Joseph Caron
Encyclopedia
Joseph Caron is a former Canadian High Commissioner to India and former Canadian Ambassador to China and Japan. Born and raised in the small francophone agricultural village of Pain Court in South-western Ontario (Canada), Caron attended the University of Ottawa
(B.A. Honours Political Science, 1970).
He joined the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
in 1972 and served abroad in Saigon (Vietnam
) and Ankara
(Turkey
).
Caron began Japanese language
studies in 1975, and subsequently served three times at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo
, including as minister and head of chancery.
During the 1980s, he undertook private-sector assignments involving China, Hong Kong
, Korea
and Taiwan
. In Ottawa
, he has held several positions related to Asian and international economic affairs, including G7 summitry.
In 1998, he became Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia
Pacific and Africa
(Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs), and served as Canada’s senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Caron served as Canada’s ambassador to China
(2001 to 2005), with concurrent accreditation to North Korea
and Mongolia
, and was ambassador to Japan
until the fall of 2008 when he was appointed High Commissioner to India
with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Nepal
and Bhutan
.
In 2008, Caron was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Meiji Gakuin University
.
He is married to Kumru Caron and they have three children.
In June 2010, Caron was appointed Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
and in July 2010, Caron joined the Institute of Asian Research at The University of British Columbia as an Honorary Professor.
On October 12, 2010, Caron was appointed to the Board of Directors of Manulife Financial
, located in Toronto, Ontario.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
(B.A. Honours Political Science, 1970).
He joined the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
Trade Commissioner Service
Part of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the is a network of more than 1000 trade professionals working in Canadian embassies, high commissions, and consulates located in 150 cities around the world and 18 regional offices across Canada.-Role:...
in 1972 and served abroad in Saigon (Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
) and Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
(Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
).
Caron began Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
studies in 1975, and subsequently served three times at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, including as minister and head of chancery.
During the 1980s, he undertook private-sector assignments involving China, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. In Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, he has held several positions related to Asian and international economic affairs, including G7 summitry.
In 1998, he became Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
Pacific and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs), and served as Canada’s senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Caron served as Canada’s ambassador to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(2001 to 2005), with concurrent accreditation to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, and was ambassador to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
until the fall of 2008 when he was appointed High Commissioner to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
.
In 2008, Caron was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Meiji Gakuin University
Meiji Gakuin University
is one of the Christian universities in Tokyo and Yokohama which was established in 1863. The Reverend Dr. James Curtis Hepburn was one of the founders and the first president...
.
He is married to Kumru Caron and they have three children.
In June 2010, Caron was appointed Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, created by an Act of Parliament in 1984, is an independent, not-for-profit think-tank on Canada's relations with Asia.-Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada:...
and in July 2010, Caron joined the Institute of Asian Research at The University of British Columbia as an Honorary Professor.
On October 12, 2010, Caron was appointed to the Board of Directors of Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial Corporation , is a Canadian insurance company and financial services provider. Manulife Financial's global head office is located in Toronto, Canada and the Company has operations in 21 countries and territories worldwide.The Company operates in Canada and Asia through the brand...
, located in Toronto, Ontario.
External links
- Government of Canada news release on new High Commissioner 2008
- University of Ottawa biographic article 2008
- Vancouver Board of Trade article 2008
- Article in Japan Times 2008
- University of Alberta article 2002
- Institute of Asian Research http://www.iar.ubc.ca/aboutus/iarfacultystaff/instituteassociates.aspx
- Manulife Financial Press Release http://manulife.com/public/news/detail/0,,lang=en&artId=145964&navId=630002,00.html