Posts Tagged ‘U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson’

October 2, 2012: Ottawa

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Three years ago today I presented my credentials to the Governor General of Canada to become the 22nd United States Ambassador to Canada.  The last three years have proven what I have said so many times: I have the best job in the United States Government.

Since I arrived I have traveled far and wide in Canada.  I have literally dipped my toes into three oceans.  I have seen cities and towns.  Farms and prairies.  Lakes and mountains.

I have had the privilege of meeting with so many of the Canadian people from every walk of life.  Government officials and business leaders.  Generals and head of NGO’s.  Shop keepers and small business owners.  Factory workers and farmers.

I’ve had Christmas dinner with soldiers in Afghanistan.  Walked with wounded warriors.  I have learned to cross country ski and curl.  I have rooted for your sports teams – unless they are playing ours.  I have eaten your food and drunk your wine.  I’ve come to love Tim Bits.

While I always hesitate to say I have been everywhere and have met everyone, I can say that I have covered a lot of ground and met a lot of people.  I do it to try to better understand Canada and the Canadian people.  Because understanding your country and your people is – in my view – the most important thing I can do to make the most of my opportunity as United States Ambassador.

We have achieved much over the last three years:

  • Building on what was already the largest trading relationship in the history of the world.
  • Expanding the largest energy trading relationship while taking steps to preserve our planet.
  • Creating a border where we do not have to choose between efficiency and security.
  • Taking steps to harmonize our regulatory structures to enhance trade and competiveness.
  • Working around the world to foster the values of freedom and individual rights that we share and cherish.

Those are just the highlights.  There’s much more.  And yet, we still have much to do.  The good part of this job – and perhaps the bad – is that we will never be done.  There are always problems to solve.  There are always opportunities to seize.

So I look forward to continuing to travel this beautiful country.  To continuing to work to improve what is already perhaps the strongest relationship in the world.  To continuing to try to improve the lives of the American and the Canadian people.

In the meantime, on behalf of myself and my family, I want to thank you for welcoming us into your country and doing so with such warmth and grace.

DJ

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Posted in October 2012 |

July 4, 2010 – United States Independence Day

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

To tell you the truth, I tried mightily last summer to advance my Senate confirmation so I could be here in Ottawa by July 4. I had been told our party on the lawn of the Ambassador’s Residence is the largest 4th of July party in the world outside of the United States. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But today definitely made up for it!

Four thousand friends joined Julie, our children Wynne and Jeremy, and me for the celebration of the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America. It was kind of special to be able to say to those assembled: “On behalf of President Barack Obama, I want to wish each of you a happy 4th of July!”

Ambassador Jacobson and family at the 4th of July

Ambassador Jacobson delivers remarks with family at the 4th of July

The party was a celebration of the home state of President Obama and his family and me and my family – Illinois. Since we couldn’t be in Chicago, we brought Chicago to Ottawa. Among the invitees were all the foods you would get at an Illinois 4th of July party: deep dish pizza, Italian beef, Polish sausage, Eli’s cheese cake, beer, etc……

Cupcakes

Cupcakes in the shape of an American flag

The Governor General’s Band of the Ceremonial Guard played American patriotic songs – their repertoire is multi–national — as guests arrived and Julie and I shook MANY hands. O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner were sung by John McDermott, whose rendition has, with good cause, become a tradition at our celebration. And my friends from Chicago, blues greats, Lynne Jordan and the Shivers, thrilled the crowd with their set. At one point several of the guests were dancing up on the stage with them!

The Marine Corps Guard at the singing of the national anthem

The Marine Corps Color Guard present the colors during the national anthem

The 4th of July is an opportunity for Americans to give thanks to those whose foresight and determination shaped the course of our nation’s history. An opportunity to give thanks to those who defined freedom as a virtue and equality as a goal.

But those values have not come without enormous cost. And so it is also a day to give thanks to the men and women in our armed forces around the world whose service and sacrifice has protected those values that were enshrined in the Declaration of Independence 234 years ago.

It was also a chance for Julie and me to express our gratitude to the Canadian people for the grace, the kindness, and the hospitality they have shown us since we arrived as guests in your country nine months ago. From the first day, when we presented our credentials to the Governor General, through our travels across your vast and beautiful country, to those glorious Olympic Games. (Though I will say you weren’t quite as gracious as I might have liked during that hockey overtime.)

For your warmth and your friendship Julie and I will be eternally grateful.
DJ

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Posted in July 2010 |

April 11, 2010 – Ottawa

Monday, April 12th, 2010

For three days last week the Embassy had a “Principal Officers Conference” with the United States Consuls General from our seven consulates around the country (Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal and Halifax). We were also joined by the head of the Canadian Affairs Office at the State Department and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North America. I have been in Canada for 6 months and we wanted to discuss where we’ve been and where we’re going.

The Consuls General and the Ambassador get ready to curl

The Consuls General and the Ambassador get ready to curl

The three days were filled with meetings until we finished at lunchtime on Friday. But before everyone left for home we met at the Rideau Curling Club to try out the sport I have been obsessed with since the Olympics: Curling.

As I routinely tell anyone who will listen, I spent endless hours watching curling on TV during the Olympics. (As you know, it was on all the time.) I decided that any sport where the greatest curler in the world is bald is my kind of game. On Friday I learned yet another reason to love this game. Not only can you drink beer while you curl, it stays cold!

Ambassador Jacobson curling

Throwing the rock

But I also learned that curling is A LOT harder than they made it look on TV. The first part of my struggle was just standing up on the ice. One shoe is VERY slippery. One not. The only problem is remembering which is which. A few falls later, I got the hang of standing up.

Next was the technique of throwing the rock. That’s harder than standing. It looked so easy on TV. Graceful strides. A purposeful stare at the target. A smooth glide. Unfortunately it didn’t look quite like that when I did it. Looked more like sliding into second base. Head first.
Another shock was how long the sheet of ice was. I thought it was about the same as a shuffle board court. Wrong. It was about twice as long. And getting the right amount of “weight” on the throw was quite a challenge. The first several throws made it about half way. Then I made an adjustment. And started banging them off the back wall. After about an hour I seemed to be a little more dialed in. The problem was that by then my hands were freezing. Next time I’ll bring gloves!!

Ambassador Jacobson tries the Canadian favorite game of Curling

Ambassador Jacobson tries the Canadian favorite game of Curling

It turns out I need a little more work before my dream of representing my country in Curling at the Olympics is fulfilled. But it was great fun. And I’m going to work on my game next year. In the mean time, I’ll have to figure out another way to keep the beer cold.
DJ

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Posted in April 2010 |