Arnold Smith facts for kids

Arnold Cantwell Smith (born January 18, 1915 – died February 7, 1994) was an important Canadian diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. They work to build good relationships between countries.

Arnold Smith became the very first Commonwealth Secretary-General. He held this important job from 1965 to 1975.

Arnold Cantwell Smith: A Global Leader

Arnold Cantwell Smith was born in 1915. He grew up to become a well-known Canadian diplomat. His career involved working for Canada in different parts of the world. He helped Canada connect with other nations.

What is the Commonwealth?

The Commonwealth of Nations is a group of countries. These countries were mostly part of the former British Empire. Today, they are independent nations. They work together on shared goals. These goals include democracy, development, and peace.

Leading the Commonwealth

In 1965, the Commonwealth created a new role. This role was the Secretary-General. Arnold Smith was chosen to be the first person in this job. His main task was to lead the Commonwealth Secretariat. This is the main organization of the Commonwealth.

As Secretary-General, he helped the Commonwealth grow. He worked to make sure member countries cooperated. He played a key role in solving problems between nations. His work helped shape the Commonwealth into what it is today. He served for ten years, until 1975.

Honored for Service

Arnold Smith received high honors for his work. In 1975, he became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. This is a special award from the United Kingdom. It recognizes outstanding service.

In 1984, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest civilian honors. It was given to him for his "long and distinguished diplomatic career." These awards show how much his country valued his contributions.