bout de papier, Vol. 31, No. 2 (2021), p. 44
FOREIGN SERVICE FRIENDS OF ANDREW SHORE were shocked to learn of his sudden passing on 14 December 2020 in Ottawa.
Andrew joined the Foreign Service (Political Stream) in 1991, after growing up in Montreal and graduating from Concordia University (1991) and Pierrefonds Community High School (1984).
During his Foreign Service career, Andrew served abroad in the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, at the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo, and at the Canadian High Commission in London. At headquarters, he held many assignments including as a member of the Kosovo Task Force, director of the Global Partnership Program, director of the Humanitarian Affairs Division, director for Central America and the Caribbean, and special advisor at the Canadian Foreign Service Institute. One of his proudest achievements was his work on the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.
Andrew’s life and perspectives were affected strongly by his experience of war and instability in the former Yugoslavia and his work on the Ebola Crisis. In addition to entrenching a deep commitment to human rights and protection of vulnerable populations, his work provided fodder for his dark wit and material for many of his most moving tales of conflict-zone and crisis diplomacy. Over the years, many of these stories were shared over Friday afterwork drinks at one of his favourite watering-holes in the Market or New Edinburgh.
Andrew did not have much time or patience for ceremony and had often commented that big funerals were a waste. Instead, he joked, his friends should gather to have a drink and tell stories. Since the COVID-19 pandemic made meeting in person impossible, friends and colleagues did the next best thing and united over Zoom on 22 December to raise a glass and share their favourite memories. He would have been pleased to see that more than a hundred people from his many postings and assignments, volunteer activities and school days gathered from across at least six different time zones to celebrate his life.
At the memorial and on Facebook, they told stories of a bon vivant, a raconteur with a booming laugh and an irreverent sense of humour, and a generous mentor who reminded everyone of the need to care for others and take the human factor into account.
A friend from his university days remembered ultra-competitive Trivial Pursuit games as well as how “his calming demeanor and storytelling skills transformed a gruelling road trip across Ontario to see a disastrous wedding into the adventure of a lifetime.”
In a sentiment that was echoed by many, one colleague described him as someone who “took the issues seriously, but himself and everything else very lightly.” Another remembered “a man of principle, funny and smart,” who could always be counted on for straight and honest advice. A third noted that “Andrew was very smart, knew what he didn’t know,” but “knew how to find out and never let himself be distracted.” Many of us reflected on his diplomatic ingenuity and practicality, as exemplified by his story of negotiating agreement on new national licence plates for Bosnia and Hercegovina by using only characters that were common to both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, thus nullifying the main objections of all three parties.
Although he took his work and career seriously, Andrew had a well-developed sense of fun. Beth Richardson remembered serving with him at the Canadian High Commission in London, where they were invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. After finding the actual event less than exciting, and being disappointed in the refreshments, Andrew insisted that they salvage the excursion by roaming the Palace and sitting on every available piece of furniture “to get their money’s worth.” Another colleague remembered that he kept a nerf gun in his desk drawer and would shoot people in the head with foam discs if he thought they were working too late. I personally enjoyed listening to him experiment with Latin translation for “Kiss up and kick down” (osculans calcitrare sursum usque deorsum seemed to have emerged as the best version) for use on an imaginary proposal for a GAC coat of arms featuring a horse’s rear end.
Closer to home, Andrew was a dedicated volunteer who believed in giving back to his community, including his neighbours at 40 Landry, where he was famous for his volunteer work and the movie nights he hosted. He supported many charitable organizations, including the Ottawa Hospital, the Shepherds of Good Hope, the National Gallery of Canada and the Ottawa Humane Society. Friends and colleagues who wish to remember him are encouraged to make a donation to the cause of their choice.
Andrew is survived by brothers Mark (Christiana Cavazzoni) and Brian (Becky Garceau), nieces Samantha, Margot and Isabel and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by parents Philip Shore (2005) and Heather Campbell- Shore (2010).
Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 31, No. 2 (2021), p. 44. Read the rest of this issue →
