' s ▁degree ▁in ▁political ▁science ▁from ▁St . John ' s ▁College ▁in ▁W inn ip eg . ▁is ▁a ▁Canadian ▁diplom at ▁and ▁former ▁Amb assador ▁to ▁Ireland , ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁to ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁and ▁Russia , ▁between ▁the ▁years ▁ 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 0 6 .; ▁Mr . ▁West dal ▁served ▁as ▁Canadian ▁Amb assador ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Nations ▁in ▁Gene va ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 3 ; ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁amb assador ▁to ▁Ukraine ▁from ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁to ▁August ▁ 1 9 9 8 .; ▁South ▁Africa ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁and ▁Bang l adesh ▁& ▁Bur ma ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 5 . ▁Mr . ▁West dal ' s ▁assign ments ▁abroad ▁included ▁India ▁and ▁Nep al ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁responsible ▁for ▁Canadian ▁International ▁Development ▁Agency ▁(" C ID A ") ▁programming ▁and ▁T anz ania ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁ ▁West dal ▁is ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Canada ▁E uras ia ▁Russia ▁Business ▁Association ▁( C ER BA ). ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : Year ▁of ▁birth ▁missing ▁( l iving ▁people ) ▁Category : L iving ▁people ▁Category : Am b ass adors ▁of ▁Canada ▁to ▁Russia ▁Category