Places

Hans Island accord: Making history at 50 Sussex

The location for the signing — the Ottawa headquarters of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society — was perfect for the purpose

  • Jun 15, 2022
  • 552 words
  • 3 minutes
By Can Geo Staff
Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly and Danish foreign minister Jeppe Kofod meet in the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Reading Room at 50 Sussex following the signing of the historic Hans Island accord on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Expand Image
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

The announcement of a treaty settling Canada’s “Whiskey War” with Denmark was historic by any measure (dram?). It established Canada’s first land border with a country other than the United States, and it formalized the world’s longest maritime boundary.

The place where history was made — 50 Sussex Drive, headquarters of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Canadian Geographic — was perfect for the purpose, located just down the road from Global Affairs Canada’s Lester B. Pearson Building, and home to an organization dedicated to imparting knowledge about Canada’s human and physical geography.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly hosted a luncheon for Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, their delegations and special guests in the Upper Gallery at 50 Sussex, with spectacular views of the Rideau Falls, two provinces and three rivers.

The treaty signing, ministerial statements and news conference took place in the Main Gallery, with many attendees tweeting about the occasion. 

 

After the formalities ended, Joly and her guests, including Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, held a series of bilateral meetings at 50 Sussex. Their tweets from the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Reading Room, small board room and other Society spaces provide a glimpse of history in the making.

Advertisement

Help us tell Canada’s story

You can support Canadian Geographic in 3 ways:

Donate Subscribe Shop
50 sussex rcgs canada denmark

Related Content

Places

Canada, Denmark end 50-year “Whiskey War” over Hans Island

Historic accord creates a new land border between Canada and Denmark on the tiny Arctic island and the world’s longest maritime boundary

  • 775 words
  • 4 minutes
Choropleth map of Canada showing distribution of the Ukrainian-Canadian population across census divisions

Mapping

RCGS releases new map in solidarity with Ukraine

Map shows the distribution of people of Ukrainian descent across Canada, highlighting the deep connection between the two countries

  • 770 words
  • 4 minutes
The glass-paned front of 50 Sussex Drive reflects the last rays of sunset

People & Culture

Welcome to 50 Sussex, Canada’s new Centre for Geography and Exploration

The new headquarters of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is transforming the way the 90-year-old organization carries out its mandate

  • 1504 words
  • 7 minutes
Map of Churchill Harbour by Jens Munk, 1624

Exploration

Jens Munk: An expedition ahead of its time

Two hundred years before Franklin and 300 years before Amundsen, a daring Dane came closer to finding the Northwest Passage than anyone had before

  • 2409 words
  • 10 minutes
Advertisement
Advertisement