Global studies head excited about new international role

by Joy Poliquin

Smith

When Dr. Gordon Smith first considered settling in Victoria, it was a retirement destination. But when the former deputy minister of foreign affairs was offered the chance to head UVic's fledgling centre for global studies in 1998, he decided to call the garden city home.

Seven years later, Smith has developed a nationally renowned centre and is again at the forefront of a brand new initiative. He and astronaut Julie Payette are co-chairing the newly created Canada Corps.

With an initial $15 million dollar budget over two years, Canada Corps will streamline the energy and experience of Canadian experts, volunteers and young professionals to deliver international assistance in the areas of governance and institution-building.

"Canada has the capacity to do more than we're doing now," says Smith. "We can do it better in terms of nation-building and peace-building around the world."

According to the Web site of the prime minister's office, "Canada Corps will bring new focus and energy to what is already being done, and more effectively match the skills and talents of Canadians—including youth—to help nurture democracy and the rule of law in fragile states in the future."

Smith is just the person to head such an initiative. He spent 31 years with the federal government, including posts as deputy minister of foreign affairs, ambassador to the European Union in Brussels and as the prime minister's personal representative for the G7 and G8 summits. He's excited to combine his experience with co-chairperson Payette.

"We're a typical Canadian team, male and female, anglophone and francophone, old and young. She's a natural scientist, I'm a social scientist, and we have a diverse skill set."

The Canada Corps is in its early stages, and Smith anticipates another year of organization before implementation. "Of all the jobs I've had, I've never seen so much excitement about a project. It helps bring great visibility to UVic. There's tremendous enthusiasm out there."