January 8, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement announcing the appointment of Vivian Bercovici as Canada’s new ambassador to the State of Israel:
“Canada and Israel share a strong and multi-faceted relationship based on shared values, common interests and strong political, economic, cultural and social ties.
“Having lived in Israel and written extensively on the region, Ms. Bercovici has an excellent understanding of the challenges facing the country and deep insight into the opportunities provided by the strong links between our two countries.
“The Government of Canada congratulates Ms. Bercovici on this appointment, and wishes her well in building upon this special relationship.
“We also look forward to further deepening the bonds between Canada and Israel during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first official visit to the region later this month.”
A biographical note follows.
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Having studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem from 1981 to 1982 and written a monthly column for the Toronto Star on Israel and issues in the Middle East since January 2013, Vivian Bercovici (BA Honours [English and Political Science], York University, 1984; Diploma, International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science, 1985; LLB, University of Toronto, 1988) has maintained a strong interest in and knowledge of Israel.
From 1990 to 1995, Ms. Bercovici practised law at Paterson MacDougall, focusing on media defence work. From 1995 to 1997, she was a policy adviser to Ontario’s minister of finance. She joined the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company as a legal executive in 1998 and was promoted shortly afterwards to vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary, a position she held until 2006. From 2007 to 2013, she was a partner with Heenan Blaikie LLP.
Recently, Ms. Bercovici was a partner at Dickinson Wright LLP. She practised in the areas of regulatory insurance, risk management, corporate governance, privacy, Aboriginal and First Nations law, public policy and legislative advice. Ms. Bercovici has been a member of the boards of CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canadian Journalism Foundation. As well, she has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Law. She has two children. She replaces Paul Hunt.
