Dear Member of the Press,
Thank you for choosing the Embassy of Canada in Washington to cover the 60th Presidential Inauguration.
Inauguration Day holds many important traditions for the people of the United States. For Canada, we have hosted an Inauguration event for every incoming President since the Embassy moved to Pennsylvania Avenue in 1989. Canada has the only Embassy located between Capitol Hill and the White House, and the only one on the presidential inaugural route. Our location gives us an excellent opportunity to welcome important guests, further build on our relationships and continue to advance Canada’s interests in the U.S.
As friends, partners, and allies for over 150 years, Canada and the United States share a special relationship rooted in our shared economic, energy and continental security and strong people-to-people ties. In addition to providing you with important logistical information, the infographics included on this website highlight some of the important ways that Canada and the United States contribute to each country’s economic security, sustained prosperity and safety. We hope that this information proves useful for your Inauguration coverage. During the event, our team will also be sending real-time updates and sharing fun facts through social media. We encourage you to follow us on X at @CanEmbUSA, on Instagram at @Connect2Canada and by using the hashtags #viewfrom501 and #friendspartnersallies.
As you know, security in downtown Washington will increase in the lead-up to and on Inauguration Day. The Embassy is working closely with federal and local law enforcement with regards to the security plans for the area. On January 20th, you must arrive at the Embassy by foot and approach from 6th St NW and turn east on C St NW. Vehicles will not be permitted in the secure zone. Please check http://inauguration.dc.gov for more information on road closures and follow @SecretService on X for real-time updates.
All media working at our Inauguration event will be provided with an accreditation badge either when setting up their broadcast space in the days leading up to the Inauguration, or on January 20th at the media check-in desk. Each outlet will be signed a set number of badges based on the staffing plan submitted to the Embassy. Only pre-registered media will be provided access to the Embassy and accreditation badges. The badge must be worn and visible at all times and will clearly indicate your assigned work area. Embassy Staff will be available to assist and escort you in and out of the building.
We hope you enjoy your experience at our event and thank you for broadcasting this historic moment from the Embassy of Canada.
Sincerely,
Tarryn Elliott (she|her|elle)
Spokesperson and Counsellor (Communications & Media Relations)
Embassy of Canada to the United States
Ambassador Kirsten Hillman
Kirsten Hillman has served as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington D.C. since 2020.
The first woman to be appointed to this position, Ambassador Hillman has stewarded the bilateral relationship through two administrations and the COVID-19 pandemic, managing a wide range of bilateral and global files, advocating for Canada’s interests, and advancing shared priorities.
Through her twenty-five-year career with the Government of Canada, Ambassador Hillman has held various senior diplomatic, policy, and legal positions at home and abroad. She has played critical roles in negotiating important trade agreements for Canada, including the modernization of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and served as Canada’s Chief Negotiator for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Prior to this, Ambassador Hillman practised law at the Department of Justice in Ottawa and at a private law firm in Montréal.
Ambassador Hillman grew up in Calgary and Winnipeg and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and Bachelors of Civil Law and of Common Law from McGill University. She also holds a Doctor of Laws – honoris causa – from the Royal Military College of Canada.
She was recognized in the Maclean’s magazine 2022 Power List – 50 Canadians who are forging paths, leading the debate and shaping how we think and live – and named one of Washington’s most powerful women by the Washingtonian in 2021 and 2023.
She is married and is the mother of two sons.