Cruel and Inhumane Treatment
A recent ruling of the United Nations Human Rights Commission has created a stir in Canada, comparable to recent Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment in the United States. The UN has ruled that the current procedures in External Affairs and International…
Ralph Collins
Ralph joined the Department of External Affairs in 1940. He retired in 1979. He began his Foreign Service in Chungking, China in 1943 and his last appointment abroad was as Canada’s first ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, in…
Christine Manseau
Past presidents of PAFSO recall their memories of Christine Manseau who died on May 3, 1992. Christine joined PAFSO as Executive Director in 1983 and faithfully served the interests of the Association and its membership with great distinction and dedication. Since 1990,…
Robert A. (Bob) Grauer
Members of the Department of External Affairs were deeply saddened by the unexpected news of the death on Saturday, 7 March 1992, of Bob Grauer, one of our finest officers.
Bombay Daze
An elephant’s skin: grey and creased. Below, the tide begins to reclaim the mudflats, the muddy water creeping forward in the gentle folds of a pachyderm’s hide. The returning waters displace dazzling white herons, replete after a morning’s fishing and beckon the…
Beyond the Walls: Architectural Rambles Abroad
Cast your mind back to your first foreign posting. Sifting through the memories, extract that single feature which most forcefully and subtly shaped your perception of that society.
Le retour au Canada, ou quand le demi-dieu revient sur terre
Le 27 juillet 1989, c’est le départ pour ma première affectation, et cette journée m’apparait comme un grand soulagement. Elle signifie la fin de la course folle des dernières semaines : l’inventaire, cette forme raffinée de supplice, est classé au rang des…
Apartment Hunting in Paris — A Liberal Education — Part II
During his long and truly distinguished career in External Affairs, Charles Ritchie held such top posts abroad as Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner in London, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Permanent Representative…
Réminiscences et souvenirs de Yvon Beaulne
L’ex-ambassadeur Yvon Beaulne, a évoqué pour bout de papier certains souvenirs de ses interventions en faveur du français à l’ONU. Résumé d’une entrevue par Arthur Blanchette.
What Goes Around, Comes Around
My father often quoted the saying, “What goes around, comes around.” At the time I thought it meant that, if your friend had chicken pox, sooner or later you were bound to get it too. As the years went by, I realized…
