Good morning. Sources shed a little light on Ottawa’s process to find a new envoy to Beijing. More on that below, along with updates on WestJet resuming operations and how to include fun on your agenda.

Three sources told The Globe that Martin Cauchon, a former Liberal cabinet minister and vice-chair of the Canada China Business Council lobby group, is under consideration to be Ottawa’s envoy to Beijing – and that he has said he’s up for the job.

The others: The sources say other high-profile names that have been under consideration include Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker, former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin and former B.C. premier Christy Clark.

The context: The government is expected to name a new ambassador to China in the coming weeks. Both countries are working to mend fractured diplomatic and economic ties while Prime Minister Mark Carney has set out to double non-U.S. exports globally over the next decade.

Flight attendants with WestJet are returning to work following a roughly one-day-long strike. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a news release on Monday that a tentative agreement will be presented to its members for a ratification vote, but details of the deal were not immediately available.

The passengers: The company cautioned that travellers’ patience would still be required in the coming days. Those flying with WestJet won’t likely be accessing flights any time soon as the airline says it will take several days to get up and running.

Ottawa’s decision to slash its troop contribution to United Nations missions is sparking concern that the cuts will undermine its new Africa strategy and jeopardize its long-standing peacekeeping traditions.

The details: By the middle of next year, Canada will withdraw its peacekeepers from UN missions in Congo, South Sudan, Kosovo and Cyprus and sharply reduce its role in a multinational mission in the Sinai, the Department of National Defence said.

Wildfires burning around Okanagan Lake have forced more evacuation orders and alerts. Many residents rushed to escape over the weekend as prolonged drought in the region and strong winds helped the fires spread.

Elsewhere: Europe is sweltering through a hot summer, as is the U.K., which recorded its driest July in nearly two centuries. Firefighters are still battling major wildfires in Greece and France.

Canadians spend a meagre 1.3 per cent of each day on hobbies, arts and leisure, according to Statistics Canada. So, while scheduled fun might sound like an oxymoron, families can often end up deprioritizing downtime activities, according to Ann Douglas, Ottawa Valley-based author of Happy Parents, Happy Kids.

The trend: As the pace of modern life accelerates, more families are deliberately setting squares aside on the calendar for unstructured days with no goals or agendas. Turns out, the downtime accomplishes something important: relaxation.