LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

Ambassador Robert Fowler’s Hamilton Connection

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted April 23, 2009)

On December 14, 2008 two men were kidnapped by al Qaeda in Niger. One of the two was recently retired and much celebrated Canadian diplomat Ambassador Robert Fowler. Mr. Fowler was working in Niger as a special envoy to the United Nations. Prior to this posting, he had a long career in the public service working for Canada and the UN on important and often sensitive assignments. As a Canadian diplomat Ambassador Fowler was posted to Italy; and had also served a stint in our Privy Council office as a specialist on defense matters.

Ambassador Fowler also worked on the World Food Program and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. He served as Canada’s longest serving ambassador to the United Nations including as a member of the all important UN Security Council. While at the UN, Ambassador Fowler earned distinction and expertise as chair of the ‘Angola Sanctions Committee’ which attempted to make sanctions work against hostile regimes being punished by the international community. Ambassador Fowler has achieved much in the service of his country.

These past 5 months must have been horrific for him and his wife and family as he faced an uncertain future at the hands of the world’s most heinous terrorist organization, al Qaeda. We all breathed a sigh of relief this week when we learned that Mr. Fowler was released by his captors and is on his way to be reunited with family and friends.

I first met Ambassador Fowler when then Minister Sheila Copps brought him to Hamilton. He had just been appointed to the plum position in Rome, and he had promised Minister Copps that he would visit her home town to be shown about. I was on Council and a few of us greeted the Ambassador at a small reception in our downtown. He was a knowledgeable, polite man who invited me to the embassy in Rome, should I ever get the chance to visit the city. It was the kind of invitation most of us might sincerely give, not knowing however whether it will be accepted. Little did the Ambassador know that I would take him up on his offer.

It was in 2002 when I had been invited by a group of Directors of Education who were going on an ‘educational’ tour of Rome during the March break that I went along to act as a ‘translator’. The Directors’ itinerary was set, but I wondered whether they might want to meet the Ambassador while in the eternal city? They were thrilled at the possibility. I sent a quick e-mail to the ambassador who had given me his card, explained the nature of the group I was traveling with and asked if we might be able to visit. He answered in the affirmative and invited the group of 10 to have cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Ambassador’s family home, not the embassy. The group was ecstatic when I told them!

In Italy, at the appointed time, the group of Directors drove into this old, but impeccably preserved estate near the outskirts of Rome. This was the Ambassador and his wife’s beautiful home while on duty in Rome. It was a beautiful villa. The gardens were exquisite, the architecture ornate, but not overly gaudy and the rooms large and befitting the official residence of a ranking diplomat from an important country like Canada. We were told, as we were given a tour, that the home belonged to the dictator Mussolini but was given by the Italian government to Canada as a gesture of goodwill and acknowledgement for our Country’s role in freeing Italy from tyranny. There is a beautiful cemetery in Ortona, not too many hours from this house, with impeccably manicured lawns containing the graves of many Canadian boys who gave their lives to free Europe from the scourge of dictatorship. The gift of a house, as impressive as this was, pales in comparison to the sacrifice made; however, I’m sure it was appreciated.

Wonderful Canadian art and sculpture were interspersed throughout the house. A butler in white gloves and some ladies in maid’s skirts passed refreshments around to the appreciative visitors. The Ambassador was warm and kind. His wife was not there on this occasion, being somewhere in Africa on a food program. Altruism obviously runs in the family. However, the Ambassador invited some of his friends and staff in charge of educational activities, given that his guests were Directors of Education. The hour or two we were in the residence went by much too quickly. Education was discussed. Italian and Canadian politics were mentioned. Witty stories were told. It was a storybook event.

Even when one of the Ambassador’s guests fainted, and was looked after by one of the Canadian spouses who was a nurse, the incident was taken in stride. The Ambassador appreciated our assistance, and the slightly embarrassed guest, probably wobbled by standing for too long, was none the worse for wear. The last time I saw Ambassador Fowler in person we were departing, and I thanked him for his hospitality. He looked me in the eye and said, “Come again”, knowing that I might do just that.

The next time I thought of Ambassador Fowler was when I heard of the abduction. His kindness and hospitality came back to me. In true Canadian fashion, his kidnapping although reported, was never a big media deal. I regretted this and worried that he might be forgotten. Thank goodness he wasn’t. Thank goodness the Canadian government and others have been successfully working on his release. I said a little prayer when he was abducted and I said a little prayer of thanks now that he has been freed. Good luck Robert Fowler. We thank you for your service.

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