Dear members,
Happy June, and happy National Indigenous People’s History Month. Though it’s only been three weeks, it feels like ages since my last message to you. A lot has happened since then, so let me get right into it and catch you up on a number of items.
PAFSO 60 and the Diamond Jubilee Award
After five years of hiatus, PAFSO hosted its first large scale gala event, PAFSO 60, this past Wednesday. Close to 200 people gathered in the Great Hall at the National Gallery of Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of PAFSO and to celebrate six decades of defending and promoting Canada’s professional Foreign Service. Attendees included several friends and colleagues, as well as ADMs, DMs, and two ministers – Minister Caroline Desrochers from Trois Rivières, and Shadow Minister for Treasury Board, Stephanie Kusie.
But the evening was not just a celebration of the PAFSO’s past, but also of our present. And this, of course, was best reflected in the presentation of the prestigious PAFSO 60 Diamond Jubilee Award. Long-time PAFSO friend, Norman Baillee-David presided over the ceremony, recounting the many accomplishments of the seven nominees. Hearing the stories of their incredible dedication and commitment to serving Canada and Candians makes me so proud to be part of this profession and to lead this association.
In the end, the panel of judges selected Janine Cocker, International Assistance Program Manager at Canada’s High Commission in Nairobi, as the recipient of the PAFSO 60 Diamond Jubilee Award. Since 2003, Janine has consistently demonstrated, initiative, creativity, adaptability, dedication and the ability to inspire those around her. She is a skilled communicator who demonstrates respect for differences, identifies opportunities, and fosters meaningful partnerships to advance Canada’s interests. She has worked in very challenging contexts, such as advancing gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and LGBTQI+ rights in more traditional societies like Kenya and Somalia. My heartfelt congratulations go out to Janine. You can read more about her and her accomplishments here on our website.
Overall, the evening was a resounding success, and I would like to thank Events Committee Chair, Allison Poff, as well as Marty Johnston, Geneviève Frappier and the rest of the PAFSO staff who worked so hard to make it happen. I was very pleased to see so many people turn out for our special evening and look forward to the next time we get the chance to get together.
My thoughts on the Throne Speech
As you know, last Tuesday was the opening of the first session of the 45th Parliament and featured the Speech from the Throne, delivered by King Charles III.
Once again, we heard a great deal about Canadian sovereignty and new roles for Canada on the world stage. In the King’s words, this moment in time is “… an opportunity for renewal. An opportunity to think big and to act bigger.” The commitment to building new relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world is yet another clear signal that the Foreign Service is set to play a central role in this government’s vision for the country.
And, while this is very good news, we’re still waiting for more concrete details as to where investments will be made and how it will all play out. Further tempering all this positive news was the mention of a new fiscal discipline, balancing budgets and “capping the public service.” All this to say that we are still hopeful that the value this government places on the Foreign Service will translate into real investments and meaningful, positive change. But exactly how this will unfold remains to be seen.
We’re hiring: Labour Relations Team Leader
The PAFSO team is looking to add a proactive and autonomous individual to serve as the lead for our Labour Relations Team. The ideal candidate is a post-secondary graduate in labour relations, political science, social sciences, law, or equivalent work experience. They will have also be well acquainted with the processes of negotiations and adjudication. Also important is their ability to inspire, motivate and lead the PAFSO Labour Relations Team. As part of our efforts to foster a workforce representative of the diverse FS community, we particularly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, people living with disabilities, persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. If you know anyone who would be a good candidate for this position, please pass along this job posting, and feel free to share it on your social and professional networks. The deadline for applications is Monday, June 16 at 4pm, Ottawa time.
Employment equity in the Public Service
Last week, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat released its latest report on employment equity in the public service for 2023–24. Overall, the results look positive. Employment equity representation for women, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with disabilities and members of visible minorities has been improving. In fact, as of March 2024, 70.6% of the core public administration belonged to one or more of these employment equity groups. But more work needs to be done to further identify, understand and eliminate the systemic barriers to inclusion faced by these designated groups. The full report can be found here. It may be a little long, but it’s certainly a worthwhile read.
PAFSO also believes that having a truly diverse and inclusive culture begins with having a public service that reflects the population it serves. Our own Diversity and Inclusion Committee is working to foster a diverse and engaged Foreign Service officer cadre that is representative of Canada and its intersectional complexities. The committee, chaired by Michael Creighton, is working on issues such as improving knowledge and awareness, identifying ways to engage with members, and supporting career advancement. If you are interested in making the Foreign Service a more diverse and welcoming environment, please reach out to Michael via info@pafso.com for more information on the Committee and its goals.
Free screening of A Shining Light: A Vietnamese–Canadian Legacy
PAFSO is proud to sponsor the premiere screening of Robbie Hart’s latest documentary film at the ByTowne Cinema on Thursday June 19 at 7 p.m. “A Shining Light” is an extraordinary mother-daughter story spanning an escape from war-torn Vietnam, a birth on a sinking ship, a heroic rescue at sea to a new life in Canada. Tickets are free, but you are requested to register via this Eventbrite link.
June 11 PAFSO Breakfast: Neil Cochrane, author of Beyond Numbers
Our next PAFSO Virtual Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at 900. Join me then for a talk with former PAFSO member Neil Cochrane on his new book, Beyond Numbers: Stories from an Immigration Insider. Please register here for what promises to be an interesting discussion about a fascinating career. If you’re in Ottawa, you can find Neil’s book at Pebble Books on Main Street, Books on Beachwood and Indigo South Keys. It is also available online through Amazon and Indigo. For more about Neil and the project, you can check out his Facebook page.
Two upcoming events for our International Assistance stream colleagues
On Monday June 16, your PAFSO International Assistance stream representatives will be bringing together members of the development community to consult with colleagues and discuss common challenges. Two virtual sessions have been organized.
Session 1: 16 June, 12:00 to 13:00, online via this Zoom link.
Session 2: 16 June, 06:00 to 07:00 UTC (for colleagues working or residing in East Africa, the Middle East and Indo-Pacific). To register for this session please click this link.
For any other questions, you can reach Michael Creighton and Trish Chang via our office at info@pafso.com.
Sad passings of Lukas Gudinskas and Stephan Hesse
I was very saddened to learn of the passing of PAFSO member and colleague Lukas Gudinskas on 14 May 2025. I first crossed paths with him on the Afghanistan file in the mid 2000s and remember him as an exceptionally dynamic and dedicated officer. Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. Please see the obituary linked here for more information.
We also learned last month of the loss of long-serving Immigration member, Stephan Hesse. Although I did not know Stephan personally, I was very moved to hear how warmly he is remembered by many of his colleagues. We will share obituary information for Stephan when we have it.
AmbCanada–PAFSO Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship in International Affairs
And, finally, in the spirit of National Indigenous History Month, I just want to remind you about the Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship established a few years ago by PAFSO and our friends at AmbCanada. This scholarship is an important initiative to help ensure that Indigenous Peoples are properly represented in Canada’s Foreign Service. You can learn more about the scholarship, or make a contribution here on the Carleton University website.
That’s it for this week’s message. We’ll chat again in two weeks.
In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to us if you are having any concerns at work. Are you having issues with your pay? Do you feel harassed or discriminated against? Do you have a grievance or a staffing complaint? Or do you just want some clarifications on our collective agreement or the FSDs? Whatever the case, PAFSO is here for you. Just send us an email with your name, department and a detailed description of your concerns. For anything and everything else, please send us an email at info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
My next message to you will be on June 20. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
All the best,
Pam Isfeld
President
@PafsoPresApase