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. 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. 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.
Best retired in 1990 after his term as High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. He died in Ottawa at the age of 81.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Byron Bissett |
High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago 1985- |
Succeeded by Rodney Irwin |