UNA-Canada is pleased to announce its 2022 Global Citizen Award Recipient

Ottawa, July 13th, 2022: UNA-Canada is proud to pay tribute to the Honourable Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of National Defence. Minister Anand is also a professor and a mother who contributes to building a better world through her professional and personal life.

Minister Anand demonstrates a continuing commitment to reform and good governance that spans local and national agencies. In addition, as the first woman of colour to serve as Minister of National Defence, she has prioritized creating a safe workplace for all Canadians, especially women.

Under Minister Anand’s leadership, Canada’s Department of National Defence supports the Canadian Armed Forces’ contributions to United Nations Peacekeeping. Canada’s commitments to United Nations peace operations also include multi-year support to specialized training and a $70 million contribution to the UN Peacebuilding Fund over three years.

Minister Anand has also helped to ensure that Canada plays a leadership role in the United Nations system through its strong advocacy for the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers; and the Elsie Initiative on Women in Peace Operations.

Previously, as Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Minister Anand secured COVID vaccines and PPE quickly and effectively, allowing at-risk Canadians to receive the urgent and immediate care required to protect our vulnerable populations.

Before her election, Minister Anand had an outstanding academic career working as a Professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, where she held the J.R. Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance. She also served as Associate Dean, was a member of the Governing Board of Massey College at the University of Toronto and was cross-appointed to the Rotman School of Management as the Director of Policy and Research at the Capital Markets Research Institute.

In all her roles, Minister Anand commits herself to ensuring that no one is left behind.

UNA-Canada will present its 2022 Global Citizen Award to the Hon. Anita Anand later in the fall.