paul bennett

I am pleased to join the board of the Ottawa Scottish Society as Membership Director. My mother was Scottish (residing primarily in St. Andrews prior to marriage) while my father was half Scottish (his mother spent her early life in Auchterarder) and half English. They met in London during WWII and came to Canada in 1946 to work for the British Information Service. A nephew and my remaining first cousins still live in Scotland. All play the bagpipes – I wish I did (but I can make oatcakes – does that count?) More distant relatives live throughout Scotland, including Edinburgh, Skye and Mull. I get over every few years to visit family and learn more about Scottish history,geography, and culture.

I am retired but spent most of my career at Global Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration, and the Canadian International Development Agency. My recent volunteer experience has included Heritage Ottawa, Chamberfest, the Queen’s Alumni Association Ottawa seniors’ group, the National Association of Federal Retirees, and the Lisgar Alumni Association.

In 2021, I published a collection of reminiscences entitled On the Border: Twenty Life Stories From Four Continents. I look forward to becoming more involved with the Society, getting to know more members, and helping the Society become better known in the nation’s capital.