On December 26, 2021 at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. Predeceased by Beryl Turner (née Nation), his beloved wife and soulmate. In a private ceremony, Vernon will be interred beside her at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa. Vernon will be fondly remembered by nieces and nephews of the Nation clan in BC, as well by cousins in Canada and England. He will also be missed by many friends.
Vernon was a Foreign Service Officer. Over a long career he met every challenge. He served twice in Vietnam as a political adviser on international commissions supervising the implementation of agreements bringing to an end ill-fated conflict in that country. These agreements provided a framework for the withdrawal of troops, exchange of prisoners and investigation of incidents. In London, Vernon had the good fortune to meet and marry Beryl, his partner for life. With the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN in New York, Vernon honed his skills in reporting, speech-writing and advocacy. He dealt with a variety of subjects notably peacekeeping and Chinese representation in the General Assembly and Middle East issues during Canada's 1967/68 membership on the Security Council. A posting in Warsaw where Vernon was in charge of the mission for many months provided valuable experience including persuading the Polish authorities to release two young Canadians who had been arrested for swimming in the river which formed the border between Poland and the Soviet Union. In Dar es Salaam, Vernon as acting High Commissioner, facilitated the visit of a survey team which established the basis for Canadian military assistance. In Washington, under three different heads of mission, Vernon as Minister for political affairs, contributed to the advancement of Canadian interests during the relatively benign Ford and Carter Administrations. In the last decade of his career, Vernon served as Ambassador of Canada to Israel during changes of government in both countries and then in the USSR during most of the Gorbachev era when glasnost and perestroika offered the fleeting prospect of a better life for the Soviet people within a more open society. These appointments were accompanied by dual accreditation to, respectively, Cyprus and Mongolia. In Ottawa, highlights included managing bilateral relations with the Communist regimes of Europe in the fragile atmosphere of East/West detente and trying to be productive and relevant in the unforgiving arena of policy planning when foreign policy reviews dominated the agenda. Increasing seniority provided the possibility of offering policy advice at the political level. Vernon relished this opportunity while having no illusions about how often his advice would be taken. Vernon's dedication, effectiveness and compassion inspired respect among those who worked with him.
A Celebration of Vernon’s Life will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday, August 12, 2022 at 2:00PM.
Anyone wishing to honour Vernon could make a donation to the National Arts Centre, Doctors Without Borders or the Ottawa Community Foundation. And all are invited to raise a glass in his memory on some suitable convivial occasion.
Digital Guestbook
Duncan Cameron
Christine McLaughlin
On behalf of the Board and members of the Friends of the National Art Centre Orchestra, I send our sincere condolences to the extended family of Mr. Vernon Turner. He was one of the earliest members and a great supporter of the Friends.
FNACO president
ANDRE BENOIT
I was very fortunate to serve under Ambassador Vernon Turner in Moscow as a young diplomat for my very first posting abroad, at the Canadian Embassy's Commercial Section from 1987 to 1990. A fledgling foreign service officer cannot ask for better mentoring and leadership, even though our direct interactions were limited in time and scope. I have an anecdote... In 1988, Canada was in the running for one of the UN non-permanent Security Council seats, and the Soviet Union had three votes (Russia, Belarus and Ukraine). Vernon Turner asked me, a "lowly" 3rd Secretary in the Commercial Section, to accompany him to Kiev (now Kyiv) for meetings with high-level Ukraine Party officials, as Canada lobbied governments around the world for that UN SC seat. It was a wonderful and eye-opening experience to witness Ambassador Turner work to convince these officials of the value of the Canadian candidacy. We would then repair to the local hotel to debrief each other, where Vernon Turner seemed genuinely interested in my views. I will never forget those few days... A consummate professional.
Carol Bishop Gwyn
I met Vernon and Beryl Turner when he was the Ambassador to the Soviet Union. They became friends to both me and my son, Joshua, who was around seven years old at the time. Vernon was very gracious when Joshua cut in on him to dance with Beryl on a riverboat party. Vernon was a true gentleman with a lovely twinkle in his eye. He sent me a Xmas card this year saying, "Shall we meet ever again - don't know where, don't know when." I very much hope I will meet up again with Vernon and his beloved wife Beryl.
Bronwen Dearlove
Vernon and Beryl were among the first patrons I had the pleasure of working with when starting my career at the National Arts Centre 20+ years ago. I am grateful for all that I have learned from Vernon over the years, and will always remember him fondly. He was one of a kind.
Claire Speed
I was saddened to read in the Globe and Mail of the passing of Vernon Turner, a dear friend and former colleague. I had the privilege to work with Vernon when he chaired the NAC Orchestra Bursary Committee. His meticulous attention to detail, and committed oversight, elevated this annual competition for young local performance artists to the highest professional level. When I left the NAC in 2009, Vernon and I remained in contact. I would meet with Vernon and Beryl, either in Toronto where they regularly attended Canadian Opera Company performances or in Ottawa, and enjoy stimulating conversations over coffee or a meal. He was a diplomat and a gentleman, with a keen intelligence, a dry sense of humour, sparkling eyes and a terrific laugh! There is comfort knowing that he is reunited with his soulmate, Beryl. My partner Sam Carson and I send our sincere condolences to Vernon's family.
Anne Eschapasse
Récemment, j'ai eu le plaisir de faire la connaissance de Vernon. Il me laissera le souvenir d'un homme d'une grande gentillesse, attentionné et ouvert aux autres.
Kenneth Venables
Vernon was a much loved and admired first cousin in the Venables family
(England ) on his mother's side. Both he and Beryl visited and corresponded with us regularly of the years and my wife Mary and I had the pleasure of meeting and visiting them at their home on two trips to Canada. Their visits to to us in England always involved a family gathering of up to 20 members of the family here with Vernon and Beryl as guests of honour. They always appeared to enjoy their period of being 'held hostage' and had a particular liking for iced celebration cake the remains of which went back with them to their accommodation in London.
We know they dedicated their lives to the Canadian Foreign Service and are highly regarded but to us they were our Canadian Cousins who we now miss.
Richard Kohler
I am so sorry to learn of Vern's death. He was everything a fine person might aspire to be, thoughtful, compassionate, a brilliant diplomat, esteemed in every community he touched including the world of music -- he will be sorely missed. Condolences to Vern's extended family.
Bob Rae
Vern Turner wrote me the kindest note when my Dad Saul died in the winter of 1999. They had served together in Vietnam and had great affection and respect for each other. He reached out in a kind way when I wrote my Rohingya report and again when I finally joined what he called « the family business ». He was a gentleman in every sense, wise, good humoured, self deprecating and dedicated to our building a better world. He lived a wonderfully full life and I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
I met Vern in New York where he was the workhorse of the Canadian Permanent Mission to the UN, and I was a junior advisor on the Delegation to the 22nd General Assembly. I was an admirer of his turn of phrase, insightful telegrams, and good disposition. He was so obviously at home in the world of multilateral diplomacy. I sought out his company for advice and the learning opportunities it afforded to spend time around him. On the occasions when I saw him in Ottawa in later years he was unfailingly friendly. His many friends and acquaintances will be saddened by his passing but grateful for having him in their life as I am. Sincere condolences to his family.