Embassy of Canada in Paris
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Embassy in France is the main diplomatic mission
of Canada
to France
. It is located at 35 avenue Montaigne
, in the 8th arrondissement. The ambassador resides at 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Paris is also home to Canada's permanent delegations to UNESCO
and the OECD, which are housed separately, and the Quebec government's delegation, which is also in a separate building.
as a "foreign" country).
The history of Canada's presence in Paris goes back to 1882 and was actually started by the action of the province of Quebec
. The provincial government appointed Hector Fabre
, a former journalist and senator be its representative in France. The federal government took advantage of this presence to name him Canada's "agent" and later "commissioner" in France, although he held no diplomatic rank
or status. Fabre was theoretically supposed to report to the Canadian High Commission in London, but in practise had little oversight.
In 1911 Philippe Roy
became Canada's, and Quebec's "commissioner general" in France, by the appointment of the Laurier Liberals. The incoming Tory government disapproved of the potential conflicts-of-interest that could result from his serving both roles, and he resigned from the Quebec position. In 1914 as most of the foreign representatives in Paris evacuated because of the threatening German Army, Roy remained in Paris.
By January 1928 the Canadian office in Paris had been promoted to a formal legation
, and Roy became "minister" to France, presenting his credentials on September 19, 1928, but still under the British ambassador.
During the Second World War, after the Fall of France in 1940, Canada's minister in Paris, Georges Vanier
, fled to London. Canada did not send a representative to the Vichy regime but still technically maintained relations, allowing Vanier to return to visit France several times. Once Canada shifted recognition to the Free French under Charles de Gaulle
, Vanier dealt with them in London.
After the liberation of France, the legation became an embassy and Vanier became Canada's first ambassador in 1944.
The embassy is one of Canada's largest missions in Europe with about 60 Canada-based diplomats and 170 locally employed staff working at the chancery, the Canadian Cultural Centre, 5 rue de Constantine, and the ambassador's official residence, 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is located at 35 avenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne is a street in the 8th arrondisement of Paris, France-Name origin:Avenue Montaigne was originally called the allée des Veuves because women in mourning gathered there, but the street has changed much since those days of the early 18th century. The current name comes from Michel...
, in the 8th arrondissement. The ambassador resides at 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Paris is also home to Canada's permanent delegations to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the OECD, which are housed separately, and the Quebec government's delegation, which is also in a separate building.
History
The embassy is the oldest "foreign" posting in the Canadian foreign service (in its early history the Canadian government did not view the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a "foreign" country).
The history of Canada's presence in Paris goes back to 1882 and was actually started by the action of the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The provincial government appointed Hector Fabre
Hector Fabre
Louis-Roch-Hector Fabre was a French Canadian lawyer, journalist, diplomat, and senator.He was appointed to the Canadian Senate on 5 February 1875 on the recommendation of Alexander Mackenzie...
, a former journalist and senator be its representative in France. The federal government took advantage of this presence to name him Canada's "agent" and later "commissioner" in France, although he held no diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
or status. Fabre was theoretically supposed to report to the Canadian High Commission in London, but in practise had little oversight.
In 1911 Philippe Roy
Philippe Roy
Philippe Roy, was a Canadian physician, politician, and diplomat.In 1906, he was called to the Canadian Senate representing the senatorial government division of Edmonton, Alberta. A Liberal, he resigned in 1911. From 1911 to 1928, he was Canada's commissioner general in France...
became Canada's, and Quebec's "commissioner general" in France, by the appointment of the Laurier Liberals. The incoming Tory government disapproved of the potential conflicts-of-interest that could result from his serving both roles, and he resigned from the Quebec position. In 1914 as most of the foreign representatives in Paris evacuated because of the threatening German Army, Roy remained in Paris.
By January 1928 the Canadian office in Paris had been promoted to a formal legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
, and Roy became "minister" to France, presenting his credentials on September 19, 1928, but still under the British ambassador.
During the Second World War, after the Fall of France in 1940, Canada's minister in Paris, Georges Vanier
Georges Vanier
Major-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
, fled to London. Canada did not send a representative to the Vichy regime but still technically maintained relations, allowing Vanier to return to visit France several times. Once Canada shifted recognition to the Free French under Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, Vanier dealt with them in London.
After the liberation of France, the legation became an embassy and Vanier became Canada's first ambassador in 1944.
The embassy is one of Canada's largest missions in Europe with about 60 Canada-based diplomats and 170 locally employed staff working at the chancery, the Canadian Cultural Centre, 5 rue de Constantine, and the ambassador's official residence, 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.