NAVRES HQ NR 02/11 - February 3, 2011
Québec, Que.- L'Ordre de Bonhomme Carnaval presented the Canadian Navy with the 2011 medallion of l'Ordre de Bonhomme Carnaval today to honour the outstanding contribution of the Canadian Navy's service to Canada and Canadians for the past 100 years. Chairwoman of the Ordre, Ms. Rollande Simoneau, presented the medallion to Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Paul Maddison, Deputy Commander of Maritime Command, during the annual dinner of the Ordre, held in Québec City.
"It gives me great pleasure to accept this honour on behalf of the men and women who serve or have served in the Navy," said RAdm Maddison. "The Navy is proud to represent all Canadians, both at home and abroad. Fair winds and following seas to the Québec Carnaval." For his part, Bonhomme Carnaval declared, "Having the honour since 2003 of being an honourary member of HMCS Ville de Québec, I congratulate the Canadian Navy for its 100 years of service to all Canadians."
Each year, l'Ordre de Bonhomme Carnaval (in Québec City) singles out an event or organization that has especially distinguished itself in the previous year. On recommendation from the Ordre committee, an enamel medallion is produced by a local artist and copies are presented to all active members of l'Ordre de Bonhomme Carnaval, as well as to the honoured organization. The enamel medallion 2011 shows a maple leaf superimposed with a ship, upon which are engraved the dates 1910–2010. The reverse side bears the inscription: "1910-2010, Centième anniversaire, Marine canadienne" (1910–2010, Hundredth Anniversary, Canadian Navy). The medallion was made by Ms. Diane Charuest, enameller and designer.
L'Ordre de Bonhomme was created in 1965 in order to recognize persons and volunteers who contributed in outstanding fashion to the success of the Québec Carnaval. Its main role is to provide its members with seats on consultation groups for the executive committees of future carnavals, and it has always offered its members a great soapbox. The Québec Carnaval is a major reference in the winter touristic industry in North America. In 2010, it produced $31 M in added value (GDP) and employed over 1500 volunteers.
The Canadian Navy celebrated its centennial year in 2010 with hundreds of commemorative activities across Canada. Other organizations that have commemorated the Canadian Navy Centennial include the Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Post, who issued commemorative coins and stamps depicting pictures of the Canadian Navy. The centennial year was the occasion to honour the past, to celebrate present accomplishments, and to reaffirm responsibilities towards Canada, as says the Centennial theme: Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit.
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Note to the editor: For more information, contact Major Sylvain Chalifour, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Reserve Headquarters, at 418-694-5560 ext. 5392, or by email at Sylvain.Chalifour@forces.gc.ca. You can also reach the Québec Carnaval Public Relations office through Ms. Martine Picard at 418-626-3716 ext. 259.
