that since our speakers stay with us all week, you have the chance to hike, eat lunch, or canoe with a diplomat!
2024 guests
stay tuned to see who will join us…
“An invaluable opportunity for young students to gain first-hand and realistic experience in the area of international affairs and United Nations activities.”
— Stephen Lewis, former Canadian Ambassador to the UN
“SUNIA is the most diverse student-oriented program that not only teaches about the United Nations and global affairs alone but includes, as well, a number of recreational activities, sports and talent and mental development-exercises. I am so proud to have been associated with SUNIA for many years as a UN official and as a professor. It is my pleasure to continue to work with such talented and dedicated counselors who are committed to bringing up globally-aware young professionals.”
— Hamid Abdeljaber, former UN International Staff & member of the UNDPI’s Speakers List
“… for more than forty years students from throughout Western Canada have come to the Seminar to learn about the key problems facing the international community and the world Organisation’s endeavours to resolve them. This is an especially welcome tradition in view of Canada’s long-standing and active commitment to the United Nations, a commitment which initiatives such as the Goldeye Seminars help to sustain …”
— Javier Perez de Cuellar, former UN Secretary-General
some of our former speakers:
Ingo Pitterie - Economic Affairs Officer at the UN
Ingrid Kasper - UN Television Producer & Director
Stephen Lewis - former Canadian Ambassador to the UN
Brian Vitunic - Political Affairs Officer in the UN Department of Political Affairs
Helena Alphonso - Associate Economic Affairs Officer in the Development Policy and Analysis Division
Jan Fisher - Former Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
Javier Perez de Cuellar - former UN Secretary General
Daniel Gay - Inter-Regional Advisor on least developed countries
Beppe Lovoi - Sustainable Development Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Jonathan Perry - Member of the Division for Social Policy and Development at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Jean-Victor Nkolo - Former Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly
Hamid Abdeljaber - former UN International Staff & member of the UNDPI’s Speakers List