US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA1644

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 001644 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE 
 
SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W - EWILKES-SCOTT; 
WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER-ROCK 
MONTREAL, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER FOR PAOS; 
HALIFAX AND QUEBEC FOR CONGENS; 
CALGARY FOR PA FIELD REP; CALGARY PLEASE PASS TO WINNIPEG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, CA, IV Program 
SUBJECT: FY 2006 ITT on Multiculturalism in the U.S. 
 
REFERENCE:  OTTAWA 1504 
 
1.   The post is pleased to propose a two-person IVLP 
project that would acquaint two Canadian leaders of 
multicultural communities with U.S. ideals and practice in 
celebrating the diversity of our society.  Themes might 
include immigration policy and integration of new 
immigrants; business development among minorities and 
government policies in support of women- and minority-owned 
businesses; education and training opportunities for 
minorities; integration and language issues in schools; 
promotion of diversity in the workplace; the Haitian- 
American community and its role in aiding Haiti; African- 
American community leadership and culture; US promotion of 
religious tolerance and freedom at home and abroad; cultural 
institutions celebrating indigenous people, immigrants, and 
minorities. 
 
2.   Post nominates Patrick Gilles, Cultural Community 
Organizer, Quebec Liberal Party Principal Candidate) and 
Tracey Thomas, Coordinator of Student Recruitment, Nova 
Scotia Community College (Principal Candidate).  Both 
candidates have full country team approval. 
 
3.   EVDB-formatted nomination follows: 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: slw@pd.state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Ottawa 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 6540 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VRW 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 332 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: ITT Multiculturalism in the U.S. (Thomas, Gilles) 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
This project would acquaint two leaders of multicultural 
communities with U.S. ideals and practice in celebrating the 
diversity of our society.  Themes might include immigration 
policy and integration of new immigrants; business 
development among minorities and government policies in 
support of women- and minority-owned businesses; education 
and training opportunities for minorities; integration and 
language issues in schools; promotion of diversity in the 
workplace; the Haitian-American community and its role in 
aiding Haiti; African-American community leadership and 
culture; US promotion of religious tolerance and freedom at 
home and abroad; cultural institutions celebrating 
indigenous people, immigrants, and minorities. 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Individuals Traveling Together 
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor 
FY: 2006 
DEPART-POST: 
SESSION-DATE: 
RETURN-POST: 
NO-OF-PART: 2 
RANK-ORDER: 0 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1037 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: ITT 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 6540 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Diversity & Pluralism 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Ms. 
F-NAME: Tracey 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Thomas 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 219 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
GENDER: F 
DOB: 11/15/1966 
MAR-STAT: 
BIRTH-CITY: Whitney Pier, Nova S 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada 
RES-CNTRY: Canada 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Coordinator of Student Recruitment, Nova Scotia Community 
College (on secondment from her permanent position as the 
Director of Training, Black Business Initiat 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
Unity Corporate Communications, Halifax NS (Partner); Nova 
Scotia Government, Department of Education and Culture - 
African Canadian Services Division (Coordinator - Youth 
Tutoring and Transition Project); Bankers Trust Investment 
Bank, Toronto, Ontario (Department Administrator); Nesbitt 
Burns Inc. Investment Bank, Toronto, Ontario (Administrator- 
Private Client Investment Research); Kelly Lavoie Inc 
Marketing/Communications), Toronto, Ontario (Executive 
Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager). 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
Atlanta, Georgia in 2001 as a participant in the "Team 
Canada Atlantic" Trade Mission; three other visits for 
personal travel 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
none 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Bachelor of Commerce (major in marketing), Saint Mary's 
University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2000; Certificate in 
Business Management, Ryerson Polytechnical University, 
Toronto, Ontario 1995; several business training courses. 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Community YMCA, Halifax, Nova Scotia; several 
business/professional and community groups. 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
none 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: English 
ENGL-READ: 5 
ENGL-SPEAK: 5 
ENGL-COMP: 5 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: CG Leonard Hill 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Ms. Tracey Thomas is one of Nova Scotia's more prominent 
young, black women who is clearly on a fast track in the 
business development area and in various volunteer positions 
in the local black community. 
Ms. Thomas has enjoyed a stellar career with the Black 
Business Initiative and more recently with her temporary 
assignment to Nova Scotia's community college.  Both 
positions have put her in direct contact with many young 
minority people who are focused on getting an education and 
ultimately at starting businesses.  Young people describe 
her as their biggest positive influence, especially with her 
emphatic messages such as staying in school. 
Ms. Thomas would benefit greatly by the opportunity of 
traveling to the United States to meet and network with 
members of America's minority communities.  The experience 
would be a lasting one for her and one that she could share 
with the young people she encounters in her professional and 
volunteer careers.  This project would support the post's 
goal of furthering understanding of U.S. society among 
influential Canadians. 
 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: ConGen Halifax 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: NONE 
NOMINEE-ID: 498 
PERSON-ID: 379 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA 
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN 
E-I-TYPE-ID: N 
NOM-POST-ID: 6540 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 30.9999 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Patrick 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Gilles 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 100 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: 4364 Saint-Denis Street 
M-ADDR2: 
M-ADDR3: 
M-CITY: Montreal 
M-STATE: Quebec 
M-CNTRY: Canada 
M-ZONE: H2J 2L1 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: (514) 288-4364 
M-FAX: (514) 288-9455 
M-EMAIL: gillesp@plq.org 
M-CNTRY-ID: CA 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 07/12/1969 
MAR-STAT: U 
BIRTH-CITY: Saint-Eustache 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada 
RES-CNTRY: Canada 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Cultural Community Organizer - Quebec Liberal Party 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
Vice-President, Laval City Workers Union, Department of 
Community Services and Sports; Entrepreneur and Manager, 
Clubfeelgood Fitness Center; Professional Football Player, 
Quebec Junior Major League 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
Infrequent vacations as a child 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
Haiti 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Currently pursuing a certificate in Public Administration at 
Universit du Qubec  Montral; Certificate in Entreprise 
Development, Quebec Ministry of Education; Post-secondary 
diploma in Administration, Collge Montmorency (Laval, 
Quebec) 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Montreal Haitian Youth Chamber of Commerce; Liberal Party of 
Canada; Quebec Liberal Party; Montreal Island Citizens 
Union; Montreal Youth Chamber of Commerce 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
None 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 5 
ENGL-SPEAK: 5 
ENGL-COMP: 5 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: PAO Alyson Grunder 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Patrick Gilles was brought into the Quebec Liberal Party in 
2002, to help coordinate and build support in Montreal 
minority communities in the run-up to the 2003 provincial 
elections. His attributes for the job included his strong 
ties to Montreal's large Haitian community, his networking 
and negotiating skills (developed from his years as an 
entrepreneur and a union official in Laval), his name 
recognition as a local sports hero and his pragmatic yet 
very committed approach to involving minority populations in 
Quebec's political process.  He has been particularly active 
on Haitian issues, and has been working to coordinate a role 
for the diaspora in Haiti's reconstruction and development. 
Gilles is a respected party official, whose advice and 
presence is sought by Montreal's numerous cultural groups, 
and by Parti libral du Qubec leaders. Gilles was 
instrumental in getting out the vote for another Montreal 
l 
nominee, Yolande James, the first black woman member of the 
National Assembly.  He would eventually like to run for 
office in Quebec himself, but he also wants to see other 
minority group members get elected, and is committed to 
helping them.  Gilles is interested in how American 
government, political parties, community groups and the 
private sector respond to the needs and take advantage of 
the contributions of minority populations. He would also 
like to explore the impact and integration of immigrants in 
U.S. society. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: ConGen Montreal 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: NONE 
NOMINEE-ID: 534 
PERSON-ID: 413 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: N 
NOM-POST-ID: 96589 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.0101 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
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USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
DICKSON, CHARGE