OTTAWA – John Craig Eaton, National Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, the Honourable Dr. Keith Martin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and Major-General Herb Petras, Chief of Reserves and Cadets, at a recent ceremony in Ottawa, presented national, provincial and special awards to 13 Canadian employers and educational institutions in recognition of their exceptional support to members of the Reserve Force.
The principle form of support the award recipients have provided has been to grant reservists time off without penalty from their civilian occupation to participate in military training and operations. Oftentimes the award winners’ support went further to include assistance to reservists’ family while the reservist was overseas.
Mr. Eaton praised the award recipients’ efforts, saying they make “a real difference,” not just in the lives of their employees, but also for the Canadian Forces, and the public they serve.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you offered this support of your own free will,” Mr. Eaton said. “Likely, it cost you some inconvenience, extra work, or even additional costs to replace your reservist employee. But you did it. Y our goodwill made it possible for the reservists to best serve both you and their country.”
Members of the Reserve Force usually serve part-time in the Canadian Forces, mostly on weekends and evenings, but they also serve full-time for defined periods, especially overseas on operational deployments. Reserve Force members have participated in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in Haiti, Bosnia, the Middle East and Africa. At home, they have helped their fellow citizens in times of trouble including battling floods in Manitoba and Quebec, the ice storm in eastern Canada, and forest fires in British Columbia. Naval reservists also serve operationally year-round on Canada’s 10 maritime coastal defence vessels.
Mr. Eaton commented that the Reserve Force will continue to play a vital role in Canada’s defence.
“Canada’s current military operations are continually changing and dynamic,” he said. “A rapid-response, relevant, flexible and fully integrated force is needed if we are to meet ever-changing security challenges. Canada needs the contribution of the Reserve Force to meet that mandate.”
The recipients of the 2005 CFLC Supportive Employer Awards are:
National Award for Most Supportive Employer in Canada: Home Depot Canada. Nominated by: Sergeant Sean Parker, A Squadron, British Columbia Dragoons, Vernon
Support to Canadian Forces Operations : Eastern School District, Newfoundland and Labrador. Nominated by: LCol Anthony Stack, 37 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters, Moncton; Lieutenant-Colonel James Camsell, 36 (Newfoundland) Service Battalion; and Captain Kirk Smith, 728 Communications Squadron
Special Award for Support to the Reserve Force: Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Division Nominated by: Captain Tom Watters, 3 rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, Saint John
Most Supportive Employer in British Columbia: BC Transit (Greater Victoria and Municipal), Victoria. Nominated by Capt. Robert McLeod, 5 th British Columbia Field Artillery Regiment, Victoria and Sergeant Ken Hackshaw CD1, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, Pat Bay
Most Supportive Employer, Alberta: Alberta Electric System Operator, Calgary. Nominated by: Capt. Darren McCrank, 33 rd Field Engineering Squadron, Calgary
Most Supportive Employer in Saskatchewan: Saskatoon Police Service. Nominated by Warrant Officer Joel Pedersen CD, North Saskatchewan Regiment, Saskatoon
Most Supportive Employer in Manitoba: City of Brandon. Nominated by: Major Ross Thompson, 26 th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, Brandon
Most Supportive Employer in Ontario: DaimlerChrysler Canada. Nominated by Petty Officer 1 st Class Brad Corlett, HMCS HUNTER, Windsor
Most Supportive Employer in Quebec: Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada. Nominated by: Capt. Simon Hallé, Sherbrooke Hussars, Sherbrooke and Lieutenant Stéphane-Patrick Dubuc, Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
Most Supportive Employer in New Brunswick: Energie NB Power. Nominated by Captain Shawn Courty, 31 Service Battalion, Saint John
Most Supportive Employer in Nova Scotia: SNC-Lavalin Defence Programs Inc. Nominated by: Petty Officer 1 st Class Suzy Johnson, HMCS SCOTIAN, Halifax
Most Supportive Employer in Prince Edward Island: University of Prince Edward Island, Nominated by: Lieutenant-Commander Allan A. Dale, HMCS QUEEN CHARLOTTE, Charlottetown
Most Supportive Employer in Newfoundland: Conception Bay South Fire Department Nominated by MCpl. John Heffernan, 36 (Newfoundland) Service Battalion, St. John’s
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For more information on the award winners, contact Major Richard Gower at (613) 992-3284 or 1-800-567-9908, or by e-mail at cflc@forces.gc.ca. Further details on the Council, the ceremony including copyright-free, JPEG photos can be found at www.cflc.forces.gc.ca/pubs/media/intro_e.asp .
