Ambassador of Canada to Russia; former Amb to Thailand, Cambodia & Laos, Deputy Amb to China; recovering archaeologist; views my own, RT is not endorsement.
Part of the Bio-Circular-Green approach at
#APECThailand2022
: recyclable cardboard chairs in the media rooms. Belle astuce aux réunions
#APEC2022
: chaises recyclables en carton à la conférence de presse.
#BCG
#NiceTouch
@MFAThai
!
Today, I joined thousands of Russians, and fellow ambassadors in honouring the memory of Alexei
#Navalny
as a voice for democracy in Russia. Blocked from entering the church, we laid flowers at the graveside. A sad loss.
In honour of my dear friend and colleague, the late Deborah Chatsis O.C., I wore her wonderful 🇨🇦dress to the gala dinner of the recent
#ASEAN
Regional Forum in Phnom Penh,
#Cambodia
.
#DebsTravelingDress
Most fun I’ve had at an airport in ages: welcoming the inaugural
@AirCanada
flight 065 direct from
#Vancouver
to
@suvarnabhumiair
! A full flight for the only direct flight between North America and Thailand.
Canada stands with
@ASEAN
as a steadfast partner. Today, PM Justin Trudeau concluded his participation in the ASEAN Summit, hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Learn more about the initiatives announced to strengthen Canada's partnership with the region:
Last week I was pleased to present copies of my letters of credentials at the Foreign Ministry, allowing me to begin working. Although our relations with
#Russia
are difficult, as
@melaniejoly
said, we cannot afford to close ourselves off from those with whom we disagree.
Covid shot
#5
(2+ 3 boosters) and I’m ready to travel & socialise! 🙏🏻 to Bangkok Institute of Dermatology for hosting a free clinic open to all, including foreigners.
#CovidIsNotOver
#VaccinesWork
@StephptaylorCLT
This is not only a ridiculous waste of time but also factually incorrect. Any married woman can choose to be called Ms, especially if she uses her own last name. In English, Mrs is only correct for a married woman who has taken her husband’s last name AND ASKS TO BE CALLED MRS.
Growing my grey out after a
#Covid
break in hair salon visits, so I can be one of those “distinguished silver-haired ambassadors”. No double standards, right?
#silversisters
@the_female_lead
I am shocked and deeply saddened by the deaths of so many, earlier today in Uthai Sawan. My heart aches especially for the families who lost their children. My deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragic incident.
I met with Khun Lertsak Kumkongsak, who’s threatened with death for campaigning against a mining project. No one should face threats of death or violence for their views or peaceful political actions. Environmental rights defenders
#MakeGoodTrouble
too.
@CanadaThailand
My thanks to DPM/Foreign Minister Don and colleagues at the Thai MFA for all your support over the past 3.5 years and for a warm farewell. Together we have advanced Thai-Canada relations in important ways! 🇹🇭🤝🇨🇦
Found our old apartment building where we lived '67-'68, first year of my father's posting
@CanadaRussia
. Like to think I have weathered the last 57 years rather better than it....
Managed to squeeze in a visit to the National Museum on my long-delayed trip to Phnom Penh. Spectacular sculptures and the earliest known written zero. Vaut le détour!
On home leave, I’m taking advantage of the many great hikes in
#Newfoundland
: Quidi Vidi, Mad Rocks, Butterpot Provincial Park — so many we didn’t even make it to the
#EastCoastTrail
.
I was honoured to attend the opening of Thailand’s next parliament by HM King Vajiralongkorn this afternoon, and to meet old friends and new amongst the senators and MPs.
The archaeologist in me should hate Ta Phrom (aka the Tree Temple) — it’s a conservation nightmare — and yet…and yet…how can you not ❤️ this place where nature and human effort do battle?/declare a truce?/exist in harmony?
Celebrating a green Canada Day, embassy staff and
@Thai_Canadian
members joined me and Governor Chadchart to plant 🌳in Suan Rotfai Park this morning. 🇨🇦🇹🇭❤️🌳
My sweetie took me out for a Chinese meal to celebrate my birthday tonight, complete with lucky cat dessert (yes this is edible!).
#WillYouStillFeedMe
#CatsofTwittter
As a fellow rat, I was delighted to meet Shamria recently in Siem Reap. She and her fellow giant African pouch rats are trained by
@HeroRATs
to detect landmines in
#Cambodia
and elsewhere.
#YearOfTheRat
#EndLandmines
🐀 🎖 💥
I was honoured to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn yesterday. We had a wide-ranging conversation, reflecting HRH’s many interests and areas of expertise, from epigraphy to agriculture, education to astronomy, photography to learning Mandarin.
@Dip_Passport
Being skipped over in a reception line, clearly on the assumption I’m the spouse of the male ambassador ahead of me. I have to block the host from moving on by sticking out my hand and saying “Hello, I’m the Canadian ambassador”
Today we invited
#Buddhist
monks to bless
@CanadaThailand
after 25 years in this location, and to make merit for a recently-deceased and sorely missed colleague. Sorrow, solidarity & good
#Karma
all in one morning.
Saying goodbye to our powerful group of women ambassadors in
#Bangkok
— I will miss the friendship, solidarity and fun! Merci mes chères consoeurs. Ce n’est pas un adieu, mais un au revoir!
#SheLeadsHere
#WomenInDiplomacy
Thanks
@NomadThailand
for a boat tour of Thonburi’s charming klongs with fellow ambassadors— farewell to
#Bangkok
and merit-making in the same journey! 🙏🏻🐟💦🚤❤️🇹🇭
Today, I joined colleagues from the Foreign Ministry and the diplomatic corps in remembering the victims of the attack on
#CrocusCityHall
. My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this senseless act of terrorist violence.
Delighted to meet my new Swiss colleague here in Bangkok and share views on working in and with Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. 🤝🇨🇦🇨🇭🇹🇭🇱🇦🇰🇭🤝 Welcome to the neighbourhood!
@FCCThai
has definitely got its mojo back post-Covid: appearances by 🇦🇺 Foreign Minister
@SenatorWong
and
@MFAThai
Permanent Secretary Thani in the same week! Thanks for all the food for
#ForeignPolicy
thought.
Wishing a Merry Christmas to all those celebrating it, and peace on earth in 2024. Je souhaite un joyeux Noël à tout ceux qui célèbre la fête, et paix sur terre pour toute l'humanité en 2024. с Новым Годом!
My happy place: exploring the past at the
#Moscow
Museum of Archaeology -- a unique underground museum built around a now-buried 18th century bridge. Musée archéologique de Moscou - vaut le detour (sous terre)!
How are relations between Canadian and Russian officials in Moscow?
@sarahjhtaylor
says it’s “quite limited” and “we're not unfriendly, we're just waiting for them to change their policy.”
#cdnpoli
More:
One last
#Archaeology
stop on our trip to
#Isaan
— the spectacular Phu Phrabat in Udon Thani province. Legend has it this is the tower of Nang Usa, Thailand’s version of Rapunzel.
Can’t think of a better way to end my time in Bangkok than
@Thai_Canadian
’s annual
#WomenInLeadership
panel — great speakers, inspiring stories and such positive energy in the room!
It was my honour to host Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai last night to launch our celebration of 60 years of Thai-Canada relations. 🇨🇦❤️🇹🇭🥂
@CanadaThailand
@EyesAbroad
And we are wheels-up from Cambodia!Over to you
@NadiaBCanada
as
@CanadianPM
& delegation head to the G20 in Bali. Au revoir
@PMcanadien
et à bientôt à Bangkok pour le Sommet de l’APEC. 👋🏻🙏🏻🇰🇭
Recently visited Samara, the war-time "back-up" capital when the Nazis neared Moscow, where Canada established our first diplomatic mission to the
#USSR
1941-1943 under distinguished diplomat L. Dana Wilgress.
Did you know the new (30 year old) Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai is made of
#BC
jade? Finding more 🇨🇦 in 🇹🇭!
#Thailand
#ALittleBitOfCanada
I am sad to be leaving the region, but confident that Lao-Canada relations will continue to flourish, as we look towards our 50th anniversary in 2024! 🇨🇦❤️🇱🇦
Delighted that Ambassador
@sarahjhtaylor
had such a rich and substantive discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay on Canada-Lao relations, our expanding bilateral relationship, our growing office here in Vientiane, and on our support to Laos
A bittersweet moment today for our women Ambassadors group - farewell to one colleague but welcome to two more. At 15 out of 85+ ambassadors accredited to 🇹🇭 we are a small but mighty group.
#NotJustAMansJob
@SwissAmbTHA
@Rodsmo
@SibilleCartier
Thanks Governor Chadchart for meeting to discuss how Canada can cooperate with the Bangkok Municipal Authority to clean up klongs & waste-water, monitor air quality and show 🇨🇦 movies in the park!
Sad to be saying goodbye to the historic Kekushev house, model for Margerita's house in
#Bulgakov
's The Master and Margerita. Watch this space for a new Canadian ambassador's residence in Moscow -- coming soon I hope!
Delighted to welcome CAE’s first flight training centre in Thailand — and to take off and land (virtually) at Suvarnabhumi airport! (No I didn’t crash 😅)
#FlyingAmbassador
@CBCTheHouse
@sarahjhtaylor
excellent interview explains Canada's relation with Russia of "limited engagement" and notes strong impact of Russian propaganda inside country and in third countries
A must-read article from Michael Kovrig that sets the record straight on his work in China and his arbitrary detention there:
China’s abductions of foreign nationals should carry costs and consequences
Canada is an international education superpower! 250 representatives of 🇨🇦 institutions are at
#APAIE2023in
Bangkok— the biggest national delegation! Delighted to meet them and partners at the 🇨🇦 reception earlier this week.