John Baird: Canada's freedom agenda - Diplomat Magazine

good deeds|DIPLOMATICAPlaying defence: hockey as a fundraiserOne of two annual games between the attachésand the Canadian Forces team (CanadianForces Support Unit, Ottawa) took placeat the Ottawa University Arena Nov. 23. Thepuck was dropped by Colonel Robert Perronfor General Walter Natynczyk and Germanattaché Lt. Col. Kay Kuhlen.Ahockey tradition, now three yearsold, started as a way for militaryattachés to get together with theircolleagues from National Defence in alighthearted, casual way. In the beginning,the team of military attachés postedto Ottawa from all over the world wasa rag-tag bunch with ill-fitting gear butthey had spirit — and bravely took on aNational Defence team made up of seniorCanadian officers, led by Chief of DefenceStaff General Walt Natynczyk. The gamehelped raise funds for Canadian militaryfamilies.It wasn’t a bad showing with a finalscore of eight to five in favour of the Canadianteam. After all, prior to the twomonths of weekly practices leading up tothat 2008 game, some of the attachés hadnever skated before.“For many of us, [the start of practices]was the first time we put on skates,” saidCapt. Mauricio Velasquez, the Chileanattaché and one of the game’s big supporters.His team practises every Wednesdayat 2 p.m. and then challenges the CanadianDND team twice a year, autumn andspring.And the fundraising game they planfor this spring might be a more evenmatch. While an exhibition game in lateNovember yielded a final score of ninefor DND to five for the attachés, the teamshad looked fairly evenly matched duringthe first period. And, Major Marie-ClaudeCarré, a deputy director who works in theforeign liaisons section of National Defence,says the attachés played a warm-upgame against members in her office andended pulling off a win — seven goals tosix.“I’m sure it was confidence-building forthem,” Maj. Carré said.But mostly, it’s just for fun and camaraderieanyway.“It’s really about having nice times, toimprove relations between attachés. Weare now really good friends,” Capt. Velasquezsaid. And the games expand thosegood relations to their colleagues in theCanadian Forces.“It’s not only a game,” he said. “It’smore than that.”Capt. Stuart McCubbin, who refereesthe games, said the funds raised in thespring game will go to the Military FamilyResource Centres, which are on everyCanadian base. Funds are raised primarilythrough corporate sponsorships, whichalso provide a post-game celebration witha reception and a friendly drink.“The idea is to get together and havefun,” Capt. McCubbin said. “The attachéshave really embraced the hockey.”Maj. Carré said it’s been a great teambuildingexercise for the foreign serviceattachés (FSA) based in Ottawa (someforeign attachés accredited to Canadaare based in Washington). She said ithas allowed them “to develop bondsand friendship around a truly Canadianactivity.”“In turn, the hockey games [against]senior Canadian Forces members aimto establish, build and maintain strongrelationships in an informal and friendlyenvironment,” she explained. “They get toknow some of our senior officers on a lessformal basis.”That, and their non-hockey goal score:To raise $20,000 for military families thisyear.MCpl. Serge Tremblay, CFSU(O) Photo Services, DNDdiplomat and international canada 25