April 9, 2010
Canadian Delegates to Accompany Governor General on State Visits to Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda and on Official Visit to Cape Verde
OTTAWA — On the State visits to Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda and the official visit to Cape Verde, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will be accompanied by nine Canadian delegates who will actively participate in meetings and discussions with Senegalese, Congolese, Rwandan and Cape Verdean civil society.
The delegates come from a variety of backgrounds—such as international and economic development and cooperation, trade, status of women, journalism, the arts, culture and youth—and will meet with their counterparts to share their knowledge and expertise. This will be an opportunity for both sides to increase relations between Canadians and civil society in the host countries through discussions and networking.
Internet users will be invited to read the blogs of the Canadian delegates and the Governor General on these visits on www.citizenvoices.gg.ca.
Listed below are the members of the accompanying delegation:
ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION
Yvan Asselin
Media management consultant
Lucien Bradet
President and CEO, Canadian Council on Africa (CCAfrica)
David Diamond
Artistic Director, Headlines Theatre
Kanika Gupta
Founder and Director of Nukoko and Youth activist
Louise Otis
Lawyer and mediator
Christiane Pelchat
President, Conseil du statut de la femme du Québec
Patricia Perez
Multidisciplinary artist and mediator
Ben Peterson
Co-Founder and Executive Director, jhr (Journalists for Human Rights)
Jean-Claude Thouin
Project Manager, Health Development
Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement (CCISD)
The State visit to the Republic of Senegal will take place April 14 to 17, the State visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congowill take place April 18 to 20,and the State visit to the Republic of Rwanda will take place April 21 and 22. The official visit to the Republic of Cape Verde will take place April 23 to 24.
Members of the public can follow the visits through the speeches and photos that will be available online daily at www.gg.ca.
