Send us Fan Mail What takes someone from the Canadian military to Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Algeria — and eventually to Carnival, J’ouvert, panyards and life in Trinidad and Tobago? In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Michael Callan, High Commissioner of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, for a wide-ranging conversation about diplomacy, conflict, culture and the experiences that have shaped his life. Michael takes us inside his time in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he worked as a civilian alongside the military in an increasingly dangerous environment. He reflects on the pressure of making decisions with real consequences, the conversations he had with his family about the possibility that he might not return home, and why one of the most difficult periods of his life was also one of his most rewarding. We also trace his journey through international development and diplomacy — from Bangladesh and Sudan to Egypt, Jordan and his time as Canada’s Ambassador to Algeria — and explore what years spent around conflict taught him about people, institutions, leadership and the things human beings have in common. Then the conversation comes home to Trinidad and Tobago. Michael talks about discovering the country beyond the diplomatic bubble: exploring Tobago, visiting panyards, experiencing Canboulay, playing mas with The Lost Tribe, taking part in J’ouvert and even learning to make callaloo. We also explore the centuries-old connections between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, from trade and migration to Carnival, Caribana, the Caribbean diaspora and even the extraordinary journey of leatherback turtles between our two countries.
