Peter Colin DOBELL

Jane. I’m so sorry to hear about Peter. In the early 1980s I was looking for something new in the federal bureaucracy when I met Peter. I don’t know what he saw in me, but with his efforts, he got me an opportunity, through the Parliamentary Centre to work with the Senate Finance Committee for some 7 years. It was the most interesting time in my 33 years working in Ottawa
I remember fondly Christmas parties at your home and the excellent camaraderie among the people at the Centre....

I had the privilege of working with Peter Dobell when he served as Secretary to the Board, and trusted advisor, to the newly established Institute for Research on Public Policy. The Institute was a non-governmental body, motivated by then PM Pierre Trudeau's commitment to promote long-range research on public policy challenges. Peter later recruited me as constitutional advisor to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement. In both instances, it was a...

My condolences to Jane and the rest of Peter’s family. I had the pleasure to work with Peter at the Parliamentary Centre and the Centre for Legislative Exchange and his dedication to public service was inspirational.

I was fortunate to work with Peter on the Parliamentary Centre’s Russia project and admired his vision and integrity in sharing Canadian public administration values and experiences in that country, as well as many others. Peter was a mentor for many public servants I knew, and he created in the Parliamentary Centre a unique and valuable institution. He was also a great raconteur with a fine sense of humour. Admired him a lot.

Colin and family - very sorry to hear about your dad, but a long and good life lived. I'll always have many memories, particularly from our all growing up together at Lake Simcoe and all the family activities. Will be thinking of you and family.

We extend to Jane Dobell our sincere condolences in this difficult time - Steve Mosher and Gerry Wiggett

I am proud to join which I'm sure is a long list of people whose lives were deeply impacted and improved by knowing Peter Dobell.
He was my first boss and his faith in my untested potential as a young man gave me my first understanding of grown-up things. Working for him in Moscow just after the collapse of the Soviet Union was a great opportunity at a time of much optimism about the post-Cold War era.
He entrusted me with responsibilities probably far beyond my capacities and was...