Diplomacy, Political Agenda and Community Leadership
TORONTO – The life of a diplomat cannot be easy. They have too many masters: Minister of Foreign Affairs, host country political infrastructure, expats that may need services, home country provincial business interests that constantly look for (and expect) support for their export needs… the list goes on but it includes above all nurturing the image and whatever rights expats enjoy as they transition into a new identity.
Did I add that they can expect NO sympathy when they “run afoul” of the sensitive egos local who fancy themselves important. Some are genuinely so, while others by their presence hope to leverage momentary advantage. Tuesday night, at an upper tier restaurant on College St., DaNico, the new General Counsel Andrea Bertozzi and his wife, Kristina Zubayulaeva hosted some elements of the Toronto Italian Canadian Leadership as a welcoming gesture to all and introduction to the new Consulate Generalship. It was a laudable effort.
The ambiance was first class. The “stuzzichini” and service were, as befits a Michelin grade restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine, “up to snuff” and more. It was an event that spoke to the elevated high level tenor of the aspirations of emerging Italy- Canada relationships as Canada, more specifically turns its eyes towards Europe to compensate for shortfalls and erosions in our Continental North American political and trade relations.
The presence of several Members of the Canadian Parliament, the Legislature at Queen’s Park, and the consular officials from other European nations added to the impression that the Bertozzi team “hit the ground running”. The unobtrusive presence of Ambassador Alessandro Cattaneo, who took a couple of hours away from his preparations for the Canada-EU Convention on Commercial relations (see page 3 in the today’s paper), reminded everyone that this administration is determined to put national interests at the service of growth for and through the Italian Canadian community. May it be so.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (photos: Corriere Canadese)
