Why we're so proud of Gastone Barban

Faithful SooToday.com reader and proud cousin, Bruno Barban, was pleased to inform us that Sault native Gaston (Gastone) Barban recently received a new diplomatic appointment.

Information regarding this appointment distributed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada follows.

*****************************
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced the following diplomatic appointment:

Gaston (Gastone) Barban becomes High Commissioner in South Africa, with concurrent accreditation in the Republic of Namibia.

Biographical notes

Gaston (Gastone) Barban (BA Honours [History and Political Science], Carleton University, 1977) joined the public service in 1977 in the Passport Bureau.

In 1979, he became office manager of the Calgary regional office and, in 1981, regional director and manager of the London regional office.

In 1983, he joined the External Communications Division to work as a policy information officer.

In 1985, he became deputy head of the Research and Writing Section and in 1986, head of the Policy Information and Research Section.

Mr. Barban was deputy director of the Domestic Communications Division from 1988 to 1989 and was assigned to Rome as head of public affairs and culture in 1989.

In 1993, he returned to Ottawa as deputy director of the Foreign Policy Communications Division, and from 1996 to 1997 he was deputy director of the Communications Strategies and Planning Division.

He then became director of Corporate Communications Division and in 1998 director of Communications Programs and Outreach Division.

From 2001 to 2004, he was deputy high commissioner in Canberra, then chargé d’affaires until 2005.

Mr. Barban returned to Ottawa in 2005 as deputy chief information officer and director.

In 2008, he became chief information officer and director general of the Information Management and Technology Bureau.

He is married to Jane, and they have two children, Matthew and Alicia.

Mr. Barban succeeds Adèle Dion.

*****************************