bout de papier, Vol. 14, No. 3 (1997) — Fall 1997 // Automne 1997, p. 2
Wondering where the map was when I took this turn…
I think virtually all members of the foreign service — by definition current and former members of PAFSO — will admit, when asked why they joined the service, that they desired the experience of new and different things, perhaps to march to the beat of a different drummer and certainly to travel down different roads.
Some roads are so different from initial expectations that it leaves one wondering where the map was when that last turn was taken. Becoming Editor of bout de papier is one of those turns I think regular readers are well familiar with — every couple of years a new signature appears at the bottom of the “Editor’s Notebook”, expressing cautious pleasure at this honour while concealing the trepidation at taking over the reins from the oh-so-successful predecessor who won yet another international award for the magazine of its category. And now, it’s my turn. Let me tell you that moving from being the last name on the masthead to the first was the furthest thing on my mind when I was asked to co-ordinate the contributions from Citizenship and Immigration for the Fall 1995 special edition devoted to the Immigration Foreign Service. I joined the bout Board in January 1995, not too long after my return to Ottawa after 10 years overseas — about the same time as Nick did — and thought that once we’d seen the Immigration Special Issue put to bed that would be it. But, the PAFSO staff involved in bout are pretty clever — having sensed some creative blood, however anaemic, in my veins they just kept calling me for every Board meeting, knowing that I would keep coming. And the rest, as they say, is history.
It has been a long time since the Editor was a Social Affairs/ Citizenship and Immigration PAFSO member — not since Nesta Scott in the mid-1980s. One of the motivating factors in taking on this position is that I hope, by doing so, the participation rate for contributions by CIC PAFSO members will increase. I know it is avidly read throughout our Department — including by our Senior Managers courtesy of a corporate subscription by the International Region — as much as it is read in the corridors and cubicles of DFAIT. But the other thing I have noticed since 1995 is that CIC members don’t often contribute articles, be they features or regular departments or even photographic essays. We don’t hear from the few remaining CIDA FS officers either — if you are out there and still reading bout we’d appreciate your views too.
In this issue we continue our exposé of mini-missions with Jennifer Daubney’s thoughts on life in Guadalajara. Our focus on the year of Asia-Pacific is well represented in this issue — throughout the features as well as in our commentary section.
The British are very good about rewarding their foreign service (FCO) types with a variety of orders — MBEs, OBEs, etc., “for services to Her Majesty’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office”, up to and including Knighthoods of various styles for the most senior members, usually Head of Mission rank. What, I know you are asking, has this got to do with bout? Well, the Canadian equivalent is to be awarded the Order of Canada, any one of three ranks (Member, Officer, Companion). They’re announced a couple of times a year from Rideau Hall but precious few fall the way of foreign service officers regardless of rank. So, when an issue of bout contains contributions by not one but two recipients of the Order of Canada they deserve our applause. Roger Lucy, outlining diplomatic manoeuvring a millennium ago (“Will the Real Roman Emperor Please Stand Up”), received his O.C. for participating in the “Canadian Caper”. James H. (Si) Taylor has recently been awarded his O.C. for contributions throughout his public service career and has provided a warm picture of the late Gérard Pelletier as a diplomat (“In Memoriam”).
Finally, on the 40th Anniversary of Lester Pearson receiving his Nobel Award (and the Centenary year of his birth), we are privileged to present some thoughts on Lester Pearson’s legacy to the Canadian foreign service by one of the people who knew him best – both in front of and behind the scenes — his son, Geoffrey. Mr. Pearson writes a dispassionate, balanced account about a man who is a legend to the intended audience. Never an easy task for anyone but especially not when he’s one’s father.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 14, No. 3 (1997) — Fall 1997 // Automne 1997, p. 2. Read the rest of this issue →
