High Commissioner of Canada talks Canada-SA relations ahead of #4Leaders4Change challenge
Being a diplomatic leader from the land that builds the world's best ice hockey players surely means that HE Sandra McCardell the Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa was no doubt born ready to handle the icy Nelson Mandela Bridge come July the 28th, 2016 at The Sun International CEO SleepOut™. Or is that really the case?
Canadian stereotypes including ice fishing, maple syrup and ice hockey and more things to do with ice, ice and more ice, more than likely mean that HE Sandra McCardell the Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa will be at home on that cold bridge in the portion that lies between Braamfontein and the Joburg CBD: “I’m looking forward to it! Canadians are used to the cold, so I’m going to put on my woolen cap, my gloves and I’m going to be good to go! I’m looking forward to it, it’s a great cause and actually, CEO Sleepout TM is something we have in Canada although actually it’s in summer for us, so South Africans really know how to do it the right way, you know the tough way.”
There are no doubt other ways in which South Africans and Canadians are quite similar: our trademark friendliness is something we're said to share with our friends up in the further North West of the world.
But what else would have drawn HE Ms McCardell to this cause?: “I think it’s really a testament to the business community in South Africa that there are actually so many people that are willing to contribute their time, contribute their money to address something as important as education.”
HE Ms McCardell has called on Switzerland's Ambassador to South Africa, HE Helene Budliger Artieda and MD of Ivanplats, Dr. Patricia Makhesha to Rise To The Challenge #4Leaders4Change
HE Ms McCardell joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1992.
Following an assignment in Egypt (1994), she was posted to the Embassy of Canada to Israel (1994-96). From 1998-2000, HE Ms McCardell was an Advisor to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord at the state level. She was subsequently Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Canada to Lebanon (2002-2003).
HE Ms McCardell was Ambassador to Libya (2009-2011) representing Canada both before and after the Libyan revolution.
In Ottawa, HE Ms McCardell has been Deputy Director of the East Adriatic Division, Director of the Executive Assignments Unit and Director of the Partnership Division of the Invest in Canada Bureau.
HE Ms McCardell was most recently the Canadian Ambassador to Morocco and Mauritania (2012-2015).
HE Ms McCardell has called on Switzerland's Ambassador to South Africa, HE Helene Budliger Artieda and MD of Ivanplats, Dr. Patricia Makhesha to Rise To The Challenge #4Leaders4Change