UK in Vancouver, 8 months in: It's all about connecting

Rock climbing above Howe Sound a few years ago was what first got me hooked on British Columbia. Looking out over mountains and ocean, I knew then that BC was an extraordinary place. And having grown up partly in Ottawa, I knew that Canada was a special place, too. So when I arrived in Vancouver a few months ago as the UK’s Consul General, I thought I had a good idea of what to expect.

The UK and BC (and Canada more widely) have many strong connections and a long history of working together. But the breadth and depth of those relationships took me by surprise, from business, to science, to politics, to security, to sport and more.

In my first few months here, I’ve been busy exploring our shared UK-BC priorities (as well as the occasional mountain…). I’d sum these up as: working together towards a sustainable future; building a thriving economy that supports long-term growth; and fostering more inclusive and equitable partnerships to help us get there. That understanding will help to focus the efforts of our small (but mighty!) Consulate General. For instance, we’ll do more to support collaboration on clean tech, alongside promoting wider trade and investment as we negotiate a new, progressive and modern UK-Canada Free Trade Agreement. And we’ll be thinking harder about how our work connects with Indigenous perspectives and priorities, too.

On clean tech, our shared commitment to tackling climate change and our drive for innovation make us well-placed to collaborate. Both Canada and the UK hold top-five spots in the Global Cleantech Innovation Index and BC is home to a quarter of Canada’s clean tech firms. The UK’s net zero transition also creates opportunities for BC innovators to invest and expand into the UK, such as Vancouver-based General Fusion’s impressive plans for a fusion demonstration plant in Oxfordshire. As strong trading economies, we also both have an interest in decarbonising airports, ports and shipping.

We’re also working to strengthen our already robust trade and investment relationship, which supports over 20,000 jobs in BC at the last count. The UK is consistently BC’s top European trading and investment partner and British goods are increasingly available to BC consumers across the province (this year’s BCL Premium Spirits Release will be one to watch!). Since I’ve been here we’ve welcomed a UK Trade Minister’s visit to Vancouver and Victoria, supported BC’s Minister for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon ’s visit to London, and most recently showed Dame Maria Miller, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Canada, around Vancouver. As part of both visits to BC, we met business and Indigenous leaders in critical minerals, linking our clean tech, economic and partnership-building priorities.

Beyond clean tech and trade & investment, while a Consulate may be best known for providing consular support (we do that, especially when Brits find themselves in an emergency) and issuing visas (we don’t do that, see UKVI), we also help to build scientific partnerships that help the UK and Canada to be on the forefront of issues facing the world today.

So much for the theory. But what does it look like in practice? Well, just in the month of September:

1.???We welcomed our High Commissioner, Susannah Goshko , to Vancouver and Victoria to strengthen our diverse UK-BC connections, including with a farewell meeting (and final in-office cricket match) with outgoing Premier John Horgan. We also explored innovation links with help from Gerri Sinclair and came away with some great ideas for how we can support collaboration, particularly on decarbonising the maritime sector.

2.???The High Commissioner’s visit was followed swiftly by a deeply sad moment for both countries at the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, our shared monarch. As befits Her Late Majesty’s dedication to service, it also brought people together around the world, including in BC.

3.???In the weeks that passed after our national mourning, I had my first opportunity to see beyond Victoria and the Lower Mainland with a visit to the Yukon. This trip opened my eyes to the pioneering community spirit, natural wonders and long histories of this fascinating Territory.

4.???The month also included more climbing (of course), when I had the chance to connect with Royal Air Force personnel on adventurous training in Squamish. It would appear that my appreciation for the mountains and wilderness of this incredible province is shared by many other Brits…

5.???Finally, the month concluded with Canada’s second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an important opportunity to listen, learn and understand. In marking the day, I also discovered the amazing work of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. More broadly, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many Indigenous peoples to hear their perspectives, hopes for the future and advice for how our work as a Consulate can support Indigenous priorities.

It is, ultimately, the point of diplomats to build lasting partnerships that help both their host and home countries to achieve shared goals. To that end, we will continue to collaborate, partner, and innovate. And I wonder, what else might we discover? What other mountains might we climb together? I know that there are many more opportunities yet to come.

The British Consulate General in Vancouver is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the x?m?θkw?y??m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and S?l?ílw?ta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.