François Paradis-Caron, consular officer in Senegal 

François Paradis-Caron is vice-consul in the second largest Canadian embassy on the African continent, in Dakar. The embassy provides consular services to Canadians living or travelling in Senegal, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

“Providing consular services to the sub-region from Dakar is a daily challenge. We work with clients who are far away, who speak a variety of languages and who do not always have easy access to a computer. When simply renewing a passport can become complicated, imagine a situation that involves detention or distress.”

François likes working in the field and having to operate in settings where he has to constantly adapt and where the work is far from routine.

“Fieldwork allows us to visit local authorities to create connections and better understand the local perspective, so we can better serve Canadians if there is a problem. It gives us the opportunity to meet with our colleagues from allied countries and build our network of contacts. We also have the privilege of meeting with civil society actors that do incredible work, such as non-governmental organizations that assist women and children in trouble. Having good contacts is crucial, especially if a Canadian is in distress or in need of evacuation or repatriation.”

Automobile accidents are a major risk for Canadian travellers in the region where François works. These consular cases can be stressful, especially when someone has died.

“It is very hard on everyone when this happens, and we do our best to help the Canadians affected. We work with our colleagues from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, and the process has to be coordinated with the local authorities, the family and the insurance company in Canada. Having good travel insurance makes all the difference in this kind of situation.”

A large part of François’s work takes place behind the scenes, and he is happiest when he can help a Canadian in distress and achieve a positive outcome.

“Some cases, like child abductions, stand out more. The work we do is challenging for our family, our friends and ourselves. But it is meaningful work, and it is never boring.”