Lunch at the New Edinburgh Pub, Ottawa, Dec. 10, 2014 (Photos)

Mitch Vlad writes:

A group of trade commissioners, all in their 40's, discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because it wasn't far from work, the waitresses were young, good looking, showed lots of cleavage and wore short-shorts.

Ten years later, at age 50, the FTA proselytisers once again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because the food and service was good, they had many televisions to watch the games on, the beer selection was excellent, and they could ogle the servers.

Ten years later, at age 60, the bull sperm salesmen again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because there was plenty of parking, they could dine in peace, and it was good value for the money.

Ten years later, at age 70, the ex-used Candu promoters discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because the restaurant was wheelchair accessible and had a toilet for the disabled.

Ten years later, at age 80, the aging bullsh*t artists discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Hooters because they had never been there before.

Click on the photos to see a larger version.

Mann, Poole (back), Furesz, Higham (back), Stolarik, Schumacher (back), Lee, Chan, Kohler, McKenzie (end) 

                                                                      Rick Mann

Tétu, Clendenning, Rose (back), Stewart, Scott (back), Colfer, Adam

Kohler, Schumacher

Higham, Poole

Wright, Dickson, Butler (back), Vlad, Shaw-Wood (back)

Wismer, Gorn, Wil.sdon (back)

               The gang on the Left Coast lunched on Dec. 3. John Treleaven sent this photo.

Lotto, Campbell, Godfrey, Welsh, Craig, Lambert, Ross, Price, Thomas, Roberts, Food

Clendenning Vernissage, Nov, 14, 21 & 28, 2014

David will exhibit at Nectar:

New Edinburgh Community & Arts Centre (NECTAR)
255 MacKay Street
Ottawa, K1M 2B6


613.745.2742
VERNISSAGE on Friday,  14 November.  6 - 9:30 pm
Artist will be on site during the solo exhibition on Friday evenings:November 14
November 21
November 28 

See his web site: http://www.clendenning.com/next-shows.html

Bob Clark: RIP

CLARK, Robert G

January 11, 1945 - September 24, 2014

Bob's last days were spent with his loving family by his side: his mother Evelyn, his wife Donna and his children Adam, Vanessa and David. There will be a Memorial at the Ottawa Beechwood Cemetery on Oct 18th, 2-4pm.

Hooray for Ambo Goldhawk

A nice letter of appreciation, from a German, of our people in Ulaanbaatar, mostly Greg Goldhawk.

Don Cheney: RIP

CHENEY, Donald Harry, DFC 
WWII, Lancaster Pilot, 
R.A.F. 617 (Dambusters) Squadron 

Our hero is finally at peace. It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the loss of our beloved Don, on August 26, 2014, age 92, after a brief illness. Predeceased by his parents, Evelyn and Harry. Survived by Gladys, his loving wife, best friend and soul mate of almost 70 wonderful years. Dear and most devoted Dad to Allan (Nicole), Richard (Brenda), Janice (Patricia) and Jennifer (Donald), adored Grandpa to Aaron, Jaime and Talia (Larry), and most recently proudest Great Grandpa to Camden Donald. Born and raised in Ottawa, Don served in the R.C.A.F. during WWII and was assigned to R.A.F. Bomber Command 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, as a Lancaster pilot. At the end of his second tour of duty, Don's plane was shot down over Douarnenez (Bretagne), France, on August 5, 1944. Three members of his crew were killed. Risking their own lives, Don was rescued from the sea by local fishermen led by Corentin Buisson and was then hidden in the home of the local head of the French resistance, Aristide Québriac, during which time he was deemed by the R.A.F. as missing in action and presumed dead. Don was one of the last, if not the last, surviving Canadian life members of the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society. His remarkable escape from his Lancaster, Dark Victor, and his valiant attempt to save the lives of his wireless operator and other crew members before saving himself are well documented in the book The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill. At the tender age of 22, Don was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and bravery. On his return from Europe, Don married his sweetheart and love of his life, Gladys Gardiner, on April 21, 1945. After completing a degree in Economics at Queens University, Don had a long and extremely distinguished career in Canada's foreign service (Trade Commissioner Service), which included posts in Trinidad, Peru, Boston, Chicago, Holland and Russia, retiring in 1977. But regardless of where he was in the world, Don's favourite place was the home that always travelled with him in his heart; the family cottage on the Gatineau River, near Larrimac, acquired by his father in 1936 and which remains in the family today. Don's interests were eclectic and numerous - an accomplished artist, storyteller extraordinaire, history and geography buff, as well as an avid gardener and a lover of music and dancing, to name but a few. And he never shied away from a good family debate on just about any subject. An eternal optimist, Don loved his family more than life itself and supported and encouraged all of us equally and unconditionally until he took his last breath. He was an incomparable role model, strikingly modest about himself but unabashedly boastful about the accomplishments of others, especially those of his children and grandchildren. He saw only the good in people and treated everyone he met with kindness, keen interest and exceptional respect. In return he was much loved by all who knew him and he will be missed beyond words; we are all so very fortunate to have had this extraordinary man in our lives for so long. The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the kind and courageous people of Douarnenez, France, without whom everything that happened in Don's life after August 5, 1944 (including all of us), would not have been possible. The family will receive friends at Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Funeral Home, Central Chapel, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa on Tuesday, September 2 from 4 to 6 p.m., and on Wednesday, September 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00, immediately followed by a celebration of Don's long and wonderful life. Following in the tradition of Don's enormous generosity and compassion, memorial donations to a charity of choice would be most appreciated.

33rd Maddick Britton Tournament- Greyhawk Saturday September 13, 2014

The 33rd annual edition of this golf competition has been set for Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the GreyHawk Golf Club, Talon course, east on 417 to 4999 Boundary Road (exit 96, turn left/north -1 km on right), followed by a buffet dinner at 7:30 PM. We hope that you will participate and help re-invigorate our annual competition between the Trade and the POLEC++ streams this year with stronger departmental participation.

The handsome silver trophy, donated by two trade commissioners: "Bubs" Britton and Mort Maddick, has been on display in the office of the political director for the last year - earned with their narrow 2013 win at Greensmere GC. Competition began in 1973, and the Trade Commissioners still have the edge with 18 victories. The trade captain is Bob Mason (his e-mail address is on the CC line); and, since I will be on a Turkish holiday in September, Craig Wilson will captain the political side. Please let Craig and Bob know if there are any other golfers in the three streams who should be invited and added to the distribution list, so we can encourage their participation.(.... We will be following up on further details and in-house DFAITD circulation ASAP; note the master list is divided in four, so you only see a quarter of the names).

One of our objectives this year, given the challenges faced by all golfers in our stressful digitized, smart phone age - beyond renewing old departmental friendships and with a thought to the usefulness of this diplomatic tool in foreign postings - is to encourage greater turnout from those still working. This year would be a good time to encourage participation from the recent additions on the development side, and also from younger, less experienced golfers interested to play a round in a less competitive atmosphere. Given the number of retirees playing Maddick-Britton each year, we are asking every one of you to reach out to encourage at least one former colleague still working to participate in this year's event. We are also looking at a charity challenge (putting, or beat the pro on a par 3) related to a donation to the United Way campaign, as well as the usual long drive and closest to the pin prizes - and duffers will be receiving free cartons of balls on course, to encourage more practice for next year! 

The Talon course is very open and relatively easy from the red and white tees. There will be a modified shotgun start at 1:30 PM - everyone departs in carts from the clubhouse at 1:15 PM - beverage service on course. A registration table will be set up at the Clubhouse entrance from 12:30, and you may go straight to the practice range on a shuttle with your clubs. GreyHawk is a Clublink course, with an excellent driving range and putting facility, free practice balls and tees are also complimentary; you may practice for as long as you like before tee-off. A shuttle takes you to the driving range, and brings you back to the Clubhouse for the 1:15 pm start. Carts will be lined up on the driveway roundabout, with group names and assigned starting hole on the cart sign. Marshals will lead carts to each starting hole on Talon. After the round, there are separate shower facilities in the Clubhouse, and the buffet will be available at 7:30 p.m. Spouses are always welcome for the meal afterwards.

The price for the golf, including cart, and buffet is $ 105.00 (includes all taxes and gratuities); for those who come only for the evening buffet, it is $ 35.00. 

With such a wide divergence of playing ability we need to set handicap levels so that matches are arranged with players of similar abilities. Competitors for Maddick-Britton, playing regularly at a club, should provide Craig their exact Handicap Index (e.g. 15.7). We will then be able to ascertain your handicap at GreyHawk; if you are a casual player, please provide Craig with an idea of your average score for 18 holes. This info is needed by September 6th - sand baggers will face their critics at dinner!

We look forward to seeing a strong contingent of current and former DFAITD colleagues in three and 1/2 weeks.

David Stockwell Bob Mason Craig Wilson

Randolph GHERSON: RIP

GHERSON, Randolph
After a brief battle, Randolph Gherson succumbed peacefully to cancer at the Ottawa Hospital on Saturday, June 28, 2014. His wife of 64 years, Joan (Slater), and daughter Diane and son Giles were at his bedside. Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1928, Randolph earned degrees in international relations at the London School of Economics and international law at the Academy of International Law in The Hague. He worked as the International Wheat Board economist in London and Rome before emigrating to Canada with Winnipeg-born Joan and their two children in 1958 to join the federal Department of Trade and Commerce. In a distinguished career capped by the Governor General's Medal for Meritorious Service to Canada, he was appointed as Canada's deputy and acting head of mission to the European Economic Community in Brussels (1968), economic minister-counsellor in Washington (1972), ambassador to the OECD in Paris (1980), Canada's chief air negotiator (1986) and Ambassador for Fisheries Conservation (1991). Known for his keen intellect, unwavering integrity, warm sense of humour and ever-present charm, Randolph lived his life deliberately, richly and well. He will be sorely missed by his family, including granddaughters Nicola and Pippa, grandsons Duncan and James (Barile), son-in-law Doug, and daughter-in-law Heather MacTaggart , as well as his many friends, former colleagues and his comrades at the Rideau Club, where he spent many happy and fulfilling hours over many years. Thanks to the kind medical team at Ottawa Hospital. A Memorial Service in celebration of his life will be held on July 19 at 2 p.m. at the Beechwood National Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, ON. Tributes may be sent via Lifetimes at www.beechwoodottawa.ca

Email: marlrigs@gmail.com