bout de papier, Vol. 12, No. 3 (1995) — Fall 1995 // Automne 1995, p. 5
It was one of the most successful award-giving events since PAFSO began in 1990 to honour foreign service officers for exceptional achievement. About 190 people from the departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Citizenship and Immigration, from the media and from the ranks of foreign service supporters turned out June 14 at the National Arts Centre to witness the presentation of four awards and to applaud the winners. This year there was a slate of especially strong candidates with a well-balanced representation from the three foreign service streams of trade, political/economic affairs, and immigration. The only drawback to this gratifying picture was that, in sharp contrast to preceding years which featured women as candidates and winners, there was inexplicably only one female nominee this year. Go figure.
Nevertheless, the judges had a difficult task which, everyone agreed, they discharged with fairness and sensitivity. The panel of five included: Meriel Bradford, Assistant Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Teleglobe Canada and formerly Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Mark Drake, President of the Canadian Exporters Association; Terry Sheehan, formerly Assistant Deputy Minister, Immigration Operations and former High Commissioner to Jamaica and Ambassador to Turkey; J.H. (Si) Taylor, formerly USSEA, Ambassador to NATO and Japan and currently Chancellor of McMaster University; and Christopher Waddell, Parliamentary Bureau Chief for CBC National Television News.
Jon Allen, who is in charge of UN legal affairs at DFAIT, was presented with his award by Irene Johnson, a retired head of mission and senior public servant, in recognition of his outstanding professional and personal skills as a supervisor and of his work as a political and legal officer throughout his career. Aspiring nominees should note that emphasis was placed on Jon Allen’s ability as a manager to use care and common sense in dealing with people.
Brian Casey, who was until recently Counsellor (Immigration) in Belgrade, received his award from Ian Glen, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Operations, Privy Council Office and formerly Associate Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, for his outstanding performance in managing an immigration programme under very trying conditions over a four-year period with such efficiency and compassion that his work has become a model for other posts around the world. His fluency in Serbo-Croat, his empathy with the local culture, and his deep desire to help people in tragic circumstances were striking characteristics of his work.
Nicholas Coghlan, in charge of Mexican affairs in Mexico and South American Relations Division, DFAIT, was given his award by the Honourable Allan J. MacEachen, Senator, and formerly Secretary of State for External Affairs for his exceptional achievements as a political officer in Mexico City, 1992-94, which were marked by his outstanding command of Spanish and his knowledge of Mexico and its people as well as for his political analysis and reporting.
William Pound, Counsel and Senior Trade Commissioner in Sao Paulo, accepted his award from Alexandra Bugailiskis, Director of Caribbean and Central America Relations Division, DFAIT, and a winner of an award in 1990 for his exceptional work in handling trade policy and promotion issues in Canada-Mexico relations, and especially in helping to mount the biggest ever Canadian trade exhibit in Mexico in 1994.
The acceptance speeches of the winners were amusing, touching, and full of pride in the foreign service. Everyone left the dinner with a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction at seeing deserving colleagues rewarded in some measure for their worth.
The surprise of the evening was the presentation of a memories scrap book prepared by Susan Harper and Colin Robertson from contributions from scores of her friends and colleagues to Debra Hulley in grateful recognition of the twenty years of outstanding services to PAFSO bout de papier Vol.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 12, No. 3 (1995) — Fall 1995 // Automne 1995, p. 5. Read the rest of this issue →
