NEWS RELEASES
FOREIGN POLICY AND CONSULAR EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS AWARD CEREMONY
May 2, 2003 (9:30 a.m. EDT) No. 45
FOREIGN POLICY AND CONSULAR EXCELLENCE
RECOGNIZED AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS AWARD CEREMONY
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today presented the 11th annual Foreign Policy and Consular Excellence Awards at a
ceremony at the Lester B. Pearson Building in Ottawa. Eight team and individual awards were presented to a total of 14
recipients.
"This department has thousands of employees in Ottawa and around the world whose professional dedication supports
Canada's excellent international reputation," said Mr. Graham. "This award ceremony is an opportunity to highlight some
of their most impressive achievements."
The Award for Foreign Policy Excellence was given to Adèle Dion for her outstanding contributions in the area of human
rights, humanitarian affairs and international women's equality. Prior to assuming her current role as the Canadian
Ambassador to Finland, Ms. Dion spent more than nine years helping to place Canada as an internationally recognized
leader on these issues through both her personal and professional commitment.
The Consular Excellence Award was presented to seven employees from the consular team in Jakarta for outstanding work
in responding to the bombing of a Bali night club on October 12, 2002. They were recognized for their tireless support for
Canadians in the region during the two weeks following the tragedy. In addition to locating missing Canadians, they
provided round-the-clock support to the Canadian bomb victim who was flown to Australia for treatment, along with his
family.
Citations for foreign policy excellence were given to: an employee of Canada's embassy in Guatemala who demonstrated
both creativity and courage in her efforts to promote human rights and good governance for the people of that country; an
Ottawa-based officer who developed a series of innovative initiatives to advance Canada-U.S. relations; and an employee
whose work and expertise on the Sri Lankan peace process led to Canada's federal model being chosen as the example that
Sri Lanka would follow in building a stable, diversified country.
Consular excellence citations went to: an employee of the Canadian embassy in Bogota for unwavering commitment to the
release of two kidnapped Canadian helicopter pilots, despite the significant personal risk the work entailed; a local
employee of the Canadian embassy in Moscow who has continued to surpass all standards in delivering services to
Canadians for the past 37 years; and Canada's honorary consul in Puerto Vallarta, who played a pivotal role in informing
and assisting Canadian travellers through two recent natural disasters in the area.
This year's recipients were chosen from 18 nominations received from Headquarters and Canadian diplomatic missions
abroad. A departmental selection committee chaired by Gaëtan Lavertu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, chose the
winners.
The Foreign Policy and Consular Excellence Awards recognize outstanding individual or collective contributions to
Canada, Canadians and Canadian foreign policy, and extraordinary consular service to Canadians at home and abroad.
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The list of recipients is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Savard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
LIST OF WINNERS
Minister's Award for Foreign Policy Excellence:
Adèle Dion (Canadian embassy in Helsinki)
Citations for Foreign Policy Excellence:
Ginette Martin (Canadian embassy in Guatemala)
Kevin O'Shea (United States General Relations Division)
Glen Hodgins (South Asia Division)
Minister's Award for Consular Excellence:
Consular Team in Jakarta: Cindy McAlpine; Endang (Ayu) Kunmaryanto; Cindy Bintang; Margaret Joseph; Angerah (Uci)
Rusda; Dianne Billings (from the Canadian High Commission in Canberra); and Sean Robertson
Citations for Consular Excellence:
Pierre Beaudoin (Canadian embassy in Bogota)
Svetlana Bykova (Canadian embassy in Moscow)
Lyne Benoit (Consulate of Canada in Puerto Vallarta)
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