How One Professeure Is Rebuilding Ties with Canada at Plymouth State

Yesterday I had the chance to be back on campus at Plymouth State University, and it reminded me why places like this matter so much right now.

What’s happening in the classroom led by Dr. Katharine Harrington is special. Her course, Navigating the New Hampshire–Canada Relationship in Tense Times, goes well beyond theory. Students are working on real projects designed to strengthen ties between New Hampshire and Canada at a time when that relationship actually needs attention.

You can feel it in the way students talk to each other. They are very curious and eager to learn.

We got into conversations about identity, history, and how much of that connection still exists here in New England. There were Franco-American students in the class who didn’t even realize how something like the Canadian Citizenship Act Bill C-3 could impact their own family history. This tells me a lot about how important this course is.

My favorite part of the morning was hearing about the student-led projects. One group is building a maple‑focused event, super Canadian and New England vibes. Another is experimenting with a Jeopardy‑style game to connect students in the U.S. and Quebec. And then there’s the ‘New Hampshire Welcomes Canada’ idea, which honestly feels like it could turn into something much bigger.

Creating that kind of experience as an educator isn’t easy. It takes risk and real leadership. Her students are rising to the challenge! Especially at a moment like this.

I’ll add this on a personal note.

Plymouth State University is where I got my entrepreneurial start. It’s where I learned to take ideas seriously and actually build something with them. A lot of that came from mentors like Craig Zamzow and the Small Business Institute.

So being invited back into a room like this felt full circle. Also had a quick moment where I met a student with the last name Beaulieu. Had to smile at that one.

Tim is the founder of PoutineFest USA, which hosts events throughout New England. For more visit poutinefest.com