In late 1990 we started MSF Canada with a group of volunteers as "The Friends of MSF Holland in Canada". In 1991 we were able to register formally as MSF Canada. On the photo above standing is Richard Heinzl (MD) who started the ball rolling in Canada by visiting the European MSF offices. Sitting in front of Richard are Jim & Georgina, close fiends of Richard, and instrumental in bringing a great group of people together in Toronto to start the Canadian branch of MSF Canada. In between Georgina and Mary Nolle is Marilyn McHarg, one of the first recruited Canadian nurses to goto the field in 1991 and who worked for MSF for about 20 years. She was ED of MSF Canada recently and is now the ED of Dignitas International, and "offspring" of MSF concentrating on longer term health programs especially in Malawi.
Sitting next to me on the ground is James Orbinski (MD) who went on to be the International Presdient of MSF and who delivered in that capacity the acceptance speech for MSF's Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. This photo was taken during one of our early "strategy meetings" in 1991.
It was a great group of energetic and fun people to work with. To my left on this photo is my dear friend Ian Small at whose house near Ottawa I still camp out every now & then. So many memories with that outstanding logistician and country manager....
Our first small office: one of the rooms of the offices of Streetkids International with thanks to Peter Dalglish and colleagues. MSF Canada has come a long way since then!
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