In Celebration of Excellence // Dans une célébration de l’excellence

bout de papier, Vol. 23, No. 4 (2008) — Summer 2008 // Été 2008, pp. 30–35

On Thursday, June 12, 2008, colleagues and guests gathered to celebrate excellence in the Canadian Foreign Service at the PAFSO Dinner and Awards presentations held in the Panorama Room of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The Pipe Major of the Sons of Scotland, Ms Bethany Basillion, piped in our guests signalling the start of another outstanding evening.

Le président de l’APASE, M. Craig Weichel, a souligné que « Une des choses qu’on apprend en travaillant simultanément pour l’État et dans un syndicat de fonctionnaires, c’est de ne jamais s’attendre à la gratification instantanée. Cependant, en s’appliquant à la tâche, en nouant et entretenant de bonnes relations de travail et en cherchant constamment des solutions novatrices, de bonnes choses peuvent se produire. Et c’est précisément cet amalgame de vertus qu’on retrouve chez les quatre lauréats couronnés ce soir. »

Master of Ceremonies, Norman Baillie-David, the founder and managing partner of The Antima Group, managed the evenings’ festivities and read the presentations for each of this year’s four Award recipients. Tim Kilbourn, recognized for his extraordinary program work in Moscow under very difficult and emotionally challenging conditions and his dedication to Canada was unable to take time from his posting to attend the event.

Anne Martel, Michael Watts and Joanne Lemay. Tim Kilbourn was unable to travel from his posting in Moscow.

Tim Kilbourn, Counsellor (Immigration) at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow has been selected as a PAFSO Award

Winner for his outstanding efforts under very difficult circumstances. He was assigned to Moscow in 2005 in advance of the establishment of a new Area Management model for CIC and the implementation of changes within the Immigration Section. When his Program Manager became ill and later passed away, full responsibility fell on Mr. Kilbourn to implement the changes, provide leadership to his section, and deal with retaliatory actions from the Russians in response to the refusal of a Canadian visa. These actions took the form of denial of Russian visas for other officers going on posting to Moscow and for temporary emergency help from Canada necessary to alleviate the serious staffing shortage in the Immigration Section.

La section a dû fonctionner à 50-60 % de son effectif normal pour une période de plusieurs mois, sans compter les longues heures et le niveau de stress élevé pour le personnel. Tim a offert du soutien de première main à tous ses employés et à prêché par l’exemple, adoptant une approche « qui sait faire » au service à la clientèle, tout en veillant à ce qu’on règle adéquatement les questions d’inadmissibilité. Il s’est révélé particulièrement efficace dans le maintien du moral et du momentum pour ce processus. Tim a aussi dirigé une initiative visant à inciter divers organismes à Ottawa à raccourcir leurs délais de réaction aux demandes de visa clés.

When taking up a posting in a distant country, an immigration officer unwittingly assumes the role of an anthropologist. Pouring over dozens of visa applications, you soon find out what makes the host country tick — the typical family ties, travel patterns, health concerns, job prospects, and other issues that govern your clients’ everyday lives. Acquiring this kind of knowledge is not just interesting. It’s often crucial to making sound decisions, to striking the precarious balance between enforcement and facilitation — the yin and the yang of visa adjudication. So even if the grass sometimes looks greener in the other Foreign Service streams, the world of Immigration remains endlessly fascinating to me, and I hope to be part of it for many years to come.”

Joanne Lemay (à la gauche) et Marie-Lucie Morin, Sous-ministre, Commerce international

Joanne Lemay is being honoured with a PAFSO Award this year in recognition of her work both abroad, as Consul in Guadalajara, and in headquarters for her work in organizing six of the Deputy Minister for International Trade’s regional symposia — “The TCS Global Team: Making it Happen for Canada.” While in Mexico, she developed an excellent and effective team of two Canada-based employees and seven locally engaged employees.

Bien qu’il s’agisse d’une micromission, l’équipe commerciale de Guadalajara s’est classée parmi les quatre meilleures missions à cerner les débouchés commerciaux pour les clients canadiens en 2004 et en 2005. Les travaux relatifs aux six symposiums régionaux du sous-ministre du Commerce reflètent un degré élevé de planification stratégique dans les documents d’information, la réflexion approfondie qui a donné lieu à l’harmonisation de contributions variées dans un programme ciblé, instructif et interactif. Les symposiums ont placé le Service des délégués commerciaux dans la position voulue pour réagir avec créativité et efficacité aux nouveaux défis que pose et posera l’aide aux entreprises canadiennes partout dans le monde.

A Career without Borders — our recruitment tagline coined by my colleague Nira Shearer — is about the remarkable diversity of assignments within one career. There are constant opportunities to take on new challenges — whether tackling completely new issues, new areas or ways of working, or representing Canada in foreign lands — while feeling that our contribution makes a difference for Canada. Cela signifie également travailler avec de nouveaux collègues plus extraordinaires les uns que les autres à chaque affectation. C’est ce qui m’a attirée — et continue de me motiver — à faire partie des rangs du Service extérieur du Canada et du Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Commerce International.”

Anne Martel, Commercial Counsellor,

the Canadian Embassy, Rome, is being honoured with a PAFSO Award for her work resolving issues threatening access to the key Italian market for the export of Canadian durum wheat. She deployed specific local knowledge and language skills to develop and expand her local network which she mobilized to defend core Canadian interests. Through her hard work and her clear reporting to all interested Canadian actors, she not only helped solve the specific problem facing Canadian durum wheat exports in 2005-06, but helped develop a course of action that diminished the probability of further impediments to Canadian exports.

En décembre 2005, un juge régional du sud-est de l’Italie a ordonné la saisie de deux envois de blé dur canadien, en alléguant qu’ils contenaient des niveaux inacceptables de toxines dangereuses. Cette décision a compromis des exportations canadiennes de plus de 400 000 tonnes de blé dur par année à l’Italie, d’une valeur moyenne de plus de 100 millions de dollars. Elle a aidé à faire prendre conscience au governe-ment de l’Italie de la nécessité d’une approche scientifique. Son approche pragmatique et constructive à la résolution de problèmes sur une période de plusieurs mois a contribué à lui permettre de régler le dossier de manière fructueuse et satisfaisante pour le Canada et les intérêts canadiens qu’elle protégeait et défendait. Voilà un bel exemple du travail classique de l’agent du service extérieur canadien.

Anne Martel (à la gauche) et Leonard Edwards, Sous-ministre des Affaires étrangères

I’ve been a Foreign Service Officer for quite a few years now. I’ve been a trade officer, and a political officer, but this case (Canadian durum wheat) for me encapsulates what we really do. We interpret. We mediate. We bridge the cultural divide. And though we are not specialists, we have a valuable role to play.”

Michael Watts has been honoured as a winner of the PAFSO Award for his high level of performance in a variety of assignments including as Immigration Program Manager in Accra, Ghana. He is currently the Director, Geographic Operations, Asia-Pacific/Americas in CIC. While in Ghana he had area responsibility for the immigration movement from Liberia and was required to deal with numerous cases of child adoptions from Liberia by Canadians. There were serious concerns regarding reliability of the adoption process.

Il a établi des sources d’information fiables au Libéria et s’est efforcé de fournir un excellent service à la clientèle aux parents canadiens éventuels, tout en prenant bien soin que l’enfant à adopter ne fasse pas l’objet de trafic de personnes. Il est un joueur d’équipe, ayant assumé des rôles clés au Haut-Commissariat lors de la visite de la gouverneure générale au Ghana et de l’évacuation de Canadiens de la Côte d’lvoire au Ghana.

Michael Watts (left) and Richard Fadden, Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Immigration Canada

… It was impossible to imagine that this career would be able to offer so many opportunities to be creative, to learn, and to exemplify the values of the public service, values I hope inherited in part from my mother who was herself a civil servant with UK’s Department of Employment prior to immigrating to Canada. … A few years ago I listened to my colleague David Manicom who on this same podium poetically described what it means to be a visa officer, and for me, it has been, above all, the experiences in Africa that have confirmed his sentiment that to be a visa officer is truly is a wonderful calling.”

In Celebration of Excellence // Dans une célébration de l’excellence

Photo right: Dominique Levesque (right) presents her draw prizes to Larissa Blavatska (left). Photo above: Madame Nicole Perron with her draw prize.

Norman Baillie-David (left) and Anne Arnott

The Honourable Flora MacDonald presents the VIA Rail draw prize to Lynn Hartery

RHOMA Prize for Best Article in bout de papier

In addition to the four PAFSO Awards, one other award was presented at the PAFSO Dinner on June 12, 2008. Mr. Scott Slessor was the winner of the Retired Heads of Mission Association (RHOMA) sponsored award for best article in bout de papier magazine for Volume 23. His article, Illuminating Khmer Ornamentation, appeared in Issue No. 2. He received a framed Award and cheque.

Scott Slessor receives prize and cheque from the President of RHOMA, John Noble.

See the PAFSO website www pafso com for text of acceptance speeches. Click on FS Awards.

Des allocutions se trouvent sur le site Web de l’APASE : www pafso com. Il suffit de cliquer sur le lien aux prix.

Une mention honorable a également été décernée à Mme Élise Racicot pour l’article suivant: « Aventures dans les montagnes de l’Elbourz », paru dans le numéro 3, vol.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2009

Why not start thinking about or preparing now for nominations for the 2009 PAFSO Awards. While the deadline for submissions is April 5, 2009, nominations or indications of forthcoming nominations can be received at any time at [email protected] or by mail to Mr. George Grande, Secretary, FS Awards Committee 412-47 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 9K1

APPEL DE MISE EN CANDIDATURE 2009

Pourquoi ne pas envisager dés maintenant de présenter une ou des candidatures aux Prix de l’APASE de 2009? La date limite de réception des candidatures est fixée au 5 avril 2009, mais il est possible en tout temps d’envoyer une candidature ou un avis de candidature, soit par courriel à [email protected], soit par la poste à M. George Grande, secrétaire, Comité des Prix FS 412-47 rue Clarence, Ottawa (Ontario)

2008 Panel of Judges

The panel which selected this year’s Award recipients was composed of people who themselves had achieved distinction in their various fields.

The Hon. James Bartleman joined the Department of External Affairs in 1966 and retired in 2002. Postings and assignments included ambassador to Cuba, Israel, NATO and the European Union, High Commissioner to South Africa and Australia, and Assistant Secretary to Cabinet and Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 2002 to 2007. Member of Mnjikaning First Nation. National Aboriginal Achievement Award 1999. Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the year award. Arthur Kroeger College Award in Ethics in Public Affairs. Nine honourary degrees. Author of four best selling books. Mr. Bartleman is currently Chancellor of College of Arts and Design. He is actively engaged in aboriginal literacy initiatives he has established in recent years: Club Amick reading club for 5,000 native children and 36 summer literacy camps for 2,500 children. Mr. Brian Davis served as a Foreign Service Officer from 1971 to 2006. His assignments abroad included Lebanon, Kenya, Poland, India, Hong Kong (twice), Paris and Syria. He was the Immigration Program Manager in Poland, Hong Kong and Paris. In his final assignment before leaving the Public Service, he served as Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic from 2003 to 2006. Since leaving the federal government in 2006, Mr. Davis has been a freelance policy consultant, with particular emphasis on the Middle East. He has also given lectures on the subject in various fora, such as at McGill University.

Lieutenant-General (Retired) Michael K. Jeffrey is currently a consultant on defence, security and strategic planning. He began a distinguished military career at age 16 as a Rifleman with the Canadian Army Militia. He was promoted to Colonel in 1989, serving with the United Nations Transition Group (UNCTAD) in Namibia. He was appointed Commandant of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College in 1996. In 2000, on promotion to Lieutenant-General he served as Chief of the Land Staff until his retirement in 2003.

Michael Kergin (Chairman) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1967 as a foreign service officer. His postings abroad included the Canadian Mission to the United Nations in New York, Cameroon and Chile. He served as Ambassador to Cuba from 1986 to 1989 and has had three postings to Washington, the last as Ambassador of Canada to the United States (2000 to 2005). Since leaving the federal government in 2005, he has been Special Advisor on Border Management to the premier of Ontario. Mr. Kergin is currently a Senior Fellow at the US Chamber of Commerce. He is also CEO and President of Intermestic Consulting Inc, a firm he founded, specializing in advising clients on Canada-US relations.

Don Newman is Senior Parliamentary Editor for CBC News and the host of CBC Newsworld’s daily program POLITICS, an intelligent analysis of major political news stories and newsmakers in Ottawa, around the country and abroad. In 1981, Mr. Newman came to work for the public broadcaster’s Parliamentary Bureau and since then has hosted his own political affairs program based in Ottawa (This Week in Parliament, 1981-93, Capital Report, 1989-95 and Politics, 1995—present). In 1997, Mr. Newman was the first recipient of the Charles Lynch Award for outstanding coverage of national affairs and in 1999 was named a Member of the Order of Canada for being one of Canada’s most respected journalists. Mr. Newman is currently on the boards of Canada’s National History Society and the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Mme Louise Terrillon-Mackay est une ancienne agente du service extérieur et ancienne présidente du chapitre de la Capitale nationale de l’Institut canadien des affaires internationales. Elle est Présidente du Conseil d’administration de l’Institut canadien des études méditerranéennes, membre des conseils d’administration de l’Alliance française et de l’Institut Dante Alighieri d’Ottawa. Mme Terrillon-Mackay a un Baccalauréat es Arts, de Marymount et Fordham University, New York, avec spécialisation en sciences économiques, gestion des affaires et espagnol. Elle a étudié l’histoire de l’art et l’archéologie à Rome, Italie et Athènes, Grèce.

Dinner / dîner

Inniskillin 2006 Niagara Series
Riesling VQA Niagara Peninsula
Salad of Tender Greens with Red
Bell Pepper, Jicama, Manila Mango,
Coriander, Mint and Lime Vinaigrette
Salade de verdures garnie de poivrons
rouges, d’ignames et de mangues,
vinaigrette à la coriandre, à la menthe
et au jus de limette
Inniskillin 2006 Chardonnay
Montague Vineyard VQA
Niagara Peninsula
Inniskillin 2004 Pinot Noir Reserve
VQA Niagara Peninsula
Sesame Crusted East Coast Salmon
with Orange-Miso Sauce
on a Gingered Rice Cake with
Pan Roasted Baby Bok Choy
Saumon de la côte est en croûte de
sésame, sauce au miso et à l’orange
sur galette de riz au gingembre avec
jeune pak-choi poêlé
Inniskillin 2006 Pearl Vidal Icewine
VQA Niagara Peninsula
Flourless Hazelnut Mocha Torte,
Chai Tea Ice Cream
with Wild Berry Compote
Torte au moka et aux noisettes sans
farine et crème glacée au tchai
accompagnées de compote de
petits fruits sauvages