The Foundation was honored to have Consul General of Canada Roy Norton visit Grand Rapids to Celebrate 235 years of Canadian - U.S.A Relations. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids hosted the special event, sponsored by The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, the World Affairs Council and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Beginning with the early periods of both countries, Norton touched on the identities forged for Canada and U.S.A. by both the Revolutionary War fought against the United Kingdom and the War of 1812 which fought against the Untied Kingdom and thus Canada. Those Wars moved both countries in separate directions. The relationship though has always remained one of connection, Norton joked that "if America were to get a cold, Canada would get the flu". As America changed, the first place the ripples of change were felt was in Canada, sometimes years before the rest of the world because of the proximity of sharing North America.

Norton touched on the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which ended the Revolutionary War, the Jay Treaty of 1795 resolved disputes left over from the Revolutionary War between the two countries, the burning of both capitols in the War of 1812 York (Toronto) and Washington, D.C.

From a Michigan perspective, Norton also noted that at the end of the War of 1812, the lands in Michigan were given to U.S.A. With the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 the countries agreed to limiting of warships on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain to promote peaceful commerce and cooperation between the countries. Its terms remain in effect today. (As a note, the Canadian - U.S.A. border is one of the world's longest demilitarized borders).

During the 1840s, the Canadian business community in Montreal wished to have full commercial union with the U.S.A. because of the increased opportunity for success with the American markets. In the 1850s the two countries removed numerous duties on natural resources and agricultural goods, followed by the fishing industry. Trade more than doubled in the next 10 years.

Canada joined with the Union to fight for "the North" during the Civil War, with as many as 50,000 joining the fight. As many as +100,000 slaves had fled the South to live free lives in Canada. Following the Civil War, their was worry in parts of Canada that the U.S.A. might turn north and attempt to invade Canada, following several smaller aggressive incidents by Irish Immigrant groups.

Following 1860's, much like the U.S.A., Canada began its expansion West and created the Canadian Federation, led by Sir John MacDonald, who helped lead Canada as the nation's 1st Prime Minister, also campaigned for the creation of the trans-continental railroad connecting Canada West and East.

Norton touched on numerous other overlapping perspectives from the neighboring countries, all with the emphasis on cooperation.

As the Consul General of Canada based in Detroit, Roy Norton represents Canada in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The Canadian Consulate General, which he heads, promotes Canadian interests - trade, investment, the environment, culture and academic relations being among the principal ones. The office also provides consular, passport, visa and immigration services.

Born in Ottawa, Norton graduated initially from Carleton University, he holds Masters Degrees from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies as well as a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Dixie Anderson introduced Roy Norton. Anderson is the Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of West Michigan, a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to provide education regarding America foreign policy and global issues. The World Affairs Council have joined with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on supporting initiatives and events since its inception in 1981.