In 1998 the first Joint Study Institute (JSI) was introduced in Cambridge, England and hosted by the British and Irish Association of Law Libraries (http://www.biall.org.uk/). The second was held at Yale University by the American Association of Law Libraries (http://www.aallnet.org/index.asp) in 2000. This year, 2002, the Canadian Association of Law Libraries / Association Canadienne des Bibliotheques de Droit (CALL/ACBD) (http://www.callacbd.ca/) with the generous support of the Carswell Institute (http://www.carswell.com/index.asp) is proudly sponsoring the Joint Study Institute (JSI)!

In the mid 1990's a group of insightful Presidents of these three Associations, conceived of an Institute where learning of the host country's legal heritage and traditions was to be featured. Designed to be "high level" these Institutes were to attract faculty who were otherwise respected professionals in the law library community, leading scholars, academics, authors, think tank specialists, futurists, philosophers, jurists, lawyers and historians. These meetings were to be held in a desirable venue for an intensive, but informal several days of thinking and learning. The hope was to attract delegates primarily of the other nationalities but not to the exclusion of the host country's citizens.

Canadian Focus: Global View is the theme of this year's Institute to be held at the glorious Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University (http://www.royalroads.ca/home/default.htm) in Victoria British Columbia from May 22-25, 2002.

On all fronts the Planning Committee for this year's Canadian Focus: Global View Institute has exceeded these "criteria"!

• The program is thought provoking with the right blend of humour, philosophy, practicalities, theory and history.
• The faculty is stellar with an appropriate blend of Academics, Law Librarians, Historians, Authors, and Practitioners.
• The venue is spectacular! Lending itself to intimate conversations and thoughtful exchange. Imagine a splendid 17th castle built by James Dunsmuir (at the time one of the richest men in North America) who spared no expense to create one of the most lavish mansions in Canada! Hatley Castle is now equipped with modern conference facilities which just happen to look over lavish Italian Gardens and sumptuous grounds for croquet with vast vistas off the terrace reaching out to the Pacific Ocean.
• The Delegates expressing interest in attending hale from the United States, Britain and Ireland, and now a fourth national law association, the Australian Law Librarians Group (http://www.allg.asn.au/) are all attracted to and expressed interest in attending this Institute.
  

The programme is nicely falling into place with ten sessions planned. They range from an opening night Fireside Chat: Canadian History is NOT Boring, to Canada's Constitutional Framework, Common Law and Civil Law: Canada's Traditions and Methods, The Politics of Canada, Canada's Legislative and Judicial Process to others dealing with Canada in the international arena Canada's Métier: the Peacekeeping Role and the Judiciary in the International Arena. Needless to say, there are some exceptional social events planned as well including a pub night, a Scottish dinner and golf tournament and more.

Over the next several weeks additional information will be forthcoming as the website is mounted. In the interim, though plan to mark your calendar to attend Canadian Focus: Global View in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia.

And … why not make it a doubly good hit of Canadianna and stay on to attend the Canadian Association of Law Libraries / Association Canadienne des Bibliotheques de Droit (CALL/ACBD) Annual Conference Traditions for Tomorrow to be held in Victoria from May 26 through 29, 2002 (http://call2002.law.uvic.ca/english/index.html) immediately following the Institute.

For further information on the JSI please contact Suzan A. Hebditch, Institute Convener at shebditch@libraryco.ca or (905) 639-7654.