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In 1965, Bellingham physician Robert Kaiser wrote the president of Western Washington State College with the idea of creating an Institute for Canada-American studies. Kaiser, concerned that there was too little understanding of our northern neighbor, believed that Western was the right place for the new institute because of its location and rising prominence.

Encouraged by interest from the college president, Kaiser set out to convince government leaders of Canada's importance to the region, state and the nation, and therefore why such a program was needed. He wrote numerous letters to U.S. Sens. Henry Jackson and Warren Magnuson, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Meeds and U.S. State Department and education officials. Kaiser, a persistent man, donated $100 of his own money and eventually saw the birth of a Canadian-American Studies program in 1971.