Nearly 300 Canadians filled the patio and gardens of Hotel La Nueva Posada on March 23 to greet Sara Hradecky, the recently appointed Canadian ambassador to Mexico.
Hradecky had visited the Lakeside area previously, attending the Mexican Chili Cookoff and concerts during the Northern Lights Music Festival, but this was her first official visit since assuming her post at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City last November.
She was introduced by Yvonne Chin, Canadian Consul and Trade Commissioner in Guadalajara. Chin took the opportunity to compliment local Canadians on their volunteer work, the creation of a new chapter of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Remembrance Day ceremony staged by the Canadian Air force Association Wing 904 last November. She mentioned her desire to compete in the next Chili Cookoff and her excitement that Quebec would be honored at the May Cultural Festival in Guadalajara (see next week’s Reporter for further details).
Hradecky filled the audience in on a little of her background. Born in Trenton, Ontario and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, she mentioned that she has lived outside of Canada for most of the last 25 years, with postings in Buenos Aires, Belgrade, Tel Aviv, Ho Chi Minh City and the United Arab Emirates, where she was the head of the mission.“All of the postings have been interesting but the one I currently hold is one I’ve wanted for some time,” she told the large crowd.
Hradecky pointed out that Mexico is the country with the largest contingent of Canadians living outside of Canada. It’s believed that up to 4,000 Canadians live at Lakeside year-round, with the number rising to as much as 10,000 during the “high” season. More than a million and a half Canadians visited Mexico last year, she noted. “That’s more than five percent of our population.”
Mexico has become an important trade partner with Canada, especially since the trilateral NAFTA trade agreement came into in effect on January 1, 1994.
“Our trade with Mexico in 1995 equaled about four billion dollars.” said Hradecky. “Today it’s 35 billion and growing. Mexico is now the fifth largest market for Canadian goods.”
She pointed out the symbiotic relationship between the two countries with projects like high-tech “Blackberries” being designed in Canada and manufactured in Mexico. There are cross-overs in agriculture and food, as well as integrated businesses with Canadian companies manufacturing auto parts in northern Mexico. She pointed out that Canada is now the fourth largest investor in Mexico and considers Mexico a ‘friend’ on the global scene.
“We have a commonality with Mexico with both of us having a keen interest in the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Canadian diplomats work with our Mexican counterparts so that they understand Canadian priorities and we can find things that we can do together.”
Mexicans are beginning to visit Canada in large numbers. According to Hradecky, more than 130,000 Mexicans visited there last year and between 17,000 and 18,000 Mexican agricultural workers work seasonally in Canada.
“These Mexican workers are essential to the agriculture of Canada, particularly the growing wine industry,” she said.
Hradecky extolled Canadian athletes’ performances in the recent Pan American Games held in Guadalajara. She was impressed with the 182 medals taken home and she’s looking forward to the next games to be hosted by Toronto in 2015.
The audience was enthusiastic in their applause and are clearly proud of their chief diplomat in Mexico.