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PAFSO Awards
LYNN LAWLESS
LYNN LAWLESS
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I think my initial reaction when I was told that I had been selected for one of this year’s PAFSO awards was "What did I do?" followed by, "If I have to give a speech, what am I supposed to say?"
Colleagues advised that I should speak about my career and about the value and benefits of a Foreign Service career. When I finally turned my mind to the issue of reflecting on my career, I thought back to when I applied in the Foreign Service competition, in October 1990.
I know there are a number of FSDPs here tonight, and in particular I would like to address my comments to them.
I knew very little about what a Foreign Service career involved, but the Competition poster promised "a distinctive lifestyle that offers travel, challenge, responsibility, and the opportunity to manage and develop Canada's relations with other countries around the world".
At the time, I was completing my masters degree in Cultural Anthropology and I had a keen interest in working with refugee groups, so the Social Affairs or Immigration area was a clear choice for me. Still not entirely sure of what I was getting myself into, I went ahead with the application and in August 1992 I was moving with my husband and two young children to Ottawa in order to begin my training.
Following my period of training, I was packing up with my family again for my first overseas assignment to Guatemala. Through my work there I had the opportunity to meet and talk to people from all parts of the society and to see the initial stages of the peace process be implemented.
Whether assessing people in need of protection, facilitating business travel, conducting research with local NGOs on the evolving human rights situations, providing follow up on specific cases for domestic CIC offices or the IRB, or training local authorities on fraudulent document detection; I was always keenly aware that the work we were doing was linked to work being done by the political, trade and aid programs and that together we were making a difference, both for individuals and for the region as a whole.
My next assignment was to Santiago, Chile. I arrived in Santiago immediately following the large scale irregular migration movement of Chileans to Canada and the resulting visa imposition.
As the first permanent visa officer assigned following re-imposition of the visa requirement and at the time when we had just signed the free trade agreement with Chile, the challenge I had in managing the visa program was to promote and facilitate business travel while at the same time limiting irregular migration.
Also, during my assignment I had the fascinating opportunity to conduct extensive research into past crimes against humanity in support of our refugee and war crimes program.
En août 2001 j’ai retourné avec ma famille à Ottawa et j’ai pris une position dans la Division de Renseignement et Interdiction. A la suite du 11 septembre 2001 l'allure d'activité de renseignement et d’interdiction s’est intensifiée significativement.
In my Division, we progressed research and policy work to remove the visa exemption on 10 countries that posed concerns for irregular migration and security. As well, in co-operation with my colleagues from CIC International Region, we refocused our overseas network of Migration Integrity Officers to provide more emphasis on intelligence reporting and fraud to complement the ongoing work of interdiction of irregular migration abroad.
I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with a broad range of international partners both bilaterally and multilaterally on the issue of irregular migration and document fraud. Through this work I’ve travelled to all corners of the world, advocating Canadian interests and a more intelligence based approach.
In December 2003, the Intelligence Branch was transferred to the Canada Border Services Agency and while the Agency is still a work in progress, we began working forward quickly to form a rational and efficient organisation that will maximise the benefits of an integrated intelligence capacity both overseas and in Canada, to enhance the security of Canada and North America. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute to these developments which I believe will have long-standing benefits to Canadian society.
My career has been a challenging and rewarding journey that my family has also shared in. My husband David, who is with me tonight, as well as our two children, David and Katelynn, have been with me and supported me at every step, for which I am extremely grateful.
Mon mari a accepté les défis d'avoir une conjointe avec une carrière rotative, faisant face aux frustrations et l'instabilité d'emplois changeants toutes les deux ou trois années.
De la même façon mes enfants ont grandi devant partir laissant derrière des amis et des choses familières. Et nous avons tous affronté les défis de s’adapter à de nouvelles sociétés et le stress des menaces potentielles à notre sécurité personnelle.
At the same time we, as a family, have lived some very memorable experiences:
Shopping in indigenous markets and visiting Mayan ruins in Guatemala as well as camping in the Andes and white water rafting in the Maipo river valley of Chile.
And of course all of the friends we have made along the way.
One of our initial worries in embarking on a Foreign Service career was the potential impact on our children however, I can say that as a result of my work, my children, now teenagers have friends on every continent of the world with whom they regularly internet chat, and through their friendships and experiences they have developed a strong international perspective. Perhaps not surprisingly, they have also developed a deep appreciation for Canada and Canadian society.
During the course of my career, I have had the pleasure of working with many highly committed and professional colleagues both in Canada and at our missions abroad. I must say that I am particularly honoured to have been nominated for this prestigious award by some of the very same senior managers, colleagues and staff whom I hold in the highest regard. I would like to thank them all and most especially my staff, for their kind words in nominating me.
I would also like to thank my colleagues from CBSA, CIC and Foreign Affairs, who have come here tonight to share in this occasion with me, including Ms. Barbara Hébert, the Vice President of Operations for CBSA.
Taking stock of my career to date, I can say without reservation that it has been all that it promised to be and more.
"A distinctive lifestyle" Yes
"Travel" - Yes
"Challenge" - Absolutely
"Responsibility" - Yes
"The opportunity to manage and develop Canada's relations with other countries around the world" - Without a doubt
While the challenges of a Foreign Service career are many, so are the rewards.
12 years as an Immigration Foreign Service officer have passed incredibly quickly.
I have experienced more diversity in my career thus far than most people will experience in a lifetime.
At the same time, I have the satisfaction of knowing that the work that my colleagues and I do, both in Canada and at missions abroad, does make a positive difference in the world, for Canada and for Canadians.
Thank-you/ Merci
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