The Conference of Defence Associations CDA Institute announce last week that Honorary Colonel Blake Goldring has been unanimously selected as the recipient of the Vimy Award for 2014. The award will be presented on Friday, 7 November 2014 at the Vimy Award Gala Reception and Dinner in the Canadian War Museum.
Goldring was recognized for his contribution to strengthening the integration between the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian society. In addition to serving on the Board of Governors of the Royal Military College of Canada, he is a founder and Chairman of Canada Company, a charitable organisation that acts as the bridge between business the the military. In that role, he created the Canada Company Scholarships for the children of fallen military and advanced the Employer Support for Reservist program (Sharing of Sacrifice), and he ensured that female members of the CAF are properly recognized for their service. He has also founded and funded the Soldier Wellness Program to support returning Afghanistan Veterans in BC and has sent children of CAF members to summer camps, including those with special needs.
Previous recipients of the Vimy Award include the Right Honourable Joe Clark (first recipient), General Paul Manson, Général Ray Henault, General Rick Hillier, Master Warrant Officer William MacDonald, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Lieutenant-General Jonathan Vance and Brigadier-General W. Don Macnamara (last year).
The Vimy Award Selection Committee was composed of General Ray Henault (Ret’d), as Chairman and, as Members, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, General Thomas Lawson, Lieutenant-General Richard J. Evraire (Ret’d), Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson (Ret’d), Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard (Ret’d), Brigadier-General W. Don Macnamara (Ret’d), Dr. John Scott Cowan, Dr. Fen Osler Hampson, M. Richard Bertrand, Mr. Chris Pogue, Mme Louise Mercier, and Colonel Barry MacLeod (Ret’d).