List of ambassadors of Canada to France


List of ambassadors of Canada to France – the diplomatic mission of Canada to the French Republic is based at the Embassy of Canada in Paris. It is the second-oldest Canadian diplomatic post, the oldest being the Canadian High Commission in London. Technically, however, Paris is Canada's oldest foreign mission, since the diplomatic posting to London was not considered to be a "foreign" mission because Canada was a member of the British Empire.
The official residence of the Canadian ambassador is located at 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The building is known as the Hôtel de Rigny and was purchased by the Canadian government in 1950.

History

The mission in Paris was established in 1882, when Hector Fabre was sent to serve as an "Agent of the Dominion ". He was accorded no formal diplomatic status, however, as Britain had not accorded Canada the right to establish formal diplomatic relations with foreign states.
In 1891, Fabre was succeeded by Senator Philippe Roy as Canada's Agent in France. Canada opened a formal legation in Paris in 1928, at which point Roy was accorded the title of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and given diplomatic privileges.
George Philias Vanier was Minister and Head of Legation from 1939 to 1940, and he was named Canada's first Ambassador to France in September 1944.

List of envoys

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to FranceStart of TermEnd of Term
Philippe Roy19281938
Georges Philias Vanier19391940
vacant during World War II19401944

AmbassadorStart of TermEnd of Term
Georges Philias Vanier19441953
Jean Désy19541957
Pierre Dupuy19581963
Jules Léger19641968
Paul Beaulieu19681970
Léo Cadieux19701975
Gérard Pelletier19751981
Michel Dupuy19811985
Lucien Bouchard19851988
Claude Charland19881992
Benoît Bouchard19931996
Jacques Roy19962000
Raymond Chrétien20002003
Claude Laverdure20032007
Marc Lortie20072012
Lawrence Cannon20122017
Isabelle Hudon
2017