History can be explored from many different entry points. Glendon Professor Marie-Josée Therrien’s new book proves this once again through its review of the architecture of Canadian embassies in various parts of the world. Through this prism we glimpse much more than an analysis of buildings and architecture; Therrien offers a thorough summary of political trends and events in our country between 1930 and 2005 – the book’s scope – as well as a source of information about the countries where these buildings were erected.
Right: Glendon Professor Marie-Josée Therrien
Therrien’s book, Au-delà des frontières. L’architecture des ambassades canadiennes, 1930-2005 (Beyond the Borders. The Architecture of Canadian Embassies, 1930-2005), was published in August by Les Presses de l’Université Laval, Québec.
Canada is a relative newcomer to embassies and diplomacy, which explains the time frame chosen by Therrien – the period when diplomacy and embassies really became an important part of Canadian external affairs. Some of the buildings under the magnifying glass include the Canadian embassies in Tokyo (designed by Raymond Moriyama), Paris, Bonn, New Delhi, Warsaw, Mexico City(designed by Étienne Gaboury) and Washington (designed by Arthur Erickson). Their architecture is placed in the context of the time and the place, forming a cohesive, informative and articulate historical picture.
Therrien’s book evolved from her PhD thesis, which has been significantly reworked into a highly readable volume, accessible to the ordinary reader. Descriptions studded with historical notes are accompanied by photos of some of the exteriors, as well as architectural drawings and floor plans. There is also a glossary of architectural terms, which includes explanations of individual features as well as stylistic trends, and a user-friendly bibliography organized by topic and geographic location. 
Left: The Canadian Embassy in Washington, designed by Arthur Erickson
Therrien is a talented writer and an enthusiastic and seasoned lecturer. With five years of teaching under her belt, she joined the Glendon faculty this year in the Multidisciplinary Studies Department, bringing new topics and fields of study from which students can choose. She is currently teaching a third-year English-language course called “Ideas, Culture and Visual Arts”. Next year, she is slated to teach a course under the tantalizing title “Car Culture”. She is also a professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
“My aim is to lead students to develop their understanding of images,” says Therrien. “I love teaching. On my first day in the classroom, I knew that it was for me.” Equally at home in French and English, Therrien brings a wide range experience, having previously worked at institutions such as the National Film Board and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. She is an art historian who declares herself conscious of all the players and influences in art: the patron, the artist, the moment in history, as well as the geographic location. Therrien also continues her work in Canadian heritage and museology, as well as her research on modern architecture in Canada.
A Nov. 29 review of Therrien’s book in Toronto’s French-language weekly, L’Express, begins with a quote from Gaboury, the Manitoban architect who designed the Mexico City embassy. Gaboury’s view is that an embassy is a strange creature: a building that symbolizes a country within another country. If it is to function well, it has to have relevance for the country it represents, as well as for the country where it is located. It’s clear Therrien wholeheartedly agrees.
This article was submitted to YFile by Glendon communications officer Marika Kemeny