Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada, John Baird today announced the diplomatic appointment of Ms. Paula Caldwell St-Onge as new ambassador to the Republic of Haiti.

Ms. Caldwell St-Onge began her career in the Public Service with the Federal Environmental Assessment Agency in 1989. She held progressively senior positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Privy Council Office and Environment Canada. These included Program Manager, Senior Advisor, Senior Communications Officer, Director and Director General respectively. She has also been the recipient of the Head of the Public Service Award (Excellence in Policy) and has served on two international boards on environmental enforcement. Prior to the Public Service she helped Central American refugees integrate into Canada and headed an endangered species program for turtles in the Caribbean.

Before being appointed in Haiti, she was Consul General of Canada to the South Central United States in the summer of 2010. She was Minister Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City from 2008 to 2010. She served as Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 2005 to 2008. Formerly, Ms. Caldwell St-Onge was Director General of National Programs (Enforcement, Emergencies/Security and Environmental Assessments) at Environment Canada.

Ms. Caldwell St-Onge was born in Colombia. She received a Bachelors degree (Honours) in Sciences at Queen's University and speaks English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. She is married to Daniel St-Onge and they have one daughter.

Ms. Caldwell St-Onge replaces Henri-Paul Normandin.

HL/ HaitiLibre