Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate a resident of Ingersoll who worked with the Canadian Executive Services Organization, or CESO, as a Canadian volunteer adviser.
Doug Thomlinson, a former teacher at Fanshawe College, hosted a Czech technical college teacher. He familiarized him with training programs for entrepreneurs, community college courses and counselling services for small businesses. The visitor will develop a plan for the future tourist trade in the Czech republic.
CESO volunteer advisers are professionally skilled men and women, usually retired, who share their experiences with businesses and organizations in developing nations and aboriginal communities in Canada. Since 1967 some 7,000 CESO volunteers have completed over 30,000 assignments in more than 100 countries and throughout Canada. In 1995, their 19,000 days of service were valued at $7 million.
I thank Doug and all CESO volunteers for their significant contributions to international development and prosperity.