DFAIT Cancels Cross-Canada Tours for Trainees

What a shame. These tours allowed new FSOs to learn about the country they would represent while abroad. They also enabled them to say they had been "there", or nearby, when anyone asked, even years later. Most of all, the tours were a sort of boot camp. A group that survives a few weeks of late night arrivals, factory tours and boardroom presentations gets to know one another, they bond and become colleagues. The tours also allow participants to build up a trove of embarrassing stories about their new colleagues that they will embellish and recite for many years in many lands. They are (were?) the most valuable part of the entire training period.

Full story in Diplomat. Thanks to David Horley for pointing it out. - JL

Bob Godson

ROBERT GILBERT GODSON (MAY 24, 1932 - OCTOBER 1, 2009) After a period of ill health, Bob passed away peacefully on October 1st, at North York General Hospital. He was a graduate of Lawrence Park Collegiate, University of Toronto and Osgood Law School. He was a diplomat with the Canadian Government for most of his career, having first ser ved as Canadian Trade Commissioner in South Africa, later representing Canada in China for many years, working from Hong Kong. When Canada diplomatically recognized China in 1971, he was appointed the First Secretary on the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. He later spent a number of years with the United Nations in various Asian countries and for a time was Counsel to Jardine Mathison in Hong Kong. For the past 25 years he has been a resident of Bangkok, Thailand until recently returning to Canada. Throughout his life Bob was a talented pianist. He is survived by his beloved sister Patricia (Gordon) Gray, by his nephews and nieces Donald (Jodie) Gray, David (Susan) Gray, Diane Gray, Douglas (Kathi) Gray and Deborah Gray, and his many grand nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul's Church in Gravenhurst at 1:30 PM on Saturday, October 10th. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Critical Care Unit of North York General Hospital, Foundation Office, 4001 Leslie Street, Toronto, N2K 1E1.

(Globe and Mail, Oct. 6)