bout de papier, Vol. 10, No. 2 (1993) — Spring 1993 // Printemps 1993, pp. 30–31
Claude joined the Trade Commissioner Service in 1957. He served in New Orleans (1958), Lagos (1961- 62), Sao Paolo (1965-67), Brussels (1967-69), and twice in Paris, (1958- 61 and 1970-73). He was appointed an assistant deputy minister in 1973 and served in that capacity until 1979 and again from 1982 to 1985. He was Ambassador to Mexico (1979-82), to Italy (1985-88) and to France (1988-93). He died in Paris while serving as Ambassador on March 3, 1993.
A memorial service was held on March 13, 1993 at Notre Dame Cathedral, Ottawa. These eulogies were given on that occasion by Al Kilpatrick, the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Associate Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs and by Ken Taylor, formerly Ambassador to Iran and now based in New York. — Editor
Claude Charland was the consummate diplomat. For over 35 years he served his country with great distinction both at home and abroad. To his various assignments, in the US, Nigeria, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico, Italy, and France he brought the same qualities. Qualities of intelligence, integrity, sensitivity, good judgment and outstanding interpersonal skills. As a couple, Claude and Marguerite personified the best of Canadian values. I had the benefit of working closely with Claude for a number of years and benefitted greatly from his counsel. Reid Morden joins me in recognizing publicly the great contribution Claude made and the great loss the Department will feel with Claude’s departure. To Marguerite, Louis, Bernard and Anne Elizabeth go our heart-felt sympathies.
But frankly, my fondest memories of Claude are not of Claude the professional, however distinguished he was, but of Claude the human being. Claude the human being had no match.
When I think of Claude, I think of laughter and the twinkle in his eye. Claude had a spontaneity and joie de vivre that most of us lost with childhood. I recall the countless times when we sat at the end of a long day and he always had something to laugh about and, as often as not, it was about himself. He liked nothing better than to play tricks on his friends and, God only knows, I was the butt of many of them. But, like the man, they were sometimes naughty but never malicious. How well I remember his exploiting my colour blindness by talking me into buying a brown suit in Rome which turned out to be Halloween orange.
When I think of Claude, I think of the warmth he radiated. Nowhere was it more evident than in his own home. I will never forget the many happy evenings I spent chez Charland. If one wanted to know the true meaning of family, one had only to observe Claude and Margot with Louis, Bernie and Anne Elizabeth.
When I think of Claude, I think of serenity and contentment. Anger was an emotion I never saw in Claude. He loved his family; he loved his job; and he loved his country. And it showed!
When I think of Claude, I think of fulfilment. If anyone put a lie to the adage that “nice guys finish last”., it was Claude. He was a nice guy who finished first. He lived by Lester Pearson’s motto “not to seek success but to deserve it”. He rose to represent his country in the most senior appointment. But in the process, he never lost his humility. And as a husband and father, he had no peer.
When I think of Claude, I think of friendship. Those of us who were his friends know what a privilege that was. And how our lives were enriched by it. Once our pain at his passing has been dulled by time, we will think of Claude and smile and that’s the way he would want it.
Al Kilpatrick
Eulogy in Memory of Claude Charland
Claude was not born in quiet, tranquil times. 1933 saw Hitler ominously withdraw from the League of Nations and the United States finally recognize the USSR. 1933 was zany as well as politically significant. King Kong was the movie of the year; prohibition came to a jubilant end and defused an early Canada- United States border dispute. Foster Hewitt enriched forever the Canadian vocabulary with the exclamation “He Shoots! He Scores!” during a radio broadcast of a Ranger-Maple Leaf game on April 4th.
Growing up, Claude watched pass by a great depression, a World War and a postwar recovery. As a student in both Quebec City and Montreal, he sensed a change of mood in his home province.
Ready for work, affable, urbane and in a good frame of mind, Claude arrived in Ottawa in 1957 to commence what would be a glorious diplomatic career. Another Canadian law school graduate, of an earlier graduating date, arrived precisely the same month in Ottawa to undertake his new responsibilities — John Diefenbaker — as Prime Minister. Later that year, Canada achieved diplomatic renown when Lester B. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Prize.
As a young aspiring officer fresh in Ottawa, it was necessary for you to ascertain your place within the realm. Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) had designation taken to a fine art through a remarkable sequence of diminutives — you were, on arrival, described as not just an assistant trade commissioner, but a junior assistant trade commissioner, on probation as well mind you.
The TCS class of 1957 amounted to a formidable diplomatic enclave. They were sent abroad in 1958 taking a totally unsuspecting world by surprise. And what a vintage group to dispatch: Bob Woolham, Ray Anderson, Bob Gaynor, Barry Steers, Roger Bull, Gilles Morin, Ossie Stanton, George Blackstock, Neil Currie…. All valued friends of Claude and Marguerite.
Claude was sent to the sub-tropical post of New Orleans as vice consul and assistant trade commissioner. There was a minor cultural adjustment to make between Bank Street and the French Quarter.
A sense of Claude’s future career began to evolve with his next assignment as 2nd Secretary in Paris. Claude and Marguerite would come to know France and the French well. They would as a couple, Marguerite with grace and intelligence, contribute greatly over decades to the restoration of diplomatic harmony between France and Canada. That same year, 1958, the French recalled Charles deGaulle to Paris as Premier.
Life as a diplomat is nothing if not full of change, contrast and unpredictability. An assignment to Lagos after three years in Paris was an example.
The Charlands returned home to Ottawa in 1962 with a family of three – Louis, y Anne and Bernie. The three brought unlimited spontaneity, zest and much laughter both to the Ottawa household and the more exotic locations yet to come.
Claude traced through the labyrinth of Ottawa bureaucracy with care and thoughtfulness, some bemusement, resourcefulness and diligence — his skills were apparent and recognized.
You remember 1965, the year of the advent r of Canada’s flag? The Charlands were stationed in Sao Paulo to see the new flag flap from the Consulate’s window.
By 1970, they were back in Paris. Michelin Guide wasn’t as well informed as the Charlands on the amenities, rosettes, forks and historical archives of France. Wine merchants sought opinions of the 1969 vintage, the Paris subway system held no mysteries whatsoever. As a milestone, Charles deGaulle died the year of the Charlands’ return, 12 years after his assumption of office and their own first posting in Paris.
The 1970s saw Claude back in Ottawa negotiating trade agreements with the Chinese, the Hungarians, the Brazilians, the Japanese — a Minister’s hunting lodge in Prague one week — the souk in Jeddah the next. Depending upon the location and host, the talks were enhanced by either Chinese tea, Turkish coffee, flat soda, undistilled water, maotai, tequila or vodka. Claude worked within the global village of trade and diplomacy not long after Marshall McLuhan had defined the concept largely with culture and anthropology in mind.
His negotiating stance was deliberate and logical, accommodating and understated Just under the surface, was a keen sense of humour that occasionally he felt impossible to contain as the exchange across the table took on aspects of SCTV and Question Period
Claude managed people as well as negotiating treaties. Considering the incumbents in Ottawa at the time, myself and others here today included, he did a splendid job against odds. You were not told to do something by Claude; you were guided and led. Make a questionable decision and he was there behind you, intimating that it is not the end of the world and then setting you off in the right direction again.
Mexico, as Ambassador, was the next attainment where Claude articulated a new trading relationship that, to a large extent years later, is now reflected in the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement.
Ambassador to Italy followed Mexico. By now the Charlands spoke so many Romance languages that the couple could have operated the entire European C.B.C. International Radio Service.
As a climax to a sterling career, Claude was appointed Ambassador to France. Seldom has a diplomat been held in such high esteem, regard and affection by the French.
The same mutual respect, admiration and warmth characterized Claude’s relationship with the business community and elected public officials.
Whether the company was a small entrepreneurial firm, a multinational, profitable or not, each received Claude’s full attention, encouragement and wisdom. He advocated looking beyond narrow boundaries and enabled many companies, some initially unwilling, to enjoy international success.
The remarkable breadth and depth of his 36-year career is reflected by the span and quality of his association with those holding public office.
He worked closely with three Prime Ministers — Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney and with six Governors General, particularly, Jeanne Sauvé. He valued personal and professional ties with many Ministers of Trade and of External Affairs. To name a few: George Hees, Mitchell Sharp, Robert Winters, Paul Martin, Jean-Luc Pépin, Allan MacEachen, Don Jameson, Alister Gilespie, Mark MacGuigan, Jean Chrétien, Flora MacDonald, Ed Lumley, Gerry Regan, John Crosbie, Michael Wilson and Barbara McDougall.
Claude was a loving husband, father, brother and relative. He was a caring and generous friend and colleague. The world was his home and his abilities and standards were established accordingly. But his heart and soul rested in Canada, and with Canadians like Claude Charland, we indeed have a country of pride and accomplishment.
Kenneth Taylor
Friend and Colleague
New York
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 10, No. 2 (1993) — Spring 1993 // Printemps 1993, pp. 30–31. Read the rest of this issue →
