Governor General to Present the Pearson Peace Medal to the Honourable Donald S. Ethell

Colonel Ethell was born in Vancouver in 1937.  In 1955, he joined the Canadian Army as a rifleman in the Queen’s Own Rifles,

In 1955, Donald Ethell joined the Canadian Army at the young age of 17. Private Ethell immediately received his basic training as a rifleman in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada at Currie Barracks in Calgary. When the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada was removed from regular army service in 1970, all members of the battalion including Ethell changed their affiliation to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He quickly rose through the non-commissioned officer ranks to that of warrant officer until being commissioned as an officer to Her Majesty’s Forces in 1972. This move was to foreshadow a distinguished career in the military service.

He has served as a member of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Associations, Royal United Services Institute of Alberta, Calgary Military Museums Society and the Royal Canadian Legion.

 

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – March 15, 2013) –

On behalf of His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Honorary Patron of the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada), the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada, will present the 27th Pearson Peace Medal to His Honour, Colonel (Retired) the Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on  Monday, March 18, 2013, at 9:30 a.m.

On this occasion, His Excellency will recognize His Honour for his distinguished service as a decorated Canadian veteran of multiple UN peacekeeping tours, and for his passionate advocacy for veterans and their families. The development of the Canadian Association of Veterans of UN Peacekeeping and the creation of the Wall of Honour for Peacekeepers and Peacemakers, in Calgary, owe much to his leadership. In retirement, he tirelessly supported veterans and their families to better the lives of individuals who suffer from mental disorders, and to assist families who have lost a loved one to military service.

 About the Pearson Peace Medal

 The Pearson Peace Medal is awarded to a Canadian who has personally contributed, through his or her working life and voluntary commitments, to those causes to which Lester B. Pearson devoted his distinguished career: aid to the developing world; mediation between those confronting one another with arms; succour to refugees and others in need; equal rights and justice for all humanity; and peaceful change through world law and world organization.

A jury of eminent Canadians selects the recipient of this honour. The medal is awarded by the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada), a registered charity founded in 1946, with a mandate to educate and engage Canadians in support of the United Nations and its critical issues, which have a global impact.

14 thoughts on “Governor General to Present the Pearson Peace Medal to the Honourable Donald S. Ethell”

  1. Don
    I Congratulations from all of your friends here in the QOR VIB Branch, We are all proud of you, well done.

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