The last two weeks have allowed me to get caught up with some health issues and plenty of needed rest.
While bringing you a blog once a week does not seem like a lot of work, often it takes days of digging and sorting and frustration before something can be put into a story that I feel I want to share with you.
Some over the years have been better than others. But I keep pushing on. The efforts I have chosen to spend so much time on, bring family stories together, help to put new pieces of the puzzle in place and often identify new missing pieces. But all the efforts are exerted to bring back the voices of heroes that have long since faded. Putting more life into them helps us to not only preserve our history and heritage, but also helps us remember who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
The stories told in this place are, for the most part, about volunteers who came forward to answer the call at a time of need. Volunteering for the most part possibly, that led to shaping their own lives and that of their place of birth, or in many a case, place they chose to serve and perhaps later reside.
Separated from family for months, or years saw the men... and women in many a case, coming home with the unheard of PTSD, or life long injuries and disease, lost limbs and often the loss of life.
Volunteering can start at an early age.. the selling of freshie in your front yard, or the delivering of the morning paper when the neighbour paperboy..or girl.. is sick in bed. As you grow older the more serous causes come to light and all still cry out for volunteerism.
Statistics Canada tells us that in 2010 alone, over 13.3 MILLION Canadians aged over 15, did volunteer work of one sort or another. That amounted to an equivalent of 2 BILLION hrs worked. And that would total just over 1.1 Million full time jobs.
And some times, while not expecting it, you get a nice thank you or pat on the back.
While bringing you a blog once a week does not seem like a lot of work, often it takes days of digging and sorting and frustration before something can be put into a story that I feel I want to share with you.
Some over the years have been better than others. But I keep pushing on. The efforts I have chosen to spend so much time on, bring family stories together, help to put new pieces of the puzzle in place and often identify new missing pieces. But all the efforts are exerted to bring back the voices of heroes that have long since faded. Putting more life into them helps us to not only preserve our history and heritage, but also helps us remember who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
The stories told in this place are, for the most part, about volunteers who came forward to answer the call at a time of need. Volunteering for the most part possibly, that led to shaping their own lives and that of their place of birth, or in many a case, place they chose to serve and perhaps later reside.
Separated from family for months, or years saw the men... and women in many a case, coming home with the unheard of PTSD, or life long injuries and disease, lost limbs and often the loss of life.
Volunteering can start at an early age.. the selling of freshie in your front yard, or the delivering of the morning paper when the neighbour paperboy..or girl.. is sick in bed. As you grow older the more serous causes come to light and all still cry out for volunteerism.
Statistics Canada tells us that in 2010 alone, over 13.3 MILLION Canadians aged over 15, did volunteer work of one sort or another. That amounted to an equivalent of 2 BILLION hrs worked. And that would total just over 1.1 Million full time jobs.
And some times, while not expecting it, you get a nice thank you or pat on the back.
Back in April 1996 our RIght Honourable Governor General Romeo LeBlanc decided that one of his goals as the Commander in Chief was to reach out and thank the volunteers. He wanted to formally encourage those who had, and in many cases were continuing to give so much of their lives to volunteer, without compensation. And to do so to make their country a better place to live, work, raise their families and help to make their country a better place for all.
He pioneered the creation of what became known as the Caring Canadian Award. This program allowed anyone in Canada or beyond, to nominate anyone else in Canada, or beyond, whom the nominator believed was deserving of recognition for their tireless, extensive and far reaching efforts without any compensation, to improve the lot of others in Canada.
Plans called for the presentation of an award lapel pin, as shown above, a certificate and letter personally signed by the Governor General. If possible the presentation would include all the possible pomp and ceremony, and take place at Ottawa. Plans also allowed for Lt. Governor's or other high officials to present the award when trips to the capital were not possible.
Nominations came in from all across the country and from those a committee selected 116 recipients in that first year. (14 of these came to BC residents.) Each received the above shown lapel pin, the letter and certificate in impressive ceremonies at Ottawa and across the country.
He pioneered the creation of what became known as the Caring Canadian Award. This program allowed anyone in Canada or beyond, to nominate anyone else in Canada, or beyond, whom the nominator believed was deserving of recognition for their tireless, extensive and far reaching efforts without any compensation, to improve the lot of others in Canada.
Plans called for the presentation of an award lapel pin, as shown above, a certificate and letter personally signed by the Governor General. If possible the presentation would include all the possible pomp and ceremony, and take place at Ottawa. Plans also allowed for Lt. Governor's or other high officials to present the award when trips to the capital were not possible.
Nominations came in from all across the country and from those a committee selected 116 recipients in that first year. (14 of these came to BC residents.) Each received the above shown lapel pin, the letter and certificate in impressive ceremonies at Ottawa and across the country.
Here we see Governor General LeBlanc presenting a certificate to one of the very fortunate, and no doubt well deserving volunteers.
The lapel pin above is in the colours of blue and gold, the same that appear of the Vice Regal flag. Thus, the connection is shown between the award and the Governor General of Canada.
The maple leaf symbolizes the people of Canada and their spirit. The heart depicts the open heartedness of the volunteer. The outstretched hand portrays the boundless generosity. The helping hand supports the maple leaf.
Over the years hundreds of men and women, and even youth, (one I found only 13 years of age,) were honoured with the presentation of the Caring Canadian Award.
In 2015 the then Governor General, the Right Honorable David Johnston received permission from HRH Queen Elizabeth ll to upgrade the Caring Canadian Award. His announcement in July advised that in keeping with the earlier award, it was being upgraded to an actual medal. It would join the list of the country's official medals and would also be awarded retroactively to all holders of the Caring Canadian Award.
On 12 April 2016, the first ever awarding of the new medal took place at Ottawa. Fifty five very proud Canadian men and women stood at Rideau Hall and had their medals presented by the Governor General in person.
While the medal is part of the official list of honours, it should be noted that this medal, called the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, is the ONLY medal for volunteerism awarded by the Governor General of Canada.
The lapel pin above is in the colours of blue and gold, the same that appear of the Vice Regal flag. Thus, the connection is shown between the award and the Governor General of Canada.
The maple leaf symbolizes the people of Canada and their spirit. The heart depicts the open heartedness of the volunteer. The outstretched hand portrays the boundless generosity. The helping hand supports the maple leaf.
Over the years hundreds of men and women, and even youth, (one I found only 13 years of age,) were honoured with the presentation of the Caring Canadian Award.
In 2015 the then Governor General, the Right Honorable David Johnston received permission from HRH Queen Elizabeth ll to upgrade the Caring Canadian Award. His announcement in July advised that in keeping with the earlier award, it was being upgraded to an actual medal. It would join the list of the country's official medals and would also be awarded retroactively to all holders of the Caring Canadian Award.
On 12 April 2016, the first ever awarding of the new medal took place at Ottawa. Fifty five very proud Canadian men and women stood at Rideau Hall and had their medals presented by the Governor General in person.
While the medal is part of the official list of honours, it should be noted that this medal, called the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, is the ONLY medal for volunteerism awarded by the Governor General of Canada.
Here we see the actual medal of honor with suspension ribbon. To the right is the medal's reverse. The ribbon's red honours Royalty while the blue and gold honours the Governor General. The five gold stripes represent the fingers of the hand used in the original Caring Canadian Award.
The front of the silver medal, which is made by the Canadian Mint, has a current image of the sovereign and the inscription of the Canadian Royal Title and the word "Canada" separated by two maple leafs.
The reverse reflects the ideas of caring and generosity and is represented by the two interlaced hearts. The sunburst pattern along the medal's rim reflect the time the volunteer gives and the actions they have performed.
In the fall of that first year of the new medal, I was advised that as a result of then about 17 years of research regarding the Canadian recipients of the Medal of Honor, I had been nominated for, and selected as one of the recipients of this most attractive and prestigious medal.
The front of the silver medal, which is made by the Canadian Mint, has a current image of the sovereign and the inscription of the Canadian Royal Title and the word "Canada" separated by two maple leafs.
The reverse reflects the ideas of caring and generosity and is represented by the two interlaced hearts. The sunburst pattern along the medal's rim reflect the time the volunteer gives and the actions they have performed.
In the fall of that first year of the new medal, I was advised that as a result of then about 17 years of research regarding the Canadian recipients of the Medal of Honor, I had been nominated for, and selected as one of the recipients of this most attractive and prestigious medal.
In Jan 2017 I had the incredible privilege to attend a most formal ceremony at Government House here in Victoria BC with 30 other recipients, as shown above.
After the introductions each new recipient was invited to the platform met with and shook hands with our Lt Governor of the time, Mrs Judith Guichon, had our pictures taken individually with the LG and listened as a brief description of our volunteer efforts were read out to our fellow inductees and a room full of honoured guests and family members.
This followed with a wonderful reception and the above photo being taken. I am standing in row two at the centre and behind our former Lt. Governor. Don't confuse me with the other guy with all the hair.
After the introductions each new recipient was invited to the platform met with and shook hands with our Lt Governor of the time, Mrs Judith Guichon, had our pictures taken individually with the LG and listened as a brief description of our volunteer efforts were read out to our fellow inductees and a room full of honoured guests and family members.
This followed with a wonderful reception and the above photo being taken. I am standing in row two at the centre and behind our former Lt. Governor. Don't confuse me with the other guy with all the hair.
Each recipient was given a package with several items inside. This presentation folder contained a personal letter the Governor General wrote me, thanking me for my work, and also the formal certificate regarding the medal presented.
And here is the letter and certificate above mentioned.
The actual medal was pined on my chest, but above is its storage box. At right is an image from the net containing a medal. Also note the small silver lapel pin with the same facing as the reverse of the actual medal, and described above.
Over the years there have been thousands of Caring Canadian Awards and later the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers awarded. From my calculations I believe that a total of 589 of these came to British Columbia volunteers. About 82 came to the greater Victoria area.
And of the 589, about 214 were the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.
Three days ago our new Lt. Governor presided over another ceremony at Government House here in Victoria. At that time another 41 recipients received their medals in front of a packed room of dignitaries, family and friends.
You can see this live at... http://video.web.gov.bc.ca/gh/live/
You can see the list of recipients and their citations at...
http://ltgov.bc.ca/news/cary-castle-news/the-sovereigns-medal-for-volunteers/
A number of these recipients were either in or connected to the Canadian Forces or the legion or both.
I wish to congratulate all recipients, but in particular the military men and women listed below...
Over the years there have been thousands of Caring Canadian Awards and later the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers awarded. From my calculations I believe that a total of 589 of these came to British Columbia volunteers. About 82 came to the greater Victoria area.
And of the 589, about 214 were the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.
Three days ago our new Lt. Governor presided over another ceremony at Government House here in Victoria. At that time another 41 recipients received their medals in front of a packed room of dignitaries, family and friends.
You can see this live at... http://video.web.gov.bc.ca/gh/live/
You can see the list of recipients and their citations at...
http://ltgov.bc.ca/news/cary-castle-news/the-sovereigns-medal-for-volunteers/
A number of these recipients were either in or connected to the Canadian Forces or the legion or both.
I wish to congratulate all recipients, but in particular the military men and women listed below...
Having read all of this blog, you must know someone, in fact many people who have for years, if not decades gone out of their way to help with many a cause. While they have not sought compensation, why not reach out and give them a pat on the back by nominating them for one of these most impressive medals. (If you are in the US... research similar awards and start to nominate these unsung heroes.)
In Canada, Here's how... go the the Governor General's website...
In Canada, Here's how... go the the Governor General's website...
And for the curious who want to see who has one of these or a dozen other federal medals you can search this out by going to... https://www.gg.ca/honours.aspx
That's enough for tonight. See you next week.
Bart
That's enough for tonight. See you next week.
Bart
RSS Feed