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Intern Handbook: Everything You Need to Know To Make Your Internship A Successful One 1

Internship Booklet

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Page 1: Internship Booklet

Intern Handbook: Everything You Need to Know To Make Your Internship A Successful One

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Intern Booklet: Everything You Need To Know To Make Your Internship a Successful One

Table of Contents

Section One: General Facts ………………………………………………….. 4

Computer Support …………………………………………………….. 4 New Work Order Request ……………………………………………... 4 Phone Support …………………………………………………………..4 Phone Etiquettes ……………………………………………………….. 5

Examples ………………………………………………………. 5 Inter-Office Phone List ………………………………………………….5 Bomb Threat Report …………………………………………………….5

Steps To Filling Out A Bomb Threat Report ………………….. 5 Signature ………………………………………………………………. 6

Steps to Setting up Your Signature ……………………………..6 What to Include in Your Signature ……………………………..6 Example ……………………………………………………….7

What Should Your Desk Have ……………………………………… 7 What to Bring With You to Meetings ………………………………….8 Entering and Exiting the US Consulate General Toronto ……………. 8

Section Two: What To Expect On Day One ……………………………………….. 8

Importance of New Interns Creating a Signature ……………………………. 10 Signature Format ……………………………………………………. 10

Section Three: Tips …………………………………………………………………. 11

Dress Code …………………………………………………………………….11 What to Wear …………………………………………………………11

Further Your Knowledge by Getting to Know the Consulate Staff’s …… 11 Security Precautions at the Consulate ………………………………………11 Arriving and Leaving the Consulate ………………………………………..12 What to bring to Meetings ……………………………………………………12 Stay Organized ………………………………………………………………13 Emails about Important Trainings …………………………………………13

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Projects Interns Were Involved In …………………………………………13 Projects of Previous Interns ………………………………………..13 Projects of Current Interns …………………………………………13

Tips and Suggestions for New Interns …………………………………….14 Previous Intern ……………………………………………………..14 Current Intern ………………………………………………………14 Staff …………………………………………………………………14

Appendix ………………………………………………………………………….. 14

The U.S. Mission in Canada ………………………………………………..14 Department of State Mission Components …………………………………15

Consular Offices in Canada …………………………………………………15 Ottawa ………………………………………………………………15

Economic Affairs …………………………………………….16 Political Affairs …………………………………………….16 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..16

Calgary ………………………………………………………………16 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..16 Political and Economic Section …………………………….16

Halifax ……………………………………………………………….17 Public Affairs ………………………………………………. 17 Political and Economic Section …………………………….. 17

Montreal ……………………………………………………………..17 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..17

Quebec City ………………………………………………………….17 Economic Affairs …………………………………………….17 Political Affairs ………………………………………………17 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..18

Toronto ………………………………………………………………18 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..18 Political and Economic Affairs ………………………………18

Vancouver ……………………………………………………………18 Public Affairs ………………………………………………..18 Political and Economic ………………………………………19

Winnipeg …………………………………………………………….19 Economic Affairs ……………………………………………19 Political Affairs …………………………………………….19 Public Affairs ……………………………………………….19

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Section One: General Facts Computer Support:

If you are having trouble with your computer and need assistance, then you should dial extension 290 to get in touch with one of the technicians in the Computer Support Team. But however listed below are the only specific reasons you should be calling for help:

Unable to log into the system with your password Forgot your password and the system would not allow you to log in Password manager is preventing you from logging into the system

New Work Order Request:

The Computer Support Teams at the Toronto are a busy group of technicians and are not available for immediate assistance for matters that are not urgent. For minor problems like setting up the printer, getting ink for the printer or even getting a shortcut to the Public Affairs folder on your desktop require you to fill out an New Work Order, which then needs to go through your supervisor. But also when the computer technicians are called for help by a department, they are always expected to keep track of all the problems they have resolved over the days and one of the ways of doing that is through New Work Order.

Steps to doing a Work Order Request:

First: Under types of request select system request Second: Then write your name beside the heading where it says Requested by Third: Under requestor’s supervisor choose your supervisors name Fourth: In the description box write what you want assistance with in clear details Fifth: Once you are all done click the button submit to supervisor

Phone Support:

When you are starting your job as an intern at the United States Consulate, the first thing you should be setting up is your voice mail, so that when you are assigned projects which require you to do a bit of outreach work that involves reaching out to important contacts, and in turn also of them getting a hold of you if you are unable to reach them. The person that you should be calling in regards to assistance with phone problems is Walter Pinkevich, the Information Management Specialist at the extension 232.

Steps to Setting up Your Voice Mail:

First: Contact Walker Pinkevich about getting a phone password so that you could access your phone

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Second: Click the message button on the phone Third: listen to the instructions and then put in your password Fourth: listen to the instructions again and then put in your extension number Fifth: finally listen to the list of options the women gives, and then click 75 to compose a

message

Phone Etiquettes :

When answering the phone, it is very important to know some very basic etiquette. So listed below are some do’s and don’ts of answering the phones:

Examples:

Do’s

Pick up the phone and say “Public Affairs” or “Good Morning or Evening Public Affairs”

Don’ts

Don’t pick up the phone and say “Hello who’s this?” or “Hello what are you calling about?”

Inter-Office Phone List

It is very important that interns have on their desk an updated copy of inter-office phone list. It is required that all consulate staff have updated phone lists consisting of numbers of all the staff members and department heads, so that interns could reach out to the correct departments if they are given a project that requires the cooperation of a certain department. But if interns are not provided with an updated copy of inter-office phone list, than the person they should contact is either Farimah Voshmgir, Human Resource Assistant at extension 255 or Natalia Starovoit, Human Resource Assistant at extension 355.

Bomb Threat Report:

When interns receive phone call about a possible bomb threat that make the US Consulate a target, then they need to make sure they write down as much details they could from the caller that is reporting it. The intern should have on their desk the US Department of State Bomb Threat Report work sheet, the work sheet consists of questions that the caller who is receiving the call need to fill out in great details so that the US Consulate could take all the security precautions they could to prevent harms or injury to their staff, or the US mission to Canada. When interns are put in the position, when they have someone that call into the US Consulate report a possible bomb threat, then there are a few key important facts they need to fill out in the Bomb Threat Sheet which are listed below:

Steps To Filling Out A Bomb Threat Report:

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First: record the time the call started and ended Second: write the down the exact threat that is being reported Third: Some key questions interns should ask are:

o When is the bomb going to explode?o Where is it right now?o What does it look like? o What kind of bomb is it?o What will cause it to explode?o Did you place the bomb? If so why?o What is your name?o What is your address?o Are you calling from a pay phone?

Fourth: record the location and number Fifth: ask the caller what gender, race and age is and then record it Sixth: write down the phone number of the caller, and report it immediately to a

Regional Security Officer, Stewart Udall, Security Investigator at extension 256 Seventh: record the tone of the callers voice Eighth: record the background noises Ninth: record the threat language Tenth: record the date the call was received and the person who received the call(ex.

Intern)

Signature:

When answering emails from important contacts, it is very important the contacts know exactly who you are and what is your contact information. Listed below are the steps to setting up your signature:

Steps to Setting up Your Signature:

First: in Microsoft Outlook click on the icon New E-mail Second: then in new e-mail under insert click the icon signature Third: then a box will pop up, in the space provided put in your details and click ok

When you open up a new email or reply to an important contacts email, your signature appears on the top of every email. So you have to be very careful of what you include in your signature, listed below are the list of what to include in your signature and an example of a proper signature:

What to Include in Your Signature:

You should include your name

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Then you should include your position and then separated by a dash your section or department

Include the United States Consulate General Toronto address Include finally then your office phone number, extension, email and the US Consulate

General Toronto website Finally this is optional you can attach the US Embassy facebook, twitter, flickr, youtube

or linked addresses

Example:

Samiha Fariha

Public Affairs Intern – Public Affairs Section

U.S. Consulate General - Toronto

360 University Avenue

Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1S4

Tel: (416) 595-1700 ext 250

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://toronto.usconsulate.gov/

            

What Should Your Desk Have:

Interns should make sure that their desk is equipped with all the necessary office materials for them to perform their jobs effectively. The main office materials that should be on the intern’s desk are listed below:

Note pads Pens Several different colored markers Stapler Stapler pins Whole puncher Paper clips Pins Sticky notes Tape Glue Folders

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Binders

What to Bring With You to Meetings:

When interns have a general meeting such as going into their supervisor’s office to discuss a possible new project, or update them on their current status or progress in the prior project that was assigned, there are a few essential items they must always bring with them. The items that interns must bring with them at all time in meetings or conferences are listed below:

Note Pad Pen Marker (optional)

Entering and Exiting the US Consulate General Toronto:

The entrance to the consulate is at 225 Simcoe Street, directly behind the University Avenue entrance. But however when interns enter the US Consulate, it is very important that they do not enter through the service area where customers line up for visa services. The main problem that arises if interns enter through the service area is that the guards have trouble keeping track of the people coming in and out of the building. So it is very important that interns enter through the turnstile, to cause less disruption as possible in the duties of the guards. The consulate staff has to enter through the turnstile by swiping their id badge, so that the consulate could keep track of the staff coming in and out of the building.

Section Two: What To Expect On Day OneThe first day of your internship may be intimidating and nerve racking but as you get the hang of the office procedures, the expectations of your supervisor and even become familiar with the environment of the Consulate, and then it starts to get a bit easier because then you know what to expect.

But however the first day is always the most difficult and you would expect a busy environment where you are left alone to navigate by yourself through the busy environment of the consulate.

The first task the intern do on their own would be the online Cybersecurity Awareness course, this course is done on the computer consisting of several modules. The interns when doing the course should pay careful attention and take notes on each modules which educate interns about the possible risks they could face and the precautions they should take when they are using the US State Department computers. The Cybersecurity Awareness course is very important because interns are required to pass this course with a minimum of 70% in order to use and work on the US State Department computers. After the interns have successfully completed the Cybersecurity Awareness course, a certificate of completion of the course will be emailed to the interns email

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address, and also the interns will be required to email their certificate to [email protected]. But if interns have trouble registering for the online Cybersecurity Awareness course, the person they should contact would be John Long, System Manager at 416-595-1700 Extension 298. After the interns have completed the Cybersecurity Awareness course, they must email Eric Rose, Information Programs Officer at 416-595-1700 Extension 233, to schedule a mandatory cyber security awareness briefing.

The second most important task that interns should complete is they should get their ID badge. When interns first come into the consulate they are given a visitors badge, and are required to enter through the service area where customers line up for visa services. Getting an ID badge should be the intern’s first priority because if interns walk around with a visitor’s badge than consulate employee would ask questions, and also security will not be able to do their jobs properly if the interns are always coming in and out of the service area and also mistake the interns for a customer. To get an ID badge interns should call the Regional Security Office (RSO), the person they should call would be Bridgette Viscidy at 416-595-1700 Extension 351. When Bridgette Viscidy issues the ID badges to the interns, she usually briefs them about some of the security precautions interns should take while working at the US Consulate:

Don’t where your badge outside for everyone to see, you may put yourself in danger such as being followed, getting kidnapped or targeted by the intelligence’s of other countries.

Don’t enter through the service area where customer’s line up for visa services with your badge on, you will attract attention and disrupt the duties of the security guards.

When interns arrive on their first day at the consulate Natalia Starovoit, Human Resources Assistant would usually provide the interns with a package of important information’s:

First: public Affairs internship position description, which includes the skills and experience’s students, should have to take on the internship and the responsibilities the interns would be expected to carry out.

Second: The Management Notice which includes information’s like when the official work hours are for Consulate General Toronto which are usually from 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM, with a 45 minute lunch break. But also all local staff and interns cannot enter the Consulate Office Building earlier than 7:30 AM and must exit the Consulate before 5:20 PM.

Third: Interns will be given an information form which is the US Mission in Canada Management Notice – Mission Canada Guidelines on Appropriate Dressing, this information contains important information’s such as how interns should dress in an office environment and what they should avoid wearing, and also how their appearance and dress code reflects on the consulate in a positive or negative way to the public.

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Fourth: Interns will be given an Introduction Book on Important Ethical Conduct, this book contains useful information’s about office dress code, what to share and what not to share to the public, friends and family, and also finally information on computer security such as what rules, conducts and precautions interns should take when using the Department of State computers.

Fifth: Interns will be provided a list by Natalia Starovoit, Human Resources Assistant asking for signatures of key officials to have the intern cleared for the internship:

o The sheet first asks for the signature of Scott Walker, Public Affair Section Chief.

o After the interns have finished their mandatory cyber security awareness briefing, they need the signature of Eric Rose, Information Program Officer.

o After the interns had finished the RSO in-briefing and got their ID badge, they then need to get the signature of Bridgett Viscidy, Office Manager.

Importance of New Interns Creating a Signature:

Once the intern is settled in it is very important, the first thing they create is their signature, so when the supervisor tells the intern to takeover certain projects the previous interns were unable to finish. The intern would need to get in contact with the important contacts and introduce themselves and having a signature with all details on the bottom of the email message makes it easier for the contact to get in touch:

Signature Format:

Samiha Fariha

Public Affairs Intern – Public Affairs Section

U.S. Consulate General - Toronto

360 University Avenue

Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1S4

Tel: (416) 595-1700 ext 250

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://toronto.usconsulate.gov/

            

The intern must make sure that one of the most important things they should set up is there phone so they would able to receive and access important phone call and messages from important contacts and the Consulate staff. They must get in touch with Walter Pinkevich, the

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Information Management Specialist at 416-595-1700 Extension 232, to set up their phone and get a password for their phone to access confidential messages.

Section Three: Tips Dress Code:

Dressing appropriately for your first day on the job is very important, how you dress reflects your appearance and your capabilities. A consulate staff is a representative of the service’s provided by the office, and therefore must dress appropriately according to the office dress code.

What to Wear:

There are no specific dress codes about what an intern should wear to the office, but however when an interns dress’s for office they should use common sense such as the consulate is an office environment and such you are required to dress business casual.

Listed below are some suggestions on what interns might consider wearing to the office:

Dress pants or skirts Dress coats or blazers, that is neutral color and appropriate to wear in a office

environment Blouses or dress shirts, that is appropriate for office environment Heels or boots, nothing flashy must be office appropriate

Further Your Knowledge by Getting to Know the Consulate Staff’s:

Your internship at the consulate will give you hands on and firsthand experience to see what it is like to work in a foreign affairs arena, you will be in charge of very important projects that will give you a chance to further your knowledge about US policies and programs in Canada. Your time at the consulate will be a valuable experience, so the best way to make yourself gain more insights into what it really is like to work at the US consulate is to get to know your environment and the well-educated and knowledgeable staff’s.

Security Precautions at the Consulate:

It is very important that intern’s have taken their badges off and put it in their pocket as soon as they leave the consulate. Wearing your ID outside could attract attention from the public and pose your life on danger. Your ID should only be worn inside of the consulate so that other staffs could recognize that you’re an employee at the consulate, and also so that security will not stop you in the hallway and mistake you for a customer.

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When interns start their internship at the consulate they have clearance and to every floor of the building, and are given security codes to access each floor. It is very important that interns keep passwords to the building secrete and not share with anyone, not even the consulate employees. Another precautions interns must take is that when they are entering the consulate or even accessing a certain floor or room, that they make sure that they cover the numbers that they are dialing, it is very important that the numbers are covered from the public to prevent others access to the building.

When intern’s use the elevator to get from one floor to the other, one thing they must make sure is that to get to the second floor staff needs clearance and a key to access the second floor and also the public is not allowed on the second floor. So when interns ride the elevator from the second floor, public will try to get off on this floor, so if intern intent to use the elevator they must ride it, they shouldn’t just press the button and leave and go down the stairs.

When intern’s enter the building it is ok to go through the service entrance where customers line up for visa services because they are given a visitor’s pass, but it is not ok to go through the service area all the time once interns have their ID badge because they disrupt and distract the security guards from performing their jobs. Once interns have their ID badge they should be using the turnstiles to enter and leave the consulate by swiping their ID badge and typing in their password. The turnstile is the entrance for the consulate staffs, through this entrance staff are able to enter and leave the building.

Arriving and Leaving the Consulate:

The consulate working hours are from 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM, it is very important that interns arrive on time for their jobs and if they are not able to arrive on time that they call their supervisor and let them know that they will be late. But also all local staff and interns cannot enter the Consulate Office Building earlier than 7:30 AM and must exit the Consulate before 5:20 PM. Intern’s working hours are usually from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the choice of the supervisor, it is very important if intern’s are not to make it to work on the time that the supervisor has set, that they tell the supervisor that the time is problem and negotiate another alternative time that will be appropriate for the intern. Interns cannot work beyond 5:00 PM, and once interns are done work they must exit the building at exactly 5:00 PM.

What to bring to Meetings:

Whenever an intern has a meeting with their supervisor, they must always bring a notebook and a pen to take notes. Whenever the supervisor assigns a new project to the intern, it is very important that they ask lots of questions about that new project to get as much questions they have cleared, so that they could do the absolute best job on the project they got assigned very well. Asking questions about things you don’t understand will help you to know more about the

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new project the supervisor assigned you, and also will give you a chance to understand and know what the expectations the supervisor has regarding the project.

Stay Organized:

It is very important that interns stay organized and on top of all the projects they have got assigned. Interns should have a binder or folder for every project they have done. They should also print out hard copies of their project and organize it in a binder or folder. Intern’s will be assigned their own folder in the PA folder of their computer desktop, it is very important that intern’s make a folder for every projects they have done, so the supervisor will be able to easily access their work. But also interns should also make separate folders for important emails in their outlook, so if interns receive any emails from important contacts pertaining to one of the projects they are working on, than they will be able to stay organized and on top of that project.

Emails About Important Trainings:

Whenever an intern receives emails from consular staff’s about upcoming training that will be coming up and available for staff’s to sign up, it is always good for intern’s to take advantage of these trainings and sign up. Some previous trainings that the consular staffs were able to sign up for was Windows 7 workshop, Violence Against women workshop and Bomb Threat Training workshop’s, these past workshops the consulate office held was very helpful because it educated staff about certain topics, and if the opportunity comes up than the interns should take advantage of such trainings for the chance to get further knowledge.

Projects Interns Were Involved In:

Projects of Previous Interns:

"I served as the U.S. Public Affairs Intern at a very exciting time of the U.S. Elections in 2012.  Consequently, I had a very memorable time at the Consulate.  My three favorite projects were coordinating public outreach between U.S. diplomats and the community, a public diplomacy event with Robert Anders - one of the six escaped diplomats from the Oscar award winning film Argo, and portraying Nameera in the U.S. Consulate Non-Immigrant Visa Youtube Video.” - Emman Rahman, Alumni of the US Consulate Toronto Internship Program (2012)

Projects of Current Interns:

“Some of the amazing projects that I had a chance to do was making a diaspora booklet consisting of the name and contact information of the ethnic medias in Canada, writing an article on the US Consul General’s visit to the Toronto Police Dog Services, and researching and writing about the Great Lakes States Project: Grand Rapids, Michigan, Duluth, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Indiana and Springfield, Illinois” – Samiha Fariha, Alumni of the US Consulate Toronto Internship Program (2013)

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Tips and Suggestions for New Interns:

Previous Intern:

“I recommend all future interns to begin their internship with a positive and open attitude and remember that it's not only about what you accomplish or who you meet - but the relationships you build that make an impact of a lifetime." – Emman Rahman, Alumni of the US Consulate Toronto Internship Program (2012)

Current Intern:

“I recommend to new intern’s to treat their internship as an educational opportunity, and get to know your colleagues and their work history, and familiarize yourself with what the US Mission Canada is all about” – Samiha Fariha, Alumni of the US Consulate Toronto Internship Program (2013)

Staff:

“New interns should not be shy and ask questions if they need assistance, the HR is here to help. Interns should ask questions if they need help with anything from knowing the numbers for whom to call for technical assistance to even needing help for how to send a fax or scanning a document. The HR welcomes inquires, and have resources and materials to assist interns with all their concerns. – Natalia Starovoit, Human Resources Assistant

AppendixThe U.S. Mission in Canada:

The U.S. is composed of several offices. The majority of the offices are part of the U.S. Department of State, while the others officers represent 26 other U.S. Government departments and agencies.

There are 100 Direct Hire Americans sent to U.S. Mission in Ottawa, Direct Hire officials are those staff members who are recruited and hired in the U.S. Family members can accompany Direct Hire officials, which make up a community of 250 + people. About 40% of Direct Hire work for U.S.; and the other 60% works for other U.S. Government departments such as Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, but also the U.S. Mission also hires about 220 local employees, most of them are Canadian Citizens.

Department of State Mission Components:

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The six major sections of the Embassy Mission components include: political, economic, management, consular, public affairs and regional security.

The Political Section (POL): coordinates political affairs for the mission and analyzes reports on political development in Canada.

The Economic Section (ECON): focuses on the strong economic relationship with Canada; the country is the largest trade and investment partner. It covers bilateral/multi-lateral trade and investment issues, advocate on behalf of US business, economic policy coordination, and cross border concerns. It also coordinates environmental, scientific and technical issues.

The Management Section (MGT): is responsible for the administrative side of maintaining and running the Embassy, from personnel and payroll to building maintenance, computer systems, purchasing and postal services. The section is made up of five units comprising a total of forty seven personnel: General Services, Financial Management, Human Resources, Information Management and Community Liaison.

The Consular Section (CONS): performs consular work in Ottawa and coordinates the consular work of the six constituent posts: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax. The section handles issues relating to passport for US citizens, and visas for foreigners travelling to the US, and providing certain services to US citizens living abroad.

The Public Affairs Office (PA) coordinates the press and cultural functions of the Mission, and provides information about the US and its cultures to the citizens of Canada. The information Resource Center (IRC), the Public Affairs Office, and the Information Office are part of Public Diplomacy Office.

The Regional Security Office (RSO): is responsible for the protective, physical, procedural and technical security of the Embassy and its employees and includes the U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment and the Engineering Security Office. The two Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agents assigned to the RSO liaise with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Canadian law enforcement authorities on a wide range of investigative and security issues and coordinates protective security coverage for visiting U.S. officials. The RSO staff includes two DSS agents, five U.S. civilians, eight U.S. Marines, a U.S. Navy "Seabee" and more than 20 Canadian contract employees.

Consular Offices in Canada:

There are eight US Consular Districts in Canada that support and carry out the US Mission: Ottawa, Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg

Ottawa

Economic Affairs:

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The Economic Section promotes U.S. policies and enhances the U.S. relationship with Canada in economic, environmental and scientific affairs.

The U.S. Commercial Service handles commercial matters such as individual firms and the Foreign Agricultural Services which is the primary point of contact on agricultural matters. The Consul Section handles matters such as individual’s ability to enter or work in the U.S.

Political Affairs:

The Political Section analyzes and reports on political matters that affect U.S. interests. The section convey U.S. Government views on political issues to foreign officials, but also the section prepares senior U.S. officials to visit Canada, and also prepare and support Canadian officials to Washington.

The political officers maintain close contact with a range of political and labor leader, Foreign Affairs officials and government officials, academics and journalists. A primary concern of the section is National Domestic Politics such as labor, environment, Military Relations between Canada and the U.S. and also Human Rights and Arms Control.

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Sections is responsible for relations with the press and educational and cultural exchanges. The section in Ottawa is headed by the Minister Counselor for Public Affairs. The goad of the Public Affairs is to maximize understanding of the U.S. The Public Affairs Officers oversee the Information and Cultural Affairs section of Ottawa, and has program responsibility for the Public Affairs Officers in the Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver consulates.

Calgary

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Section spreads information about the U.S. to Canadian public. The section mages media relations, academic and cultural programs, and conducts public outreach activities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories that include school visits, speaking engagements and digital video conferences.

Political and Economic Section:

The Political and Economic section works to build a strong relationship with political, business and academic leaders throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. The section also monitors political and economic developments in the district in order to ensure U.S. policy-makers are informed about events and issues of interests in Western Canada.

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The Political and Economic sections priorities include Canada-U.S. trade relations, bilateral defense cooperation, trans-boundary water protection issues, agriculture, the Arctic, and cross-border security and law enforcement policies and procedures.

Halifax

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Section spreads information about U.S. government policies and American society, the section also manages a variety of cultural exchange programs, and conducts public outreach activities, including speaker and digital videoconferencing programs.

Political and Economic Section:

The Political and Economic Section builds and maintains relationships with political, economic, industrial and business leaders across Newfoundland-Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

The section focuses on trans-boundary water and air quality issues and the section office play an important role in helping to strengthen the Atlantic regions longstanding cooperative relationship with the New England states in these areas. The section advises senior officers with the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa in topics including two-way trade between Canada and the United States, bilateral defense arrangements, cross-border transportation link and cultural industries.

Montreal

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Section in Montreal spreads information about U.S. government policies and American society, also the section manages a variety of cultural exchange program, and conducts public outreach activities.

Quebec City

Economic Affairs:

The Economic Section promotes U.S. policies and enhances the U.S. relationship with Canada in economic, environmental and scientific affairs.

The U.S. Commercial Service handles commercial matters such as individual firms and the Foreign Agricultural Services which is the primary point of contact on agricultural matters. The Consul Section handles matters such as individual’s ability to enter or work in the U.S.

Political Affairs:

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The Political Section analyzes and reports on political matters that affect U.S. interests. The section convey U.S. Government views on political issues to foreign officials, but also the section prepares senior U.S. officials to visit Canada, and also prepare and support Canadian officials to Washington.

The political officers maintain close contact with a range of political and labor leader, Foreign Affairs officials and government officials, academics and journalists. A primary concern of the section is National Domestic Politics such as labor, environment, Military Relations between Canada and the U.S. and also Human Rights and Arms Control.

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Sections is responsible for relations with the press and educational and cultural exchanges. The section in Ottawa is headed by the Minister Counselor for Public Affairs. The goad of the Public Affairs is to maximize understanding of the U.S. The Public Affairs Officers oversee the Information and Cultural Affairs section of Ottawa, and has program responsibility for the Public Affairs Officers in the Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver consulates.

Toronto

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Section explains and advocates on American policy, acts as a focal point for media and cultural relations, and works to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

The Public Affairs section works closely with academics, culture, media, business, government and the private sector in Ontario to provide authoritative information’s on U.S. government policies and programs.

Political and Economic Affairs:

The Political and Economic Section is responsible for reporting region-specific information to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and to the Department of States Washington DC.

The Political and Economic Section is the smallest section in the Toronto Consulate, consisting of three employees. The head of the section is the Political and Economic Chief, the section is also consisted of a Consular Rotation Officer and an Political and Economic Specialist.

Vancouver

Public Affairs:

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The Public Affairs Section of the Office of Press and Cultural Affairs in Vancouver provides information’s from and about the United States to Canada in British Columbia and Yukon Territories.

Political and Economic:

Political Economic Section in Vancouver follows economic developments and advocates for U.S. economic interests in the district including forestry, mining and fisheries, but also high technology industries such as bio-medical development, fuel cell manufacturing and film production.

Winnipeg

Economic Affairs:

The Economic Section promotes U.S. policies and enhances the U.S. relationship with Canada in economic, environmental and scientific affairs.

The U.S. Commercial Service handles commercial matters such as individual firms and the Foreign Agricultural Services which is the primary point of contact on agricultural matters. The Consul Section handles matters such as individual’s ability to enter or work in the U.S.

Political Affairs:

The Political Section analyzes and reports on political matters that affect U.S. interests. The section convey U.S. Government views on political issues to foreign officials, but also the section prepares senior U.S. officials to visit Canada, and also prepare and support Canadian officials to Washington.

The political officers maintain close contact with a range of political and labor leader, Foreign Affairs officials and government officials, academics and journalists. A primary concern of the section is National Domestic Politics such as labor, environment, Military Relations between Canada and the U.S. and also Human Rights and Arms Control.

Public Affairs:

The Public Affairs Sections is responsible for relations with the press and educational and cultural exchanges. The goad of the Public Affairs is to maximize understanding of the U.S. The Public Affairs Officers oversee the Information and Cultural Affairs section of Ottawa, and has program responsibility for the Public Affairs Officers in the Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver consulates.

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