Monday, May 4, 2015

Maddick-Britton 2015

Date: Monday, June 29, 2015 from 1:00 p.m.; dinner tentatively at 7:30 p.m.  
$99.00 per player; dinner only $35.00 (taxes, gratuities included)
 
Includes:   18 holes of golf (1:30 pm shot-gun tee off), power cart, competition or group play for fun, prizes  pick your team! A relaxed outing at the beautiful Carleton Golf and Yacht Club, on the Rideau River south of Manotick.
 
Activities for the day: (sponsorships support activities, with funds to Rogers House).
 
1.  Food Drive: for the "Ottawa Food Bank"   Please bring non-perishable food items for the Ottawa Food Bank, receive 1 ticket for each item donated for a chance to win prizes.
 
2.  Closest to the Line: women & men.
 
3. Closest to the Pin: women & men.
 
4. Putting Challenge:  Hole #19 The practice green will host a putting challenge for some excellent prizes.  $5 for 5 putts; play as many times as you like.
 
5. 50/50 Draw$5 for 3 tickets; $10 for 7 tickets; $20 for an arms length.
 
Maddick-Britton 2015 - Things to remember:
MB handicaps will be set early in June; payment before June 20 via Interac transfer or cheque to MB2015 (procedure in the end-May update/on request) to confirm participation; payment at course on 29th possible (note risk of limited spaces); all non-competitive participants will have a fun day with challenges, free balls and no pressure.
 
We encourage a strong contingent of current and former DFATD colleagues to convene at the CG&YC in just two months to renew our 34 year-old MB tradition! Spouses are most welcome!! We are bringing a new format for broader participation and new sponsors, linked to a charity.  While at dinner you can cheer on your side in the traditional political (now with development) versus trade team competition. We will update you before the end of May to confirm activities, sponsors and charities, and to encourage early sign up; at which time we will seek details such as participation in the competition pool (& handicap) or just for fun.
 
We are counting on our retired MB dependables to reach out to still-working DFATD colleagues to encourage their participation, and we will follow up in-house in May to build participation from working personnel, including the new development staff.  We welcome suggestions of any names we should approach in the Department, or possible sponsors - please provide them to Craig Wilson at craigwilson74@yahoo.ca . Note:  If you can't attend, please let Craig know, so we remove your name from further messages until the results of the day are known.
 
 
David Stockwell                Doug Woods            Craig Wilson            Bob Mason

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

James Albert Holt: RIP

Jim passed away on March 10. Many of us knew him as a kind and knowledgeable ex-military pilot whose section in DFAIT -- military sales promotion -- was not made to feel completely at home. This Ottawa Citizen article tells of his battle with cancer, and with OHIP.

Article

Obit

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Leon Stryker: RIP


Colleague John Tennant advises that:

we recently lost a well-known Commercial Officer who served for many years in Melbourne, Australia, and has kept close ties with those of us who served in the post - now no longer - that was farthest from Ottawa.  Leon was present when the Office of the High Commissioner in Melbourne (pre Consulate General days) was among the first to fly the Canadian maple leaf in 1965  Leon was the identity of the office.  He made and sustained lasting relationships with all the surviving alumni from Melbourne. RIP.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Impact of Canadian Diplomatic Trade Offices Abroad


C D Howe study (early 2014) on the effect of trade offices -- announcement.

Report (pdf) is here.

Overview

With the federal government having prioritized “economic diplomacy” for overseas posts, along with a major budget consolidation, it is essential that Ottawa get the process right.

This E-Brief assesses the impact of Canada’s diplomatic representation abroad on exports. It concludes that economic diplomacy boosts exports – and quite significantly – and sheds light on the questions of where, why and how.

The main policy findings are that maintaining high-level diplomatic relations, through an embassy, has of itself a larger positive impact on exports than the deepening of relations via additional posts, and that the existence of a trade agreement with a destination market has a significant positive influence on Canadian exports to that market. The results suggest that there is a definite importance in the “G2G” (government-to-government) relationship as distinct from the role of government in providing “B2B” (business-to-business) trade facilitation.

Friday, March 13, 2015

David Laughton: RIP

David LAUGHTON Obituary

It is with sadness that we advise of the passing of David Benson Laughton on Monday, March 9, 2015. His family wishes to thank the staff and friends at the Rockcliffe Residence, Ottawa for their kindness, loving care and friendship over the past many years. Special thanks to Drs. Leclair, Mai, Thompson for their nurture and support. 
Dave is survived by his daughter Dionne Caldwell (Bill Welsh) of Ottawa, Ontario, his son Bruce Laughton (Sally) of Los Angeles, 5 grandchildren (Samantha, Chantal, Amanda, James and David) and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of over 60 years, Dorothy (Dee, nee Pearson) whom he met in London, England while with the Canadian Army during WWII. Dave continued to serve his country joining the Department of Trade & Commerce in 1949 following graduating from the University of British Columbia. His foreign postings included; Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, Seattle WA, Washington, D.C., and Columbia. Dave retired as Ambassador to Columbia & Ecuador, thereafter residing in Vancouver for several years before moving to Ottawa in 2007. David enjoyed a good game of bridge and cribbage as well as getting outdoors whenever he could. He particularly loved fly fishing, regardless of the results. Dave will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. A Celebration of Life dedication will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario would be appreciated. Condolences/Tributes/Donations:www.hpmcgarry.ca

Monday, February 23, 2015

Job with CUSO

For anyone so inclined, a temporary job in Ottawa, described here.

David Shearer: RIP

David William SHEARER

Obituary

SHEARER, David William
October 22, 1944 – February 19, 2015
David died peacefully at Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital, Thursday, February 19, 2015. He is survived by his best friend and loving wife Christina (Chris) Walker, his beloved daughter Kristina (Tina) Sheldon, his sisters Cathy Schipilow (Bill) and Jean Emerson (the late John), his aunt Marg McGee, his stepfather Ron Read and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be greatly missed by his sisters-in-law Mary Williams (Frank) and Judith Shuell (Tom), brother-in- law Paul Walker Jr. (Beverley), the Read and Blackburn families and his many wonderful friends. David was predeceased by his parents Douglas Shearer and Phyllis Shearer Read and his sister Wendy McNamara (Michael). Dave grew up in Ottawa and spent 31 years with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He was posted to various locations - Philadelphia, Los Angeles, London, England, Kingston, Jamaica, Detroit, Ottawa, and New York, making many life-long friends along the way. In 1999 David and Chris married, and he retired. They left New York in 2002 and eventually settled in Niagara-on-the-Lake. David loved this community and he soon became very involved, serving as a board member on the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Foundation and taking great pleasure in helping with the annual Christmas Parade. He was also part of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Cabinet, raising funds for the new St. Catharines Hospital. In 2007 he started a whole new career in real estate with Royal Lepage, and was proud to receive the Masters Sales award for 2013 and 2014. Dave was fun, thoughtful, charming, intelligent, rarely at a loss for words, and above all a true gentleman who will be sorely missed by family, friends and his 3 pussycats. David said so many times that he was lucky and thankful for their many caring friends. The family offers a special thank you to Dr. Janice Giesbrecht and her staff, the nurses at the Walker Cancer Centre and to Dr. Tim Bastedo and Dr. Andrew Smith from the Niagara-on- the-Lake Family Health Team. As David wished, there will be no funeral service, but a gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. Donations in David's memory to Music Niagara, c/o Chris Blake would be appreciated. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at
www.morganfuneral.com.
Published in The Ottawa Citizen on Feb. 23, 2015