Michael Shenstone

Michael Shenstone, born on June twenty-fifth, nineteen twenty-eight, was a distinguished Canadian diplomat whose career spanned several pivotal roles in international relations. He served as Canada’s ambassador to both Saudi Arabia and Austria, and represented Canada in NATO-Warsaw Pact disarmament negotiations. His expertise also led him to become the director-general of African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Shenstone's diplomatic acumen was notably demonstrated during the tumultuous period of the 1979 Iranian revolution, where he played a crucial role in the rescue of six American diplomats who had managed to evade capture. His insights into Middle Eastern politics were recognized in 1981 when the Calgary Herald referred to him as a 'bruised defender of Canadian Middle East Policy' during a conference on the region.

In July nineteen eighty-six, his attendance at Kurt Waldheim's inauguration as President of Austria sparked controversy, prompting discussions about Canada's diplomatic stance compared to that of the United States. An editorial in the Ottawa Citizen highlighted Canada's adherence to the British model of diplomacy, emphasizing a more reserved approach to expressing approval or disapproval of foreign leaders.

On November fifteenth, two thousand twelve, Shenstone, alongside American diplomat Robert Anders, reflected on their experiences during the 'Canadian caper' and how these events were depicted in the film Argo. Michael Shenstone passed away peacefully at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto on September ninth, two thousand nineteen.