Heather Lank, Parliamentary Librarian of Canada, CHA 1980
Heather Lank
La Châtaigneraie, 1980
Parliamentary Librarian of Canada
Canada
Find more about me:
- Website Library of the Canadian Parliament
- Site de la Bibliothèque du Parlement du Canada
- Podcast interview “Fearless Women”
My experience at Ecolint gave me a focus for my academic research, as I was fascinated by the impact of moving between cultures, as so many students at Ecolint had done. As a university undergraduate, I analyzed the re-entry experiences of students who had studied abroad. As a doctoral candidate, I focused on the cross-cultural adaptation of Canadians living in Geneva.
I live in Ottawa, Canada, where I have the honour of being Parliamentary Librarian, a position I have held since 2018. I lead an exceptional team of some 430 people at the Library of Parliament to provide impartial, authoritative, and relevant information, research and analysis for parliamentarians of all political stripes to help them in their work as representatives and legislators. The Library is also responsible for a large collection, five branches, and public education about Parliament, including tours. It is a particular pleasure to work in a fully bilingual environment, with French and English being Canada’s official languages. In addition to working in support of Parliament, I take advantage of living in Ottawa by cycling, hiking, skating, and skiing (though I miss the Alps!).
At Ecolint, I loved the annual Field Week that allowed us to explore different parts of Europe while getting to know new students and reconnecting with friends and teachers after the summer holidays. The combination of physical activity (there was always some hiking involved, once with unexpected snow) and learning about the geography, history, language and culture of a new region made for a special start to every school year.
Another favourite memory is of my Grade 10 history class. It included lessons about wine and cheese, and our final exam included blindfolded wine tasting. I learned to appreciate wine and cheese from a cultural, geographical and historical perspective, while also developing skills that have served me well in the years since graduation.
Another favourite memory is of my Grade 10 history class. It included lessons about wine and cheese, and our final exam included blindfolded wine tasting.
My experience at Ecolint gave me a focus for my academic research, as I was fascinated by the impact of moving between cultures, as so many students at Ecolint had done. As a university undergraduate, I analyzed the re-entry experiences of students who had studied abroad. As a doctoral candidate, I focused on the cross-cultural adaptation of Canadians living in Geneva. The skills I developed at Ecolint—from critical thinking to oral and written communications to research—have been essential to my academic and professional success. Canada is a country Being comfortable working with people from many different backgrounds has also been a great benefit.
If I had to do it all over again, I would spend less time on homework, worry less about my grades and focus more on enjoying the learning. I would also spend more time exploring and getting to know the City of Geneva and the surrounding area which is so very beautiful.
My words of wisdom for current students: Ecolint embodies the idea that there is strength and richness in diversity. As a student, I was surrounded by people from different cultural, linguistic, religious and other backgrounds—they were my friends, my teammates, my teachers. Those differences did not divide us; rather, they enriched our lives. In a world where difference is often seen as threatening, where the stranger elicits fear more than curiosity, Ecolint teaches about our common humanity, our interdependence and the importance of respectful dialogue. More than ever, the world needs your global perspective.