Government of Canada Names Two Special Ambassadors to Support Canada's Bid to Host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
OTTAWA, June 5, 2002 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced the appointments of Raymond Chan and Jacques Roy as special ambassadors in support of Canada's bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."Vancouver/Whistler is an ideal choice to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. That is why the Government of Canada is a strong supporter of Canada's Bid, in cooperation with the Province of British Columbia. This is a true team effort and we're in it to win," said Minister Copps.
The ambassadors will provide advice to the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation on international affairs and protocol. They will be available to help Team 2010 raise the visibility of Canada's Bid and provide strategic advice as the bid process unfolds.
"Supporting the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is an integral part of Canada's efforts to build capacity by supporting the development of young Canadian athletes and the sport system that sustains them. The investments made in Vancouver and Whistler will benefit all Canadian athletes and ensure that Canada is a major player on the world sport scene," said Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Paul DeVillers.
Mr. Chan served as Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), from 1993 to 2000. He was a member of three successful Team Canada trade missions to Asia. He also represented Canada at international fora such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) forum, Commonwealth Ministerial Action Groups (CMAG) and the United Nations (UN).
Mr. Roy has more than 40 years of experience in international relations, and has served with distinction as Canada's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the European Union and, most recently, the French Republic. He studied law at Laval University and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1959. He also studied international relations at the London School of Economics.
"Bidding for and hosting the 2010 Winter Games is a smart, value-added, return-on-investment project that's good for Vancouver, Whistler, BC and for Canada," said Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation Jack Poole. "Vancouver is bidding for the right to host the Games on behalf of Canada, with strong support from all levels of government."
The Government of Canada is a member partner of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation, in cooperation with the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
The IOC will select the Host City of the 2010 Games on July 2, 2003 at its session in
Prague, Czech Republic.
Information:
Kerry Edmonds
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
RAYMOND CHAN
Born in Hong Kong, Raymond Chan immigrated to Canada in 1969. He was first elected to the House of Commons on October 25, 1993, representing Richmond, British Columbia. He was subsequently appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as Canada's first Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific). A professional engineer, Mr. Chan worked at the TRIUMF Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, from 1977 to 1993. In 1989, he founded and chaired the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement. As President of Global Business Development Inc., Mr. Chan is helping Canadian and British Columbian clients to increase exports to China, Korea and Taiwan. He is a director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia; Chair of the Foundation's Chinese Community Council; Director of the B.C. Chapter of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC); and a member of the International Business Committee of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, the Brotherhood Interfaith Society named him Person of the Year. Mr. Chan received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia. He and his wife, Maureen, have a daughter, Christina, and son, Justun.
JACQUES ROY
Jacques Roy was born in Quebec and earned both a B.A. and LL.L from Laval University. He also studied international relations at the London School of Economics. He was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1959. Mr. Roy joined the Department of External Affairs in 1960. From 1970 to 1975, he served as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Canadian Mission to NATO. In 1978 and 1979, he was the Adviser to the Prime Minister on International Affairs. He was the director general of an economic bureau at the Department of External Affairs, from 1979 to 1981. Between 1981 and 2000, Mr. Roy occupied a number of high-level positions, including Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the European Union and, most recently, the French Republic. He is married to Sylvia Akerlind and is the father of three girls and one boy and step-father of two girls.
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