Canadians diplomats seek to promote and defend Canadian values and
interests around the world. Representing a country which values international
order, and therefore the UN, many Canadian diplomats have made a significant
contribution- to the development and advancement of the United Nations
and its ideals.
A middle power with a non-colonialist past, Canada is a friend to both
small and large powers. It has used this position to play an important
and leading role in the UN. These contributions have in turn benefited
Canada, the UN and the world. The following list high-lights a number
of prominent individuals who have made a significant difference to the
evolution of the organization.
The United Nations has benefited from the experience and skill of the
many Canadians who have served their country and the international systems
as Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York. While
each of them displayed a unique style and various skills to promote
and constructively deal with important issues before the UN.
Canada has been honoured with five terms on the Security Council (1948-49),
1958-59,1967-68,1977-78,1989-90). Due to the nature of the Security
Council, several Canadian Ambassadors to the UN were called upon to
fulfill further obligations. The following chronological list includes
the individuals who have dutifully served Canada and the UN ad Canadian
Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations (in
New York).
| General Andrew McNaughton
(January 1948 - December 1949) |
|
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John W. Holmes (January 1950 - June 1950)
|
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| R.G.Riddell (June 1950- June
1951) |
|
| David M. Johnson (November
1951- August 1955) |
|
| R.A.Mackay (August 1955-
November 1957) |
|
| Charles S. A. Ritchie (January
1958--February 1962) |
|
| Pierre Tremblay (July 1962--June
1966) |
|
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George Ignatieff (July 1966-- February
1969) |
|
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Yvon Beaulne (February 1069--June 1972)
|
|
| Saul F. Rae (July 1972--July
1976) |
|
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William H. Barton (August 1976-- April
1980) |
|
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Michel Dupuy (April 1980--1981) |
|
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Gérard Pelletier (May 1981 - August
1984) |
|
| Stephen Lewis (August 1984--
August 1988) |
|
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Yves Fortier (August 1988--December 1991)
|
|
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Louise Fréchette (January 1992--December
1994) |
|
| Robert Fowler (January 1992--) |
|
| Canada’s diplomatic contribution to the UN
has mot been limited to Ambassadors to the organization. Many other
diplomats have contributed to many areas of the organization. While
it would be impossible to list all of the diplomats who have enhanced
the role that Canada has played in the UN, the following list includes
a few such people. |
| Geoffrey Murray: Career diplomat
who served with distinctions as Head of the bureau of UN Affairs
in Ottawa in the 1950s. |
|
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Geoffrey Pearson: Director-General for
the Bureau of UN Affairs in Ottawa From 1975 to 1978. He is currently
actively involved in the work of the UN Association in Canada (UNA-Canada). |
|
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Escott Reid: Leading member of the Canadian
delegation at the San Francisco Conference, where the Charter of
the United Nations was drafted, and at the Preparatory Commission
meetings that followed. He subsequently worked, among other diplomatic
postings, with the World Bank. |
|
 |
Douglas Roche: Delegate to
the UN General Assembly. Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament at
the UN ( 1984--89). Chairman of the first committee of the 43rd
UN General Assembly dealing with peace and security. Also served
as President of UNA- Canada and Chair of the Canadian Committee
for the 50th Anniversary of the UN. |
