Dear readers of the Newsletter of the German Consulate,

Since the beginning of 2025, we have all been living in interesting and turbulent times. Hardly a day passes without some new and — to put it mildly — breathtaking news. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish which of these news items are real and which are, well, not so real. Disinformation and fake news are having their heyday, making our lives anything but easier.

To help navigate the daily flood of these so-called “news,” the German Consulate, in cooperation with UBC, is organizing an event with Prof. Quandt from the University of Münster under the title: “Lies, Hate, Chaos: How Disinformation Threatens Democracy.” For more information, please read the article in the newsletter.

Despite all the worrisome news and developments of recent weeks, there are also signs of hope, especially here in Canada. Canadians have come together to form a strong bond of national unity against threats and bullying from beyond the steadfast Canadian borders. It is even more remarkable that this strong bond of unity is not directed against a nation, but against the actions of certain individuals. Canadians clearly understand where the real threats are coming from, and they can distinguish between friend and foe.

This is a strong message and a lesson we can all learn from: standing up for our freedom, our values and our principles, treating everyone with respect who treats us with the same respect, and standing firm against any Orwellian “Animal Farm” attitudes and attempts originating from beyond Canadian borders. Stay strong and firm, Canada. We will stand by you!

On this note, my colleagues at the German Consulate General in Vancouver and I wish you a happy and peaceful Easter!

Marc Eichhorn
Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany