The Canadian Commission for UNESCO

Members of the Commission

The Canadian Commission relies on an extensive network of members in all regions of the country for advice and support in fulfilling UNESCO’s mandate in Canada. The Canadian Commission encourages involvement by the Canadian public and private sectors, engaging the widest possible representation of individuals and organizations interested in education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.

Current membership, which totals close to 400, includes non-governmental organizations, institutions and individuals, as well as federal government departments and agencies, and intergovernmental bodies representing provinces and territories.

Some of these members include:

• the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council,
• Library and Archives Canada,
• the Canadian Conference of the Arts,
• the Canadian Museum of Civilization,
• the National Film Board,
• the Canadian Human Rights Commission,
• the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada,
• the Canadian Teachers' Federation,
• the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada,
• the Assembly of First Nations,

and key federal departments such as:

• Canadian Heritage,
• Environment Canada,
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
• Human Resources and Social Development Canada,
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

The Role of Citizens and Non-Governmental Groups

As a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, UNESCO's mission is to contribute to a culture of peace throughout the world by building cooperation among nations through education, science, culture and communication and information. The impressive vitality of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the steady growth in their number, make them valued UNESCO partners owing to their active presence, the expertise they represent, and their ability to channel the concerns of citizens.

About 600 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are formally linked to UNESCO as observers. They are present and active in the formal delegations of the Member States at meetings of the UNESCO General Conference and at specialized meetings of UNESCO’s various institutes and intergovernmental committees. A wider range of national NGOs are linked by membership to UNESCO’s network of National Commissions around the world.

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO’s broad and diverse membership allows it to provide current opinion and information to the official Canadian Delegation that represents Canada at UNESCO’s General Conferences.