Governor General to Invest 49 Recipients into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces

OTTAWA, Sept. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will preside over an Order of Merit of the Police Forces investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, September 18, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.

During the ceremony, the Governor General, who is chancellor of the Order, will bestow the honour on 1 Commander, 4 Officers and 44 Members.

The Order of Merit of the Police Forces was created in 2000, to recognize conspicuous merit and exceptional service by members and employees of Canadian police forces whose contributions extend beyond protection of the community. Three levels of membership with post-nominal letters reflect long-term, outstanding service: Commander (C.O.M.), Officer (O.O.M.) and Member (M.O.M.).

A media schedule for the investiture ceremonies, the lists of recipients and a backgrounder on the Order are attached.

Media wishing to cover the event are asked to confirm their attendance with the
Rideau Hall Press Office, and must arrive at the residence's main entrance no later than 9:00 a.m.

CEREMONY SCHEDULE

Members of the media are asked to observe the following schedule:

9:30 a.m.:	Ceremony begins The Governor General speaks The Governor General presents the insignia (Commanders first, followed by Officers and Members) The RCMP Commissioner speaks
10:30 a.m.:	Interviews with recipients

RECIPIENTS
COMMANDER
Chief Constable James Chu, C.O.M.  This is a promotion within the Order.	Vancouver Police Department, British Columbia
OFFICERS
Deputy Chief Roger Chaffin, O.O.M.	Calgary Police Service, Alberta
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Hardy, O.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Chief Eric Jolliffe, O.O.M. This is a promotion within the Order.	York Regional Police, Newmarket, Ontario
Assistant Commissioner James Malizia, O.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
MEMBERS
Chief Superintendent Michael Armstrong, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Sergeant Rob Bernier, M.O.M.	Ottawa Police Service, Ontario
Chief Superintendent Fred Bertucca, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto
Inspector Carole Bird, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Chief Richard Bourassa, M.O.M.	Moose Jaw Police Service, Saskatchewan
Staff Sergeant Jacques Brassard, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Nanaimo, British Columbia
Chief Superintendent Peter Clark, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Whitehorse, Yukon
Chief Superintendent Charles Cox, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Aurora
Chief Dale Cox, M.O.M.	Lakeshore Regional Police Service, Peace River, Alberta
Superintendent Joanne Crampton, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Superintendent Len DelPino, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chief Albert Frederick, M.O.M.	Windsor Police Service, Ontario
Staff Sergeant Darrell Gaudet, M.O.M.	Halifax Regional Police, Nova Scotia
Detective Inspector Christine Gilpin, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Superintendent Graham Gleason, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Staff Sergeant Isobel Granger, M.O.M.	Ottawa Police Service, Ontario
Chief Ian Grant, M.O.M.	Brandon Police Service, Manitoba
Constable Arnold Guerin, M.O.M.	Saanich Police Department, British Columbia
Deputy Chief Tony Harder, M.O.M.	Edmonton Police Service, Alberta
Staff Sergeant Lindsay Hernden, M.O.M.	Halifax Regional Police, Nova Scotia
Deputy Chief Constable Steven Ing, M.O.M.	Victoria Police Department, British Columbia
Chief Darrell Kambeitz, M.O.M.	Camrose Police Service, Alberta
Detective Inspector Andy Karski, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Assistant Commissioner Louise Lafrance, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Regina, Saskatchewan
Superintendent Serge Lalonde, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Chief John Leontowicz, M.O.M.	LaSalle Police Service, Ontario
Deputy Chief Constable Del Manak, M.O.M.	Victoria Police Department, British Columbia
Superintendent Robin McElary-Downer, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Inspector Dennis McGuffin, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Deputy Chief Antje McNeely, M.O.M.	Kingston Police, Ontario
Assistant Commissioner Pierre Perron, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Chief Superintendent Guy Pilon, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Inspector Christopher Renwick, M.O.M.	Ottawa Police Service, Ontario
Staff Sergeant Mike Savage, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Kamloops, British Columbia
Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Dr. Verona Singer, M.O.M.	Halifax Regional Police, Nova Scotia
Sergeant Craig Smith, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Sergeant Jeff Swann, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ucluelet, British Columbia
Assistant Commissioner Marc Tardif, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario
Detective Superintendent Dave Truax, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Patrol Sergeant Edith Turner, M.O.M.	Winnipeg Police Service, Manitoba
Superintendent Daryl Wiebe, M.O.M.	Vancouver Police Department, British Columbia
Inspector Catherine Yeandle-Slater, M.O.M.	Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia
Superintendent Andris Zarins, M.O.M.	Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario

Please note that the information in this media advisory reflects the rank and posting of the members at the time of their appointment to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

ORDER OF MERIT OF THE POLICE FORCES FACT SHEET

The Order of Merit of the Police Forces honours a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by the men and women of Canadian police forces, and recognizes their commitment to this country. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.

The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Principal Commander of the Order, submits recommendations for appointment to the governor general on behalf of an advisory committee. Nominations for appointment to the Order may be made by submitting the name of a member or employee of a police force to the commanding officer of that police force.

Levels and post-nominals

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Sovereign of the Order; the governor general is the chancellor and one of the Commanders of the Order. The Principal Commander is the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Commander – Post-nominals: C.O.M.
Recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility over an extended period, usually at the national or international level.

Officer – Post-nominals: O.O.M.
Recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility over an extended period, usually at the regional or provincial level.

Member – Post-nominals: M.O.M.
Recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty over an extended period, usually at the local or regional/provincial level.

Insignia Description

The badge of the Order is the same as that of the Order of Military Merit: a blue-enamelled, straight-end cross (four arms, narrow at the centre, wider at the ends) with an annulus in red, surmounted by St. Edward's Crown. The ribbon is different and consists of three equal bands of blue, gold and blue. The annulus bears the inscription MERIT.MÉRITE.CANADA.

For more information about the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, visit the Honours section of our website at www.gg.ca/honours or visit the website of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police at www.cacp.ca.

SOURCE Governor General

For information on the Order and the ceremony: Marie-Pierre Bélanger, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-9166, [email protected]; For information on the recipients: Sara Sowieta, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, 613-595-1101, [email protected]; Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter.