Opinion piece by Ian Smillie, keynote speaker at the CAIDC Conference 2009. In addition to his many other accomplishments, Ian is an early member of CAIDC whose main area of concern was the quality and professionalisation of Canadian Development Services. Members may also be interested in a facebook page on this started by a Saskatchewan student: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=246092183957