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Governor General announces five Meritorious Service DecorationsSeptember 12, 2006 OTTAWA–Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced today the awarding of 5 Meritorious Service Decorations (military division) to individuals whose specific achievements have brought honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada. The recipients will be invited to receive their decoration at a presentation ceremony to be held at a later date. The Meritorious Service Decorations are separated into military and civil divisions, with two levels each: a medal and a cross. The military division recognizes individuals for their outstanding professionalism and for bringing honour to the Canadian Forces. The civil division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that brought honour to the community or to Canada. Meritorious Service Medal (military division)
Additional information on the Meritorious Service Decorations (annex A) as well as the citations for the recipients (annex B) are attached. -30-
These decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours System, which recognizes excellence. Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period. The Meritorious Service Decorations are open to both Canadians and non-Canadians. Anyone may nominate an individual for the civil division of the Meritorious Service Decorations, while military candidates are recommended by the Chief of the Defence Staff. Nominations and awards may be made posthumously, but nominations for activities that occurred prior to June 1984, the year in which the honour was first created, are not accepted. Annex B Major-General Stuart A. Beare, M.S.M., C.D. MGen Beare, then-Brigadier-General, is commended for his outstanding performance as the Commander of the Multinational Brigade Northwest of the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, from September 2003 to September 2004. Throughout his posting, he led the transformation of the multinational team from a stabilization force to a deterrence presence. Under his leadership, the Multinational Brigade Northwest partners were ready to adopt the deterrence presence posture well ahead of the flanking multinational brigades. MGen Beare provided exceptional service in this key command position in support of Canada’s continuing participation in the stabilization force. His contributions reflected highly on the Canadian Forces and on Canada. Honorary Captain(N) Sonja Ingrid Bata, O.C., M.S.M., C.D. Sonja Bata was appointed Honorary Captain(N) in 1989. The scope of her dedication and commitment to the Navy has been extraordinary. She has provided opportunities to senior leaders of the Canadian Forces to forge strategic links with their counterparts in the business and philanthropic worlds. Honorary Capt(N) Bata has fostered strong connections with the military units and organizations with which she is most closely associated, such as the Royal Military College and the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. Her devoted, selfless and professional advocacy has greatly benefited the Navy and the Canadian Forces as a whole.
In 2004, LCol Koefoed was the Danish Contingent Commander and Chief Liaison Officer for the Kabul Multinational Brigade, of which Canada was a member. His performance in the execution of these duties was as remarkable as it was distinguished. The initiatives that he led significantly strengthened the legitimacy of the Afghan Transitional Authority, increased stability within Kabul, created the proper conditions under which the Kabul Multinational Brigade could operate, and, most importantly, directly contributed to the UN-sanctioned nation-building process. LCol Koefoed’s conduct, staunch determination and initiatives left an indelible mark on the Kabul Multinational Brigade as well as an impressive legacy to the Canadian Forces. Warrant Officer James Ronald McArthur, M.S.M., C.D. From August 2001 to July 2004, WO McArthur distinguished himself as team leader and senior signals analyst, Communications Security Monitoring, NATO Information Systems Support Agency for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. During his tenure, he personally led 15 operational and exercise deployments, including missions in Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Afghanistan. He coordinated the annual training program at 18 NATO commands, which resulted in a significant increase in communications security operations and enhanced protection of deployed NATO personnel. WO McArthur’s distinctive and highly professional efforts had a dramatic and positive impact on NATO operations and brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre Joseph Albert Paul St-Cyr, M.S.M., C.D. LCol St-Cyr is recognized for his outstanding leadership as the Commander of the Task Force Haiti Tactical Helicopter Detachment, from March to August 2004. With great efficiency, he quickly brought together the members of 430 and 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadrons, ensuring that his detachment reached its full operational capability barely two weeks after deployment. He supported Canadian troops and the Commander of the United Nations Multinational Interim Force despite the many challenges and frantic pace of the helicopter operations. Without question, his drive and extraordinary efforts ensured the success of this aviation mission, bringing credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada during stabilization efforts in Haiti.
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