Governor General To Present 45 Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division)

45 Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division)
November 23, 2016

OTTAWA—His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) to 45 recipients from various sectors across the country on Friday, November 25, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. On this occasion, the Governor General will present 14 Meritorious Service Crosses and 31 Meritorious Service Medals.

The Meritorious Service Decorations were established to recognize the extraordinary people who make Canada proud. Their acts are often innovative, set an example or model for others to follow, or respond to a particular challenge faced by a community. The best candidates are those who inspire others through their motivation to find solutions to specific and pressing needs or provide an important service to their community or country. For more information or to nominate a deserving Canadian, visit www.merit.gg.ca.

RECIPIENTS

MERITORIOUS SERVICE CROSS

Tom Affleck, M.S.C.
Almonte, Ont.

Daniel Alfredsson, M.S.C.
Ottawa, Ont.

Teresa Barbara Dellar, M.S.C.
Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Que.

Dominick Gauthier, M.S.C.
Montréal, Que.

Jennifer Heil, M.S.C.
Montréal, Que.

Marcel Lauzière, M.S.C.
Cantley, Que.

Stephen Ward Leafloor, M.S.C.
Stittsville, Ont.

Monique Lefebvre, M.S.C.
Montréal, Que.

Staff Sergeant David Frederick McIntyre, M.O.M., M.S.C.
London, Ont.

Lindey McIntyre, M.S.C.
London, Ont.

JD Miller, M.S.C.
Montréal, Que.

Todd Stuart Nicholson, M.S.C.
Dunrobin, Ont.

Sima Sharifi, M.S.C.
Vancouver, B.C.

Arnold Witzig, M.S.C.
Vancouver, B.C.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL

William Adair, M.S.M.
Etobicoke, Ont.

Richard James Armstrong, M.S.M.
Midhurst, Ont.

Constable Alan Dennis Arsenault, M.S.M.
Port Moody, B.C.

Nathalie Beaudry, M.S.M.
Montréal, Que.

Edward M. Brown, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ont.

Michael Ryan Callan, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ont.

Robert Wendell Clarke, M.S.M., C.D.
Chatham, Ont.

Leonard J. Edwards, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ont.

Superintendent David William Hazelton, M.S.M.
Glen Williams, Ont.

Constable Tobin Hinton, M.O.M., M.S.M.
Burnaby, B.C.

Constable Lenny Hollingsworth, M.S.M.
Victoria, B.C.

Robert Kirkpatrick, M.S.M.
Mississauga, Ont.

Joanne Klauke-LaBelle, M.S.M. (posthumous)
Sarnia, Ont.

Constable David W. Kolb, M.S.M.
North Vancouver, B.C.

Michel Robert Labbé, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ont.

Claudine Labelle, M.S.M.
Sainte-Adèle, Que.

Francine Laplante, M.S.M.
Laval, Que.

Judy Maddren, M.S.M.
Stratford, Ont.

Constable Walter Maxwell McKay, M.S.M.
Red Deer, Alta.

Ranjana Mitra, M.S.M.
Mississauga, Ont.

Barry Phippen, M.S.M.
Temiskaming Shores, Ont.

Ron Rock, M.S.M.
Scarborough, Ont.

Jasmin Roy, M.S.M.
Laval, Que.

Vincent Matthew Savoia, M.S.M.
King City, Ont.

Aaron Blake Seward, M.S.M.
Smiths Falls, Ont.

Constable Mark Warren Steinkampf, M.S.M.
Coquitlam, B.C.

Julie Toskan-Casale, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ont.

Theodore van der Zalm, M.S.M.
St. Catharines, Ont.

Constable Dale Weidman, M.S.M.
North Vancouver, B.C.

Peter Manly Wright, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ont.

Mark A. Zamorski, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ont.

CITATIONS

MERITORIOUS SERVICE CROSS

Tom Affleck, M.S.C.
Almonte, Ontario

Moved by what he saw while visiting Nicaragua, Tom Affleck founded SchoolBox in 2006 to provide educational packages for school children and teachers in Nicaragua. His positive contributions have expanded to include building classrooms and washrooms, sports fields, and mini-libraries. His programs have changed the lives of over 16 000 students and teachers in
89 communities across Nicaragua.

Daniel Alfredsson, M.S.C.
Ottawa, Ontario

As the face of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health’s You Know Who I Am campaign, Daniel Alfredsson has used his star power to address the stigma surrounding mental illness. The former captain of the Ottawa Senators went public about his own experience with supporting a loved one who struggled with mental illness. He has challenged society to be more open about mental health issues and his ongoing commitment is an inspiration for many to seek the help they need.

Teresa Barbara Dellar, M.S.C.
Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Quebec

Social worker Teresa Dellar co-founded the West Island Palliative Care Residence in 2002, the first facility in Montréal to offer end-of-life care in a residential setting. Her passionate leadership as executive director has resulted in stable funding for the non-profit foundation and a large expansion of the residence. The model of holistic care she created for patients and their families is now used in facilities across Canada.

Dominick Gauthier, M.S.C.
Jennifer Heil, M.S.C.
JD Miller, M.S.C.
Montréal, Quebec

Dominick Gauthier and JD Miller initiated B2ten in 2002 to support Freestyle Olympic skier Jennifer Heil in her rehab following an injury she suffered while preparing for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. The trio has since led B2ten, raising millions of dollars from the private sector to provide equipment, coaching and training opportunities for Canadian Olympic athletes to achieve success. These elite athletes have also become ambassadors for health and wellness, influencing society and young Canadians to live active, balanced and purposeful lives.

Marcel Lauzière, M.S.C.
Cantley, Quebec

While in his role as president and CEO, Marcel Lauzière did an exemplary job of restructuring Imagine Canada, an organization that supports the charitable sector. He succeeded in rectifying Imagine Canada’s financial situation and created an atmosphere of trust and sound governance among a wide range of private sector, government and charitable organizations. His efforts helped to bolster charities so that they, in turn, could support the communities they serve.

Stephen Ward Leafloor, M.S.C.
Stittsville, Ontario

A social worker and hip-hop dancer, Stephen Ward Leafloor combined his passions to found BluePrintForLife. Geared towards at-risk youth in northern Canada and inner cities, this initiative offers programs for Indigenous youth rooted in traditional culture and hip-hop dance. Tackling such complex subjects as bullying, violence, sexual abuse, addiction and suicide, BluePrintForLife facilitates intergenerational healing and touches the lives of thousands of young people.

Monique Lefebvre, M.S.C.
Montréal, Quebec

A lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, Monique Lefebvre launched Défi sportif AlterGo in 1984. For a week each year, Montréal welcomes thousands of athletes with disabilities to this international competition featuring dozens of sports disciplines. The event has become a proving ground for future Paralympians, and also shines a light on issues of inclusion and accessibility in the wider community.

Staff Sergeant David Frederick McIntyre, M.O.M., M.S.C.
Lindey McIntyre, M.S.C.
London, Ontario

Their daughter’s diagnosis of metachromatic leukodystrophy—a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorder—spurred David and Lindey McIntyre to create Bethany’s Hope Foundation. Since then, the foundation has grown into a source of comfort, information and guidance for families around the world dealing with similar circumstances. Though Bethany passed away 16 years ago, the foundation named in her honour continues to raise funds and promote research in a quest to find a cure.

Todd Stuart Nicholson, M.S.C.
Dunrobin, Ontario

Todd Nicholson donned the maple leaf in five Paralympic Games, winning three medals in sledge hockey, and an additional eight at World Championships. Representing athletes on the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board, he is an ambassador for sport advancing the Paralympic movement internationally and bringing sledge hockey into the national spotlight.

Sima Sharifi, M.S.C.
Arnold Witzig, M.S.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia

Dedicated to making a difference in their adopted country of choice, Sima Sharifi and Arnold Witzig are committed champions of the Canadian Arctic. Together, they created the Arctic Inspiration Prize, which is given annually to diverse teams as catalyst funding for initiatives that apply knowledge to real-world issues, for the benefit of present and future generations in Canada’s North.

Meritorious Service Medal

William Adair, M.S.M.
Etobicoke, Ontario

For over 20 years, William Adair served as CEO of Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO), an organization that champions excellence in service, advocacy and quality of life for people with disabilities. Thanks to his leadership, SCIO was reinvigorated, a post-doctoral fellowship in spinal cord injury research was established at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and thousands of people with disabilities are now able to live more fulfilling lives.

Richard James Armstrong, M.S.M.
Midhurst, Ontario

In the late 1990s, long-serving Emergency Medical Services officer Richard Armstrong saw the need for an organization that would give Ontario’s ambulance service providers a common voice during the transfer of responsibility for ambulance services from the province to municipalities. Thanks to his leadership and vision as founding president of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, 175 Ontario ambulance service providers have been successfully united and can now share best practices and save more lives.

Constable Alan Dennis Arsenault, M.S.M.
Port Moody, British Columbia
Constable Tobin Hinton, M.O.M., M.S.M.
Burnaby, British Columbia
Constable Lenny Hollingsworth, M.S.M.
Victoria, British Columbia
Constable David W. Kolb, M.S.M.
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Constable Walter Maxwell McKay, M.S.M.
Red Deer, Alberta
Constable Mark Warren Steinkampf, M.S.M.
Coquitlam, British Columbia
Constable Dale Weidman, M.S.M.
North Vancouver, British Columbia

In 1997, seven Vancouver Police officers patrolling the city’s Downtown Eastside decided to film their daily encounters with drug addicts. Over the course of two years, they chronicled the gut-wrenching effects of substance abuse on addicts who were willing participants in their first film Through the Blue Lens. As Odd Squad Productions, the group has gone on to create a series of award-winning films on the subjects of guns, gangs, drugs and crime. Their goal is to open a window onto the harsh reality of criminal behaviour to empower at-risk youth to make better choices.

Nathalie Beaudry, M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec

Visionary Nathalie Beaudry founded Les filles et les sciences, un duo électrisant! in 1998. Through this annual activity, she has helped to familiarize high school girls in Quebec with professions in science and technology. This event presents a range of career options and encourages future generations of girls to pursue their studies in these fields.

Edward M. Brown, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Ed Brown developed and implemented North Network and oversaw its expansion to what is now called the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), one of the largest telemedicine networks in the world. Through videoconferencing and other electronic equipment, OTN brings specialized health care to hundreds of rural Ontario patients each day in their home communities, saving them the time and expense of travelling to urban centres for treatment.

Michael Ryan Callan, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ontario

In the midst of great confusion and uncertainty, and under extremely dangerous conditions, Michael Ryan Callan was deployed as the Canadian International Development Agency’s first representative in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Using original approaches, he involved local partners in education, reconstruction and local governance projects. His innovative methods had a profound impact on the ongoing Canadian mission, and gained considerable credit and recognition for Canada.

Robert Wendell Clarke, M.S.M., C.D.
Chatham, Ontario

Working in collaboration with local palliative care associations, Robert Wendell Clarke spearheaded the development of A Caregiver’s Guide: A handbook about end-of-life care. As demand grew, Mr. Clarke oversaw its cultural adaptation and translation into French and Inuktitut. The publication is now used across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and China as a trusted resource for those supporting loved ones in palliative care.

Leonard J. Edwards, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ontario

In 2010, Leonard Edwards served as the prime minister’s personal representative—or “Sherpa”—at both the G8 and G20 summits in Canada. He expertly resolved and addressed issues and concerns of participating nations, and laid the groundwork for international negotiations that resulted in historic agreements on global economic reform, and maternal and child health.

Superintendent David William Hazelton, M.S.M.
Glen Williams, Ontario

When former police superintendent David Hazelton was sent to Iraq, it was in the role of civilian advisor. Yet when he found himself in the middle of an attack, he fearlessly took charge. On the outskirts of Baghdad he, along with members of the Iraqi special police and the U.S. Marines, landed in an ambush of gun and rocket fire following a car bomb explosion. His quick decision making and calm leadership saved the lives of American and Iraqi personnel, and reduced civilian casualties.

Robert Kirkpatrick, M.S.M.
Mississauga, Ontario

In 2008, Mississauga fire captain Robert Kirkpatrick volunteered to serve as president and general manager of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF), a charity devoted to preserving the memory and supporting the families of firefighters who died in the line of duty. Thanks to his leadership, the first national memorial dedicated to all fallen Canadian firefighters was unveiled in Ottawa and the CFFF as an organization was reinvigorated.

Joanne Klauke-LaBelle, M.S.M. (posthumous)
Sarnia, Ontario

Joanne Klauke-LaBelle believed in the healing influence of music, so she established Harmony for Youth for teens struggling with confidence issues or anti-social behaviour. For every hour of free music lessons she gave them, she encouraged them to volunteer one hour of service to the community. Her welcoming, judgment-free attitude gave at-risk youth a sense of belonging and showed them how to contribute to society. Harmony has since grown to include other arts programs and a drop-in centre.

Michel Robert Labbé, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ontario

A developer and visionary in the affordable housing market, Michel Labbé founded Options for Homes in Toronto. Through its innovative financing program to boost down payments, many low-income families are now able to become first-time homebuyers, rather than rely on rental or subsidized housing.

Claudine Labelle, M.S.M.
Sainte-Adèle, Quebec

After Canadian Olympic cycling hopeful Claudine Labelle suffered a career-ending accident, she channeled her love of sport into speaking about healthy living at local schools. In 2007, she founded FitSpirit to encourage girls to discover the long-term benefits of getting active with friends. FitSpirit’s programs have expanded to enrich the lives of students in schools across Ontario and Quebec.

Francine Laplante, M.S.M.
Laval, Quebec

In 2002, when her five-year-old son’s cancer was in remission, Francine Laplante established the Fondation des Gouverneurs de l’espoir to ensure the well-being of young people battling this disease. Determined to make a tangible difference in the fight against pediatric cancer, she spearheaded numerous fundraising campaigns that ultimately led to the creation of the François-Karl Viau Chair, the first chair in pediatric oncogenomics in Canada.

Judy Maddren, M.S.M.
Stratford, Ontario

In 1989, former CBC Radio announcer Judy Maddren began organizing charity readings of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol across Canada to give others the opportunity to experience the joy of this Christmas classic. Thanks to her creativity and vision over the past 25 years, these events have brought happiness to audiences throughout the country and have raised funds for community organizations like food banks, shelters, libraries and hospitals.

Ranjana Mitra, M.S.M.
Mississauga, Ontario

In 2003, Ranjana Mitra founded the Community Environment Alliance of Peel, a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to enhancing community health and environmental sustainability. The Alliance encourages individuals and companies to dispose of e-waste properly, and also distributes refurbished computers and reconditioned bicycles throughout the community. Ms. Mitra has become a driving force in preserving our planet for future generations.

Barry Phippen, M.S.M.
Temiskaming Shores, Ontario

Barry Phippen organized the first New Liskeard Bikers Reunion in the parking lot of his graphic design shop in 1999 to raise funds for local cancer patients’ treatment and travel costs. It has since become the largest annual tourism event in the area, attracting upwards of 100 000 people and raising millions of dollars for local cancer programs.

Ron Rock, M.S.M.
Scarborough, Ontario

As executive director of the East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club, Ron Rock created the Youth Challenge Fund to build safe, healthy and inclusive opportunities for youth in an underserved neighbourhood within the GTA. He established critical partnerships with local organizations to ensure program funding for young people in his community, which allowed them to develop leadership and skills training, and set them up for success in the future.

Jasmin Roy, M.S.M.
Laval, Quebec

Jasmin Roy’s commitment to fight discrimination, bullying and violence in schools led him to create the Fondation Jasmin Roy in 2010. With determination, he mobilized Quebec leaders to implement innovative measures to combat these problems. Through this initiative, he ensures that young people have the tools to create a safe, harassment-free learning environment.

Vincent Matthew Savoia, M.S.M.
King City, Ontario

As a former paramedic, Vincent Savoia established the Tema Conter Memorial Trust in 2001 to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and critical incident stress among emergency service workers. Now a national organization, the Trust conducts research while also providing peer support and family assistance, referrals, a scholarship, and mental health training for emergency service workers.

Aaron Blake Seward, M.S.M.
Smiths Falls, Ontario

A history teacher at the Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute, Aaron Blake Seward developed the Lest We Forget project with the help of his Grade 10 class, documenting the history of local soldiers who died in service to Canada during the First World War. The project was so successful it was replicated across the Upper Canada District School Board and has inspired a pan-Canadian project for students, involving Library and Archives Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada.

Julie Toskan-Casale, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Co-founder of MAC Cosmetics Ltd., Julie Toskan-Casale has shared her success by establishing the grassroots Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), a school program that empowers youth to address social issues in their communities. Students visit charities and non-profit organizations and present their findings to their classmates, who then collectively decide which charity should receive a grant from YPI. Through YPI, Ms. Toskan-Casale’s vision continues to have a positive impact on student-selected programs across Canada.

Theodore van der Zalm, M.S.M.
St. Catharines, Ontario

In 2004, Ted van der Zalm founded Wells of Hope to provide underserved areas in Guatemala with access to clean water, education and basic health care. Thanks to his commitment and compassion, more than 50 000 people in the communities of Jalapa and Jutiapa now have access to 12 new wells, 15 new schools and dental care. What is more, hundreds of Canadians have joined the Wells of Hope Mission Experience volunteer program to help people in developing countries.

Peter Manly Wright, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ontario

On June 15, 2012, Peter Manly Wright was providing humanitarian aid in Maban, South Sudan, when he learned that three United Nations staff had been captured by a local army group commander miles away from any other help. Without any financial or protective support, Mr. Wright entered the heavily guarded camp and successfully negotiated the release of the three staff members. Thanks to his courage, cultural awareness and quick thinking, a high-risk situation was defused without violence or loss of life.

Mark A. Zamorski, M.S.M.
Ottawa, Ontario

Since 2002, Dr. Mark Zamorski has been the head of the Deployment Health Section for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Health Services. In his role, he has created Enhanced Post Deployment Screening, a program that identifies and treats those who have deployment-related health complications, particularly psychosocial problems. Thanks to his vision and dedication, the CAF is better equipped to address the mental health needs of its members.