Embassy of Canada in Paris

The Embassy of Canada in Paris is the main diplomatic mission of Canada in France.

The embassy is the oldest "foreign" posting in the Canadian foreign service, since in its early history the Canadian government did not view Great Britain as a "foreign" country.

The history of Canada's presence in Paris goes back to 1882 and was a actually started by the action of the province of Quebec. The provincial government appointed Hector Fabre, a former journalist and senator be 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's 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 19th, 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 the Vanier to return to visit France several times. Once Canada shifted recognition to the Free French under 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 current embassy is located at 35 avenue Montaigne, in the 8th arrondissement. The ambassador resides at 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.

ee also

*Canada-France relations
*List of Canadian ambassadors to France

External links

* [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/department/history/France-en.asp Official history of the Canadian mission to France]