Following three years of diplomatic service in the Caribbean nation, outgoing Canadian Ambassador Jacqueline Delima Baril has received one of the Dominican Republic’s most prestigious state awards in recognition of her work advancing bilateral ties between Ottawa and Santo Domingo. In a formal ceremony held at the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ central headquarters, Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez bestowed the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, in the rank of Grand Cross Silver Plaque, to Delima Baril on behalf of the Dominican government.
The top honor was officially authorized by Dominican President Luis Abinader via Presidential Decree No. 421-26, a formal designation that singles out Delima Baril’s key efforts to deepen cooperation and connection between the two countries. During the event, Álvarez highlighted the ambassador’s consistent dedication to nurturing open dialogue, expanding collaborative partnerships across priority sectors, and building lasting mutual trust between Canadian and Dominican stakeholders.
The ceremony drew a crowd of senior Dominican government leaders, resident diplomatic representatives from other nations, and senior staff from the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo. Accepting the distinction, Delima Baril offered reflective remarks on the landmark progress achieved during her tenure, expressed sincere gratitude for the rare national honor, and reaffirmed the deep, enduring friendship and shared commitment to cooperation that define the modern relationship between Canada and the Dominican Republic.