Ontario Launches Award to Honour Exceptional Veterans

First-of-its-kind award recognizes veterans for outstanding community service

BROCKVILLE — The Ontario government has launched the new Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence. The award honours individuals for exceptional and ongoing service to their communities, such as work to help veterans re-integrate into civilian life, supporting those dealing with ongoing mental or physical injuries, or other broader community-building initiatives.

Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, highlighted the new provincial honour in a Member’s Statement in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on Monday, May 26, as he recognized volunteers at Royal Canadian Legion Fort Wellington Branch 97 in Prescott.

“The commitment to service above self is what motivates volunteers at the 14 Legion branches in Leeds and Grenville. They provide invaluable services to our veterans, foster the spirit of Remembrance in our youth, and host celebrations that bring communities together,” said Clark. “For years, I championed the creation of a provincial recognition for our veterans, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. I’m proud our government has made Ontario the first province to establish an award specifically dedicated to honouring veterans for their community service following their service to Canada.”

“This award is our government’s way of honouring their extraordinary volunteerism and ensuring their legacy inspires a stronger, more united Ontario,” added MPP Clark.

Brian Woodford, President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 504 in Lyndhurst, welcomed the new award.

“The creation of this award recognizing the role many of our veterans have taken on in their communities is fantastic! It will serve to reinforce the deep bond between our Legion branches, communities, and veterans. Well done,” said Woodford.

“Premier Ford and our government are proud to launch the Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence, a historic program to honour the invaluable volunteer efforts of our veterans,” said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “We can never fully repay those who have served our country, but this award will help strengthen our province by recognizing the legacy of our veterans and their contributions to building a stronger Ontario.”

The new initiative makes Ontario the first province in Canada to establish an award specifically dedicated to honouring veterans’ excellence in community service. Every year, Ontario branches of The Royal Canadian Legion will each nominate one veteran who has demonstrated significant and sustained contributions to their community through exceptional work. The nominating branches of the Legion will present certificates and lapel pins to award recipients during local ceremonies annually.

Ontario is home to approximately 149,000 veterans, and each year, approximately 9,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from military service.

QUICK FACTS:

• For more information on the nomination process and eligibility criteria, visit the Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence webpage.
• All nominations must be submitted by the annual deadline of August 31.