06-10 July, 2008: Ambassador and Mrs. Wilkins visited Alberta
From July 6-10, Ambassador and Mrs. Wilkins visited Alberta. While they were here, they took in a bit of the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, the Calgary Stampede and all the activities that surround the ten day celebration of western spirit. They also took the opportunity to travel up the Icefields Parkway in Banff and Jasper National Parks, and the Ambassador spoke to the Jasper Chamber of Commerce. [slideshow]

July 10, 2008: Consul General in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Consul General Tom Huffaker had the privilege of participating in the 2008 Calgary Stampede parade. The picture at left shows Consul General Tom Huffaker (left) and Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier (right) riding in the parade. [slideshow]

Calgary Consul General celebrates American Independence with "A Salute to California"
On July 2nd, Consul General Tom Huffaker and his wife Claire hosted hundreds of guests at their residence to celebrate the 232nd anniversary of American Independence Day. This year's theme, "A Salute to California", focused the spotlight on the Consul General's home state: DJs played tunes by California artists, the food had a decidedly California flair, and the dress was "California casual". The event was held on the 2nd this year so as not to coincide with the first day of the Calgary Stampede on the 4th , and it turned out to be the perfect substitution, as we learned that the Declaration of Independence was actually completed and presented to the Continental Congress on July 2nd , and it took another two days to collect all the signatures on the United States' most important document. [slideshow]

13 June 08: NASA Aircraft Examine Impact of Forest Fires on Arctic Climate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the summer fire season heats up, NASA aircraft are set to follow the trail of smoke plumes from some of Earth's northernmost forest fires, examining their contribution to arctic pollution and implications for climate change. [More].

Consul General Pens Piece on North American Water Issues
Consul General Tom Huffaker was a recent guest columnist for Alberta WaterSMART, a not for profit society dedicated to the improvement of water management awareness, technologies and practices in Alberta. Tom’ s piece is the inaugural column for The Alberta Water Portal, developed by Alberta WaterSMART, the Bow River Basin Council, IBM and Tesera Systems. The Alberta WaterPortal is open source, in support of making it easier to find and share of water related information and knowledge. To read the Consul General’s article, click here. For more on Alberta WaterSMART, click here.

May 02, 2008: Ambassador Wilkins Salutes Canadian Military at Calgary Museums Gala
On May 2, Ambassador Wilkins was the guest speaker at a gala dinner celebrating the Calgary Military Museums Society. Along with The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, Consul General and Mrs. Claire Huffaker and 350 other guests, the evening, dubbed “Between Friends: Celebrating the Unique Relationship Between Canada and the United States”, was a huge success, raising funds for educational programs at the Military Museums. To read the text of the Ambassador’s speech, click here. [slideshow]

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), for entry into the United States at land or sea borders, as of January 31, 2008:
- Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted;
- U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate;
- Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate;
- Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel. All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. A passport has been required for air travel since January 23, 2007. [read more on WHTI]
NEW. Entry requirements at land or sea borders in effect June 1, 2009:
Washington -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements will be effective June 1, 2009 [Press Release] [FAQs] .

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