bout de papier, Vol. 11, No. 1 (1994) — Spring 1994 // Printemps 1994, p. 2
We plan to publish quarterly, on schedule, regularly but at the same time, we want to break out with Special Issues.
With this edition, we start the 1994 series of issues of bout de papier. If you are a true aficionado of the magazine, you may be surprised to see that we have managed to get the numbering of the issues right. This has not happened before. We now intend to publish quarterly, on schedule, regularly, so that the numbering holds true (ie. this is Volume 11 No 1 Spring; the next one should be Vol 11 No 2 Summer; and after that will come No 3 Fall and No 4 Winter).
We are doing this not because we have become born-again militants of Cartesian logic nor to satisfy the vocal and often violent union of university librarians of the country. Rather we want to be an expected and welcome habit for our readers. It also helps with our advertisers who would like to know when the magazine is coming out.
What are our plans for the coming year? We want each issue of the magazine to continue to be a window on the life in the foreign service. This means a mixture of articles from all the actors in the foreign service community-foreign service officers, retired foreign service officers, spouses, or those, although not permanent members of the service, who take part in Canadian foreign policy, whether these be academics, soldiers on peacekeeping, single assignments from other departments, aid cooperants, or election observers.
At the same time we want to break out occasionally with Special Issues. This year we plan two Special Issues.
In the fall (Vol 11 No 3), we hope to put out an issue that celebrates “The 100th anniversary of the Trade Commissioner Service.” We call on all Trade Commissioners and others so inclined to write articles that are relevant to that issue. In particular we would like an article on “The Fifteen Great Moments in Canadian Trade Commissioner History.” Any volunteers to nominate and describe some of the great moments? We need your contributions on this subject or any other by June 1, 1994.
The other Special Issue will be Vol 11 No 4 Winter. We intend to try put together an issue on “A Day in the Life of the Foreign Service” which will trace on an hour-to-hour basis on a given day, June 2, 1994, across all continents and in Ottawa, the work and experience of members and families of the foreign service. (This was explained in an insert in the last issue, but since we all tend to chuck out these inserts, we thought we would remind you again.)
For the “Day in the Life” issue to be a success will require a high degree of participation from members and families in all posts and Headquarters. So remember what you are doing on June 2, 1994. And send us your articles and photos by July 15. There will be prizes for best day and best photo. If all goes well, this issue may be something you will be proud of and can use to bore relatives and friends for years to come.
As for this issue, it features new graphics for the Table of Contents, this column and for the Book Reviews. We hope you like the changes.
The issue also contains the usual mix of articles from the front lines of Canadian foreign service by the usual crew of foreign service practitioners. There are articles from foreign service officers in the political/ economic, trade and immigration streams, from two former ministers, from spouses, from retired foreign service members and from the foreign policy academic community. How’s that for clever programming!
Anne Collins and Chris Shapardanov, and Gord and Sandra Barnett, in two separate articles paint the reality of working and living in a Russia in transition. Two former Secretaries of State for External Atlairs contribute, the last SSEA (there is now a Minister of Foreign Affairs) Perrin Beatty describes his time in the Department while Mitchell Sharp in his memoirs describes a Foreign Policy Review of 1968 and other views of the Department. Flashing to the past, Mary Taylor recalls the vibrant history of Marler House in Japan and Elmo Thibault remembers an unforgettable incident in Yugoslavia. An excerpt from Robin Pascoe’s book illustrates one of the problems for foreign service families. Four Trade Commissioners offer a Trade Programme Manager’s Survival Guide. Kurt Jensen brings us back to Africa and the splendour of the Victoria Falls in the Tales from Far and Wide.
Hope you enjoy the issue but sharpen those drafting pencils and polish those keyboards for the remaining issues of the year. We’re waiting for you.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 11, No. 1 (1994) — Spring 1994 // Printemps 1994, p. 2. Read the rest of this issue →
