James Calbert Best

Who was James Calbert Best?

James Calbert Best was a former Canadian diplomat. He was High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. He was Canada’s first Black assistant deputy minister and first Black high commissioner.

A native of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Best earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a diploma in journalism from the University of King's College in Halifax and also did post-graduate work in public administration before moving to Ottawa. He was co-founder of the Civil Service Association of Canada, which evolved into the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and served as CSAC's first president, from 1957 to 1966. He served as director, personnel and administration, Office of the Comptroller of Treasury; director-general administration, Department of Supply & Services. and assistant deputy, Department of Manpower and Immigration, from 1970 to 1975. He was seconded to the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1975 and spent two years in London. He travelled widely, sharing his expertise with many Commonwealth governments. After the Ben Johnson steroid scandal, Best was appointed to a three member panel to examine the future of sport in Canada. Their final report was entitled Sport - the Way Ahead.