Shelley Elizabeth Whiting

1959 – 2025

It is with great sadness that’s we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Shelley Whiting at her home on March 6th, 2025.

Shelley was predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Betty Whiting, and a brother, Fred. She is survived by her sister, Beverly, brother-in-law, Bruce Chisholm, brother, Dan as well as several nieces and nephews. She also leaves her beloved Westie Zuli, who was her constant companion in her more recent travels with her newly-acquired RV.

Shelley was born in Edmonton on January 11th, 1959

Following her university studies for her B.Sc. at the University of Alberta, she attained her Law Degree at the University of British Columbia. After a short period of private practice, she joined External Affairs and International Trade Canada in 1989 and was assigned to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. She went on to various assignments: First Secretary Embassy of Belgrade Bangkok, Laos & Burma as well as in Ottawa, where among other things she served as deputy director for human rights and humanitarian law.

From 2003 to 2006 she was Canada’s Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and then became Canadian political advisor to NORAD. She also served as deputy representative of Canada at Kandahar and subsequently as deputy head of mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. In 2012, she was named High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

After retiring from the Canadian Foreign Service after more than thirty years of service, Shelley was active in non-governmental organizations in Ottawa and from her retirement home in Edmonton. She was a director of AmbCanada, a board member CANADEM, and a board member of the Canadian Foreign Service Alumni Forum. She was a determined, diligent advocate for Canada in difficult parts of the world, and she brought to the table both expertise in international law and a personal determination to place her stamp on Canadian foreign policy. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.