REGINA — We are happy to be back home in Regina, trying to retire once again, after five years at the Canadian High Commission in the United Kingdom (2021-2025). Our time there was an exceptional experience.
Neither of us had lived or worked for any extended period outside of Canada. But once we got the hang of the British way of doing things, every minute was fascinating and rewarding.
Canada’s diplomatic mission in the UK was our country’s first in the world, reaching back to 1869, and it’s now our second-largest, after only Washington.
The High Commissioner’s job, equivalent to “ambassador,” is to look after Canada’s relationship with the UK government and the British people in terms of public and foreign policy; trade and commerce; security, intelligence, law enforcement and defence matters; migration; academic, scientific and cultural affairs; consular issues — indeed, every dimension of bilateral activity.
In purely economic terms, the Canada-UK relationship is worth something approaching $600 billion in two-way investment and trade, and it is growing steadily — especially as Canada strives to diversify its economic connections far beyond North America.
But more importantly, the relationship is rooted in hundreds of years of lived experience with one another; the understanding, respect and trust that such a lengthy heritage engenders; and the shared values — freedom, democracy, human rights, human decency and the rule of law — that we have promoted and defended together in the world for a very long time.
Our sojourn in Britain happened to correspond with a particularly busy time in global affairs — the aftermath of COVID-19, the consequences of BREXIT, the evacuation from Afghanistan, Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, HM Queen Elizabeth II’s magnificent Platinum Jubilee, and then her sad death and historic State Funeral, and the accession and coronation of HM King Charles III.
There was also the horrific terror attack by Hamas on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, further destabilization in the Middle East, prolonged political turbulence in the UK that cycled through four different Prime Ministers, then the return of Donald Trump in the United States, and the rupturing of eight decades of international relationships around the world. Each of these developments (and more) generated issues to be tackled by our diplomatic team at Canada House at Trafalgar Square.
Our diplomatic duties took us frequently to official events at Westminster Abbey (where Canada has its own special seat in the Quire), but we also enjoyed occasional visits to historic St. Paul’s Cathedral, as well as Canterbury, Salisbury, York and Durham cathedrals, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on Trafalgar Square, St. George’s Church in Mayfair, St. George’s Royal Chapel at Windsor, Grosvenor Chapel, All Souls on Langham Place (right next to the BBC), All Hallows Church by the Tower (probably the oldest church in London), the Guards’ Chapel, St. Clement Danes Church (for the RAF), and Temple Church where the Magna Carta was negotiated.
Two blocks from Canada’s official residence in London, we were introduced to the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, which is the religious home of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of London, presided over by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski.
He is an ardent Saskatchewan Roughriders fan because he was born and raised in Hafford, Sask. We became great friends, especially around his work to support the distressed Ukrainian diaspora in the UK.
For the most part, on Sunday mornings, we attended St. James’s Church, wedged between Piccadilly on one side and Jermyn Street on the other. Its history stretches all the way back to the 1600s — St. James was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren.
The building was severely damaged during the Blitz, but was restored after the Second World War. The rector is currently the delightful Rev. Lucy Winkett, who presides over a very warm, open and inviting parish in central London. Their musical program is particularly inspiring.
One final note, on several official occasions (Remembrance Day, for example, or the Lady Mayoress’s Dinner), we were pleased to be in the company of the Bishop of London (now the first woman to be chosen Archbishop of Canterbury), the Right Rev. and Right Hon Dame Sarah Mullally. We wish her well!
Our time in London was a great adventure. Having the opportunity and responsibility to represent our country on the world stage is a distinct honour for which we will always be grateful.
Fulfilling that function in the United Kingdom is a special privilege because of Canada’s deep historic connections there. In this difficult and dangerous world, we need to carefully nurture our relationship with our oldest and closest allies, partners and friends.
Ralph Goodale was a long-time Member of Parliament from Regina. His wife, Pamela Kendel-Goodale, was an active member of St. Paul’s Cathedral before the couple moved to London. This article was first published in Cathedral Calling, the newsletter from St. Paul’s Cathedral.
