April 21, 2005 OTTAWA - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, today announced the award of 47 Meritorious Service Decorations (civil division) to individuals whose specific achievements have brought honour to Canada. Recipients will be invited to receive their decorations at a presentation ceremony to be held at a later date. The Meritorious Service Decorations are separated into military and civil divisions, with two levels each: a medal and a cross. The military division recognizes individuals for their outstanding professionalism and for bringing honour to the Canadian Forces. The civil division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that brought honour to their community or to Canada. On the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee (Meritorious Service Decorations¿civil division), the Governor General is pleased to announce the following awards: Meritorious Service Cross Vatchey Arslanian, M.S.C., (posthumous) Oromocto, N.B. RCMP Constable Tony Jude Vienneau, M.S.C. Grand Falls, N.B. Meritorious Service Medal Johanne Bécu, M.S.M. Chandler, Que. Kristine Bogyo, M.S.M. Toronto, Ont. RCMP Staff Sergeant Jakob Bouwman, M.S.M. Chilliwack, B.C. Morgan Brown, M.S.M. Summerford, N.L. Vickie Cammack, M.S.M. Surrey, B.C. Kap Chong Chi, M.S.M. Seoul, Republic of Korea R. Jack Collins, M.S.M. Sechelt, B.C. Timothy David Collings, M.S.M. Surrey, B.C. Jack Donohue, M.S.M., (posthumous) Ottawa, Ont. Donald Ross Durno, M.S.M. Scarborough, Ont. Al Etmanski, M.S.M. Surrey, B.C. Christopher Gaze, M.S.M. Vancouver, B.C. Daniel Germain, M.S.M. Boucherville, Que. Patricia Tyson Harvey, M.S.M. Toronto, Ont. Dave Irvine-Halliday, M.S.M. Calgary, Alta. Norman Miles Kneteman, M.S.M. Edmonton, Alta. Gregory S. Korbutt, M.S.M. St. Albert, Alta. Kevin Laframboise, M.S.M. Yellowknife, N.W.T. Jonathan R.T. Lakey, M.S.M. Edmonton, Alta. Pierre Lavoie, M.S.M. Ville de Saguenay, Que. Joan Lawrence, M.S.M. New Westminster, B.C. Allan Roy LeDrew, M.S.M. Comfort Cove, N.L. Captain Joseph Legge, M.S.M. Kippins, N.L. The Honourable Judge Heino Lilles, M.S.M. Whitehorse, Y.T. Ken Lyotier, M.S.M. Vancouver, B.C. Reverend Shunmyo Masuno, M.S.M. Yokohama, Japan Josephine Mary Mills, M.S.M. Burnaby, B.C. Lydia Neilson, M.S.M. Ottawa, Ont. Reverend Dr. John Niles, M.S.M. Toronto, Ont. Liane Niles, M.S.M. Toronto, Ont. General Sun Yup Paik, M.S.M., (Retired) Seoul, Republic of Korea Glen A. Purdy, M.S.M. Fernie, B.C. Raymond Victor Rajotte, M.S.M. Edmonton, Alta. Edmond A. Ryan, M.S.M. Edmonton, Alta. Beckie Scott, M.S.M. Bend, Oregon, USA A.M. James Shapiro, M.S.M. Edmonton, Alta. John A. Van Luven, M.S.M. Surrey, B.C. RCMP Corporal John Joseph Van Tassel, M.S.M. Vancouver Nord, B.C. Garth L. Warnock, M.S.M. Vancouver, B.C. The Honourable Judge Donald M. Waurynchuk, M.S.M. Cranbrook, B.C. Captain Chelsey Webb, M.S.M. Nain, N.L. Joseph Webb, M.S.M. Nain, N.L. Waylon Webb, M.S.M., (posthumous) Nain, N.L. Douglas Samuel Wells, M.S.M., (posthumous), O.M.C. Toronto, Ont. Lorrie Williams, M.S.M. New Westminster, B.C. Recipients' citations and annex on Meritorious Service Decoration follow. -30- Media information Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 998-0287 (613) 993-8157 Public information Chancellery of Honours 1 800 465-6890 Annex Meritorious Service Decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours System and, like the Order of Canada, they recognize excellence. However, Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period, while the Order of Canada focuses on lifetime achievement. The Meritorious Service Decorations are open to both Canadians and non-Canadians. Anyone may nominate an individual for the civil division of the Meritorious Service Decorations, while a commanding officer recommends possible candidates to a military advisory committee, which reviews nominations and submits names to the Chief of the Defence Staff. Nominations and awards may be made posthumously, but nominations for activities that occurred prior to June 1984, the year in which the honour was first created, are not accepted. Citations Vatchey Arslanian, M.S.C., (posthumous), Oromocto, New Brunswick Meritorious Service Cross (civil division) In July 2001, Vatchey Arslanian, senior logistician with the International Committee of the Red Cross, was assigned to war-torn Iraq to deliver urgently needed relief supplies such as food, water and medical equipment to hospitals and water-treatment plants throughout the country. A motivated and compassionate individual, Mr. Arslanian demonstrated great dedication to his mission by volunteering to remain in Iraq in spite of the conflict. On April 18, 2003, during the worst of the hostilities, he was killed in Baghdad while escorting Iraqi co-workers home, when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in a crossfire. RCMP Constable Tony Jude Vienneau, M.S.C., Grand Falls, New Brunswick Meritorious Service Cross (civil division) On December 4, 2002, Cst. Tony Vienneau went to the aid of a 15-year-old boy who was threatening to jump off the Perth-Andover Bridge, overlooking the St. John River, in New Brunswick. Cst. Vienneau was on his way home when he noticed the teenager standing without support on the railing of the bridge. The off-duty officer immediately climbed onto the rail and began walking behind him. After an hour of negotiating, Cst. Vienneau was able to prevent the boy from committing suicide, and convinced him to seek treatment at a local hospital. Johanne Bécu, M.S.M., Chandler, Quebec Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1989, Johanne Bécu founded "La Maison l'Éclaircie, Aide à la santé mentale", a community-based organization located in Chandler, in the Gaspésie region of Quebec, which offers a wide range of services to patients with mental disabilities and to their families. The resource centre provides aid, information sessions, suicide-prevention assistance, and a helpline between persons in distress and the resources that can help them overcome their difficulties. Thanks to Ms. Bécu's commitment to her community, and to the numerous projects she initiated, people with disabilities have not only gained self-esteem, but have also reintegrated themselves within society. Today, they continue to make a positive contribution in a secure environment. Kristine Bogyo, M.S.M., Toronto, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) A cellist and chamber music performer, Kristine Bogyo founded the Mooredale Youth Orchestra in 1986, in Toronto, Ontario. The three-grade classical music program showcases promising young artists, ranging in ages from six to 20 years old, who perform alongside professionals in the Mooredale Concert Series, which she also created. Through her musical entreprise, Ms. Bogyo has made a major contribution to the cultural life of her community by inspiring, educating and giving young Canadian talent an opportunity to perform in public in collaboration with accomplished musicians. RCMP Staff Sergeant Jakob Bouwman, M.S.M., Chilliwack, British Columbia The Honourable Judge Heino Lilles, M.S.M., Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Glen A. Purdy, M.S.M., Fernie, British Columbia The Honourable Judge Donald M. Waurynchuk, M.S.M., Cranbrook, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Pioneers in the field of restorative justice, S/Sgt. Jake Bouwman, local defence counsel Glen Purdy and judges Heino Lilles and Donald Waurynchuk developed and implemented the community-based Youth Assistance Program in Sparwood, British Columbia, in 1995. Through this innovative endeavour, youth-related offences are dealt with outside of the traditional court system; victims and offenders are involved in coming to a resolution where the wrongdoers are not sentenced to custody but are allowed to understand the impact of the offence on victims, families and their communities. The team's successful restorative justice model sparked nationwide application of this new process and is currently being used by more than 40 communities across Canada. Morgan Brown, M.S.M., Summerford, Newfoundland and Labrador Allan Roy LeDrew, M.S.M., Comfort Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Captain Joseph Legge, M.S.M., Kippins, Newfoundland and Labrador Captain Chelsey Webb, M.S.M., Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador Joseph Webb, M.S.M., Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador Waylon Webb, M.S.M. (posthumous), Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) On the evening of October 5, 2003, these six men were instrumental in the rescue of 13 fishermen from a burning ship, during a storm on the Atlantic Ocean, near Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador. Aboard the Viola Dee, Chelsey Webb, Joseph Webb and the late Waylon Webb headed first in the direction of the disabled vessel but soon realized that the condition of the sea was too treacherous to venture out farther. Despite the threatening conditions, they remained aboard their ship in the unsafe waters, in case the need for further assistance arose. Meanwhile, Messrs. Brown, LeDrew and Legge, on board the Kaliutik, reached the flaming ship, some 45 nautical miles offshore, and over the next 10 hours towed it back to Nain Harbour. Vickie Cammack, M.S.M., Surrey, British Columbia R. Jack Collins, M.S.M., Sechelt, British Columbia Al Etmanski, M.S.M., Surrey, British Columbia Joan Lawrence, M.S.M., New Westminster, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1989, Vickie Cammack, Joan Lawrence, Jack Collins and Al Etmanski founded Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) in Vancouver, British Columbia. The organization works with families of persons with disabilities to help them plan for their financial and social well-being after the death of their parents and relatives. With the help of facilitators, challenged individuals develop a network of committed friends and supporters whom they can rely upon to maintain their quality of life after their caregivers are gone. With affiliate groups across Canada, the United States, Australia and Scotland, PLAN continues to expand, providing advice and assistance to families, individuals and professionals. Kap Chong Chi, M.S.M., Seoul, Republic of Korea Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Kap Chong Chi, a retired Korean journalist and former member of the Korean National Assembly, has contributed, with the utmost dedication, to the commemoration of Canada's assistance to his country during the Korean War. After selecting land for a memorial park near the municipality of Naechon, Korea, Mr. Chi proceeded to raise funds to purchase the land. He then supervised the construction of the Canadian Korean War Memorial Garden, which was designated as a historic site by Canadian officials in July 2003. Through his goal of ensuring that Canadian veterans would be remembered by current and future generations of Koreans, Mr. Chi has brought great credit to his own country and to Canada. Timothy David Collings, M.S.M., Surrey, Brisith Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1991, concerned by the inability of parents to control the television programming available to their children, Professor Timothy Collings conceptualized the V-chip, a technology designed for broadcasters and program operators to provide viewers with information about the nature of particular programs. By allowing viewers to block out shows with violent and other undesirable subject content, Professor Collings' innovative concept has greatly contributed to help curb the consumption of televised violence by children. Since 2000, 25 million television sets bearing the V-chip technology are purchased annually throughout North America. Jack Donohue, M.S.M. (posthumous), Ottawa, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1986, legendary basketball coach Jack Donohue founded the Canadian Association of National Coaches (CANC), which later became the Canadian Professional Coaches Association (CPCA). Highly regarded in Canadian and international sport communities for his motivational success in coaching, Mr. Donohue devoted much of his time and expertise to clinics and symposiums on the merits of coaching as a career. A true giant in terms of his contribution to basketball and to sport in Canada, he enjoyed continued popularity as a TV host, sports commentator and speaker. Donald Ross Durno, M.S.M., Scarborough, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1990, Donald Durno established the Rumball Fund in order to generate funding for the improvement and expansion of the Ontario Camp of the Deaf, located near Parry Sound, Ontario. Since the inception of the Fund, made up of business and professional people, over $3,000,000 have been raised and invested in the Camp, permitting the facility to remain open year-round to serve over 200 deaf and special-needs children and adults each week. By giving of his time, talent and resources, Mr. Durno has enabled the Camp to operate solely on money from fundraisers and to subsidize over half the children who attend it. Christopher Gaze, M.S.M., Vancouver, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1990, Christopher Gaze founded Bard on the Beach, a professional summer Shakespeare Festival held on the waterfront of Vancouver's Vanier Park. The cultural event provides residents and tourists with affordable, accessible classic theatre productions of the finest quality. Over the years, attendance at the festival has grown significantly, from 6 000 patrons in 1990 to 67 000 in 2003. Through his vision, dedication and talent, Mr. Gaze has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of British Columbia, and to the theatre community of our country, by making Bard on the Beach Western Canada's largest professional Shakespeare festival. Daniel Germain, M.S.M., Boucherville, Quebec Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Concerned about injustice towards children, Daniel Germain created "Le Club des petits déjeuners du Québec" in 1994, which provides nutritious breakfasts to disadvantaged children every day before class. During the 2002-2003 school year alone, some 1.5 million breakfasts were served to 12 500 children in 150 schools across the province of Quebec. Thanks to Mr. Germain and a growing number of staff and partners, similar breakfast programs have been estblished throughout the country. Patricia Tyson Harvey, M.S.M., Toronto, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) A retinal specialist and researcher, Dr. Patricia Harvey is a pioneer of the drug Visudyne and has mentored many specialists across the country in its use. In June 2000, she was instrumental in obtaining the Ontario government's approval of Visudyne therapy, the first medical treatment developed for patients affected by age-related macular degeneration, Canada's leading cause of blindness. Dr. Harvey also lobbied on behalf of her patients for the need to have the expensive medication funded by the government. Her efforts resulted in the provincial Ministry of Health approving coverage of the therapy in June 2002. Dave Irvine-Halliday, M.S.M., Calgary, Alberta Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) An electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Calgary, Dave Irvine-Halliday spearheaded Light Up The World, an initiative that provides electrical lighting to people in developing countries. Since its inception in 2000, the project has provided low-cost lighting to more than 4 000 homes in dozens of remote villages around the world. Through this inspirational undertaking, Professor Irvine-Halliday has enhanced the health and safety of many communities, fostered local education, developed an economic infrastructure and protected the environment. Norman Miles Kneteman, M.S.M., Edmonton, Alberta Gregory S. Korbutt, M.S.M., St. Albert, Alberta Jonathan R.T. Lakey, M.S.M., Edmonton, Alberta Raymond Victor Rajotte, M.S.M., Edmonton, Alberta Edmond A. Ryan, M.S.M., Edmonton, Alberta A.M. James Shapiro, M.S.M., Edmonton, Alberta Garth L. Warnock, M.S.M., Vancouver, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Referred to as the Islet Transplantation Group, this team of doctors developed a new treatment for diabetes. Known internationally as the Edmonton Protocol, the technique, announced in June 2000, consists of injecting healthy pancreatic islet cells into diabetics to restore control of blood glucose without any further need for daily insulin injections. The procedure also introduced a new combination of drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted cells. The breakthrough treatment pioneered by this team of doctors has received widespread international acclaim and is now being taught by health facilities around the world. Kevin Laframboise, M.S.M., Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Kevin Laframboise spearheaded a caring ministry for youth at risk in Yellowknife, known as the SideDoor Youth Drop-in Centre. Since 1996, the Centre, initially located in a church basement, has provided youth with training and work placements, as well as a safe and supervised environment in which they could gather. Thanks to Mr. Laframboise's efforts and determination, the success of the Centre led to the building of a new facility, which officially opened in April 2002, allowing SideDoor to expand the range of services it offers to disadvantaged young people. Pierre Lavoie, M.S.M., Ville de Saguenay, Quebec Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Following the death of his children, aged four years and 20 months respectively, triathlete Pierre Lavoie created the « Pierre Lavoie Challenge » in 1999, which consists of a 650-km bicycling tour over a 24-hour period. Through this annual initiative, Mr. Lavoie aims at heightening the regional communities' awareness of the gravity of a fatal hereditary disease known as lactic acidosis. Since their beginning, the Pierre Lavoie Challenge events have raised some $500 000 to help finance research on this illness, which is prevalent in the Saguenay region of Quebec, affecting one child in every 2 000 in that area. Ken Lyotier, M.S.M., Vancouver, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Ken Lyotier is the driving force behind Save Our Living Environment (SOLE), an organization dedicated to improving Vancouver's urban conditions by implementing sustainable practices. Thanks to Mr. Lyotier's management skills, one of SOLE's major accomplishments has been the creation of the United We Can Bottle Depot launched in 1995 in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Since its opening, the facility has collected and recycled over 25 million beverage containers, and provides work and income to inner city residents who were previously receiving welfare assistance. Reverend Shunmyo Masuno, M.S.M., Yokohama City, Japan Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1995, world-renowned landscape architect the Reverend Shunmyo Masuno, a Japanese citizen, designed a traditional Zen garden at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec. The garden, consisting of Canadian rocks and plant materials within a Japanese landscape design, pays tribute to the lasting friendship between the two nations and provides a better insight into an important aspect of Japanese tradition. Mr. Masuno has brought great credit to his own country and to Canada. Josephine Mary Mills, M.S.M., Burnaby, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) While promoting Down syndrome research and education activities, Josephine Mills saw the need for an organization that would build support groups, create information sources, and champion the need for research. In 1995, she founded and became executive director of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Under her leadership, the Foundation successfully raised some $3,000,000 to establish a unique, state-of-the-art resource centre for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Lydia Neilson, M.S.M., Ottawa, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In March 1993, Lydia Neilson founded the National ME/FM Action Network, an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the recognition and understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) through education, advocacy, support and research. Actively involved in issues that affect individuals with ME/CF and FMS, Ms. Neilson also spearheaded the publication of internationally acclaimed diagnostic and treatment protocols for these conditions, bringing much-needed information and standardization to these areas of research. The Reverend Dr. John Niles, M.S.M., Toronto, Ontario Liane Niles, M.S.M., Toronto, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Foster parents on an emergency and long-term basis with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, the Reverend Dr. John Niles and Mrs. Liane Niles have cared for over 600 crack- and heroine-addicted infants and toddlers. In addition, the Niles developed Kits for Kids in 1992, a program that provides a package of personal products and toys for children being admitted to emergency foster care. Through their ongoing efforts, Dr. and Mrs. Niles have eased the fears and improved the lives of neglected or abused children during their transition to foster care, and have provided them with comfort and reassurance. General Sun Yup Paik, M.S.M. (Retired), Seoul, Republic of Korea Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) As national chairman of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, Korean General Sun Yup Paik oversaw and organized the Government of Korea's activities held between 2000 and 2003 to commemorate the Korean War. A strong supporter of our country and its veterans, the former ambassador to Canada took a personal and active interest in the construction of the Monument to Canadian Fallen in the Korean War. Unveiled in Pusan in November 2001, the memorial honours the sacrifice of 516 Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen who died for the freedom of the Republic of Korea. Beckie Scott, M.S.M., Bend, Oregon, United States of America Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) A native of Vermillion, Alberta, Beckie Scott became the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. An ardent advocate and spokesperson for drug-free sport, she led an anti-doping campaign in her sport in 2001, spearheading an athletes' petition demanding the establishment of an independent drug-testing body for all World Cup and Olympic competitions. After it was discovered that the two athletes who had finished ahead of her in the five-kilometre race had tested positive for blood doping, both before the 2002 Olympics and after another race, the decision to upgrade Ms. Scott's bronze medal to gold marked the ultimate victory in her battle against cheating in sport. John A. Van Luven, M.S.M., Surrey, B.C. Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Executive director of the St. James Community Service Society, John Van Luven is the driving force behind numerous community projects that benefit more than 3 700 disadvantaged people each month in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Determined to assist those who are marginalized by society in one of Canada's poorest urban areas, Mr. Van Luven established a number of organizations including the North Shore Youth Safe House, a crisis-prevention and resource centre, which opened in 2002 to provide shelter to youth at risk, and the St. Elizabeth Home, an emergency refuge and transition house for women and children, initiated in 2003. RCMP Corporal John Joseph Van Tassel, M.S.M., North Vancouver, B.C. Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) In 1991, Cpl. John Van Tassel initiated the research on the different aspects of forensic knot analysis for the purpose of giving substantiation, as a shared police resource, in those cases where knot and ligature evidence had been identified. He has since published numerous research papers on this field of study, developed a training guide for forensic investigators, and created educational material which is distributed nationally and internationally to forensic experts. Cpl. Van Tassel's expertise has been sought on numerous high-profile cases here and abroad, bringing worldwide recognition to the RCMP and to Canada. Douglas Samuel Wells, M.S.M. (posthumous), O.M.C., Toronto, Ontario Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Douglas Wells led the creation of an outpatient clinic for the diagnosis of neurological seizures at the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto. Through the Variety Club of Ontario, he secured the necessary funds and donated ambulatory electroencephalographic recording equipment, which made available, for the first time, a more accurate, faster diagnosis and subsequent better treatment for patients with seizure disorders. This became the impetus for the Variety neurological seizures diagnostic program, founded in 1987 by Mr. Wells, which is now used in some 50 hospitals throughout Ontario. Lorrie Williams, M.S.M., New Westminster, British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) After being appointed vice-principal of a rural high school in Kenya, and given the unpleasant task of expelling students who could not pay their fees, retired teacher Lorrie Williams established the Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES) in 1985. The organization provides scholarships to underprivileged Kenyan and Tanzanian girls to attend high school. Thanks to Ms. Williams' leadership and tireless fundraising efforts, the Canadian-based Society also supports special projects such as the construction of libraries and dormitories. Since its inception, CHES has subsidized the education of over 600 graduating students, many of whom have enrolled in university and pursued professional careers in nursing, education and engineering.
