Mary Simon served on the Board of UArctic from 2003 to 2009. She was president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (now Council) from 1986 to 1992, Canada's first Ambassador of Circumpolar Affairs from 1994 to 2004, Ambassador to Denmark 1999-2002, and President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami from 2006 to 2012.
The visit will be hosted by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö together with his spouse, Dr. Jenni Haukio. On Thursday 9 February, President Niinistö and Governor General Simon will visit Rovaniemi.
At the Arktikum Science Centre, the President and the Governor General will participate at a panel discussion on the impacts of climate change in the Arctic. University students and staff members will be invited to the event.
Event can also be followed online, link will be available closer to the event on the event calendar of the university.
The programme in Rovaniemi will include an introduction to Sámi language teaching at Ylikylä primary school and a visit to Lapland Air Command.
President Niinistö made a state visit to Canada in October 2014.
Pressrelease on the website of the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
More information:
Rector Antti Syväjärvi
040 060 6244
antti.syvajarvi@ulapland.fi