The Executive Committee brings to the CDA extensive background in security and defence issues and experience in the Government and the Canadian Forces. It is responsible for the governance of the CDA including conducting the business and operations of the CDA (Finance, Public Affairs, Outreach).
Chairman
Lieutenant-General Richard J. Evraire, CMM, CD (Retired)
Lieutenant General Evraire joined the Canadianwat Forces in 1954 through the Regular Officer Training Plan. He attended Le Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, Québec; the Royal Military College, Kingston, and McGill University, Montréal, where he obtained a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1960. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Queen’s University, Kingston (1987), and a Bachelor of Science Degree (1994) and an Honourary Doctorate in Military Sciences (1997) from the Royal Military College, Kingston.
Commissioned as an officer of the Royal 22e Régiment in 1959, his tours of duty included the command of the 1st Battalion of his Regiment; 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group; Collège militaire royal de St. Jean; Canada’s National Defence College; and the NATO Defence College. He completed three tours of duty at NDHQ, Ottawa, the last of which was in the post of Chief – Land Doctrine and Operations.
LGen Evraire completed two United Nations Peacekeeping tours, the first as a military observer in India and Pakistan; the second as the Commander of the Canadian Contingents of the United Nations in the Middle East. LGen Evraire’s served a total of fourteen (14) years in NATO, including more than four years as Canada’s military representative on NATO’s Military Committee in Permanent Session, in Brussels, Belgium.
He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1997, after 42 years of service.
Immediate Past Chairman
Lieutenant-General Charlie H. Belzile, CM, CMM, CD (Retired)
LGen Belzile is a former Commander of the Canadian Army (1981-1986). Enlisting in the Canadian Army in 1951, he served in both command and staff positions throughout a career which spanned 35 years. His service over the years took him to Korea, Germany, Cyprus and all over Canada. Inter alia, his appointments have included regimental duty with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion Roya1 22e Regiment, Commandant Combat Arms School as well as Commander 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and Canadian Forces Europe in Germany.
Since retirement from the army and the Canadian Forces, he has worked as a Vice- President with SNC Industrial Technologies and as a private consultant. In addition to other honourary appointments, he also served as Colonel of the Royal22e Regiment. He held a two year appointment as Chairman of the Conference of Defence Associations. Presently he is the immediate past president of the Canadian Battlefields Foundation, a member of the Canadian War Museum Advisory Council, Chair of the VAC 60th Anniversary Committee on VE Day commemorations and Grand President of the Royal Canadian Legion.
He is, since 1986, a Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur of France and in 1999 was the recipient of the Vimy Award.
Vice-Chairman
Brigadier-General Gaston Côté, OMM, CD (Retired)
Brigadier-General (ret.) Gaston Côté was born in Bic, Québec. Upon graduating from Laval University with a B. Sc. (Economics), he was commissioned as an Infantry officer with the Royal 22ième Régiment.
He served with all R22eR units; he also served two tours with the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He commanded the 1er Commando (Cdn Ab Regt), l’École de combat du R22eR and Joint Task Force 2 (a Counter-terrorist unit).
As a senior officer, BGen Côté commanded CFB Montréal. He also commanded the Canadian contingent in Haiti. He was Chief of Staff for LFQA during the 1998 Ice Storm.. He served as Chief of Staff Ops and Plans for the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon his return from the DRC, he was appointed Director Peacekeeping Policy in NDHQ. Promoted to BGen, he commanded Secteur du Québec de la Force terrestre. He then served as COS J3 in NDHQ until his retirement from the CF. After his retirement, he worked as Vice-President-Organizational Development for a mining company; he is now working as a consultant.
BGen Côté is a graduate from the CF Staff School, CLFCSC, CFC and NSSC.
Bgen Côté is married to Andrée Fleury who hails from Québec and they have three sons: Jean-François, Pierre-Luc and Mathieu.
Vice-Chairman
Colonel Charles R. Keple, CD (Retired)
Colonel Keple enlisted in 1958, and acquired unique military breadth with regular and reserve service spanning army, air force and international command and staff appointments. A Regina native, he was a rifleman,a gunner, a BEng (Civil), who served in 2 and 4Fd SqnRCE [with 2nd BR Div (Germany)]. An honour graduate of the British Technical Staff, Canadian Command & Staff, and National Defence College courses, hequalified as both a Combat and an Airfield Engineer. He held senior staff appointments in Canadian Forces HQ, Air Command HQ, Mobile Command HQ, HQ Allied Forces Central Europe, and Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe. He was Director General Military Engineering Operations at National Defence HQduring operations in Pakistan, Croatia, Kuwait, Somalia, Cambodia, and Bosnia. In 1996 he was transferred to the Supplementary Reserve, and retired in 2007.
Vice-Chairman
Vice-Admiral Ron Buck, CMM, CD (Retired)
Vice Admiral Buck was born and raised in Montreal and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1967 under the auspices of the Regular Officer Training Plan. He graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 and was commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant.
He served his formative years from 1971 to 1975 in HMC Ships FRASER, SASKATCHEWAN, MARGAREE and PRESERVER. After his Combat Control long course he joined HMCS IROQUOIS as Operations Officer in 1977 seeing her through two tours as Flagship of the Standing NATO Naval Atlantic Force. In 1979 he was appointed on exchange to the Royal Navy returning to Canada in early 1982 after also completing the Royal Naval Staff Course at Greenwich.
He was appointed Executive Officer (second in command) of HMCS ATHABASKAN in 1983 and saw her through refit, operational trials and successful workups returning her to fleet duties. On promotion to Commander he was posted to National Defence Headquarters in 1985 as requirements Section Head responsible for the Canadian Patrol Frigate and IROQUOIS Class modernization.
In 1987 Vice Admiral Buck was appointed as Commanding Officer of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE having a very successful and demanding operational tour in 1989 he was in selected as the Project Manager for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project ($750 Million), which he led from the definition phase to successful award of implementation contract. In 1992 he was appointed as Commander Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron/MARCOM Deputy Chief of Staff New Equipment Trials. During this period he led the operational acceptance of new Frigates and updated Tribal Destroyers to fleet operations.
On promotion to Commodore in 1994 Vice Admiral Buck was appointed as Commander Canadian Forces Training System in Trenton and early in 1995 he was subsequently appointed as Chief of Staff of the Management Command and Control Reengineering Team (MCCRT) in Ottawa which reduced Headquarters numbers and levels very significantly as the CF was downsizing. In this role he led a very major and successful organizational change initiative.
In 1997 he was appointed as the first Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and after a busy year of operations in the Pacific he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific in 1998. Vice Admiral Buck served as MARPAC for three years through June of 2001 during which he was promoted to Vice Admiral and greatly enhanced the MARPAC operational profile.
Shortly after appointment as the Chief of Maritime Staff (head of Canada’s Navy) in June 2001 he led the planning and execution of the Naval component of Operation Apollo, the Canadian contribution to the Global War on Terrorism which saw almost all of Canada’s major warships deployed as Task Groups with significant international operational command responsibilities. It was also at this point that DND/CF Persons with Disabilities asked him to be their Champion, which he was honoured to undertake for the next 5 years.
Vice Admiral Buck relinquished command of Canada’s Navy after over three years in command and was appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 3 September 2004 assuming responsibilities as the Chief of Staff to the CDS and Deputy Minister with specific responsibility to lead strategic Business Planning, Force Development and resources assignment. It was during his tenure that the CF won the two largest Budget increases in decades firstly of $12.8B in Budget 2005 and then a further $5.3B in Budget 2006. He also was key in ensuring the detailed arrangements required to implement CDS CF Transformation were coordinated and implemented.
After just short of 40 years of service Vice Admiral Buck retired on 4 July 2006. Based upon his senior positions and experience he is skilled at strategic and operational command, organizational analysis, strategic visioning, strategic planning, organizational change and assisting senior management by providing strategic advice. He also has a detailed knowledge of Federal Government fiscal and procurement processes and has a project management background.
Since 2007 Vice Admiral Buck has provided senior mentorship support to the Canadian Forces College and has worked with several major firms providing strategic advice and in identifying potential government procurement opportunities.
Non-Voting Members
President, CDA Institute – John Scott Cowan B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD
John Scott Cowan studied physics, and then physiology at Toronto. A post-doc at Laval preceded 24 years at the University of Ottawa as professor, Chair of Physiology, and as Vice-Rector. He was Vice-Principal at Queen’s before becoming Principal of RMC in 1999, where he served until 2008. He has been President of the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies, the Canadian Physiological Society, and the Canadian Association of University Business Officers. Active in labour relations for 30 years, he has been a negotiator, arbitrator, teacher (including SUAC), and the first Senior Advisor on Labour Relations to AUCC.
Despite having an extensive research career in physiology, he has also had a long involvement in defence issues, starting with a monograph on defence policy in 1963. In recent years his writings have focussed much more on issues related to defence and security (including asymmetric threats and terrorism) and on the characteristics of the profession of arms, as well as defence education.
He is currently President of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI), and is the Vice-Chair of the Defence Science Advisory Board of Canada (DSAB).
He has also flown over 60 aircraft types, and is somewhat deaf from a few thousand hours in Harvards, and so does not mind at all if people shout at him.
Past President, CDA Institute – General Paul D. Manson, O.C., C.M.M., C.D. (Retired)
General Manson served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 1986 to 1989. A fighter pilot, he served extensively with NATO in Europe during his 37-year military career. From 1977 to 1980, he was Program Manager of the New Fighter Aircraft project, which led to the selection of the CF-18 Hornet for the air force. Born in Trail, British Columbia, he was educated in Montreal and Pembroke, Ontario, before attending the Canadian Military Colleges at Royal Roads and the Royal Military College, receiving the Sword of Honour upon graduation from the latter. He holds BSc degrees in electrical engineering from both RMC and Queen’s University, and has received two honourary doctorates. He is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Staff College (1966) and the National Defence College (1974).
Following military service, General Manson entered business as the president of a large aerospace company, retiring in 1997 as Chairman of Lockheed Martin Canada. In 1992, he received the C.D. Howe Award for achievement in the fields of planning, policy-making and leadership in aeronautics and space. General Manson has been active in a number of volunteer undertakings, notably as chairman of the highly successful “Passing the Torch” capital campaign, which raised $16.5 million in support of the new Canadian War Museum. From 2000 to 2006 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, chairing that Board’s Canadian War Museum Committee and Canadian War Museum Building Committee. General Manson is a past chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
Among his honours and awards are Commander of the Order of Military Merit (1980), Commander of the U.S. Legion of Merit (1989), Officer of the Order of Canada (2002), and 2003 recipient of the prestigious Vimy Award. General Manson is on the Advisory Council of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute. He served as the president of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute from 2004 to 2008.
An avid musician, he plays trombone in two Ottawa bands. He is married to the former Margaret Nickel of Kemptville, Ont. (who, like him, is an ardent golfer). They have two sons and two daughters, and five grandchildren.
Le Comité exécutif contribue à la CAD une vaste connaissance des enjeux en matière de sécurité et de défense, et une grande expérience de l’appareil gouvernemental et des Forces canadiennes. Il est responsable de la gouvernance de la CAD, notamment de ses travaux et de ses opérations (finances, affaires publiques, diffusion).
Président du conseil
Lieutenant-général Richard J. Evraire, CMM, CD (ret.)
Né à Ottawa en 1938, le lieutenant-général Evraire fait ses études universitaires au Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean ; au Royal Military College, Kingston ; et à l’Université McGill, Montréal, où il complète, en 1960, un baccalauréat en génie civil. Il est également détenteur d’une maîtrise en administration publique de l’université Queen’s (1989), et d’un baccalauréat ès sciences (1994) et d’un doctorat (honoris causa) en sciences militaires (1997) du Collège militaire royal, Kingston.
Officier du Royal 22e Régiment, il commande le 1er bataillon de son Régiment ; le 4e groupe brigade du Canada ; le Collège militaire royal de St. Jean ; le Collège de défense nationale du Canada; et le Collège de défense de l’OTAN, à Rome en Italie. Il complète trois périodes de service au Quartier général des forces canadiennes, Ottawa, le dernier en tant que Chef – Doctrine et opérations terrestres.
Le général Evraire a deux missions des Nations Unies à son actif – comme observateur militaire au Cachemire (Inde et Pakistan)(1970-1971) ; et comme commandant des contingents canadiens des Nations Unies au Proche Orient (1978-1979). Il cumule quatorze (14) années de service à l’OTAN, incluant plus de quatre (4) années dans le poste de Représentant militaire du Canada auprès du Comité militaire en session permanente, à Bruxelles, Belgique. Après plus de quarante-deux (42) années de service militaire, il prend sa retraite en 1997.
Président du conseil sortant
Lieutenant-général Charles H. Belzile, CM, CMM, CD (ret.)
Le Lgén Belzile est un ancien Général-Commandant de l’ Armée canadienne (1981- 1986). Il s’est joint à l’Armée canadienne en 1951 et a servi dans des positions de commandement et d’état-major durant une carrière d’une durée de 35 ans. Au cours des années, il sert en Corée, en Allemagne, a Chypre et un peu partout au Canada. Entres autres, ses fonctions ont inclus celles de service régimentaire avec le Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Commandant du 2e bataillon Royal22e Régiment, Commandant de l’École des Armes de Combat ainsi que Général-Commandant la 4e Brigade Mécanisée du Canada et les Forces Canadiennes en Europe, sises en Allemagne.
Depuis sa retraite de l’armée, il a oeuvré en tant que vice-président aux Technologies Industrielles SNC et comme consultant. En plus d’autres positions honorifiques il a servi comme Colonel du Royal 22e Régiment. Il était pour une période de deux ans, Président du Congrès des Associations de Défense. Il est maintenant Président sortant de la Fondation canadienne des Champs de bataille, Président du comité consultatif, auprès des Anciens Combattants Canada, pour le 60e anniversaire de la fin de la guerre (1930- 45) et est Grand Président de la Légion royale canadienne.
En plus de ses décorations canadiennes, il détient depuis 1986, le titre de Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur (France). En 1999 il était récipiendaire du Prix honorifique VIMY.
Vice-président du conseil
Brigadier-général Gaston Côté, OMM, CD (ret.)
Le brigadier-général (ret.) Gaston Côté est né à Bic, Québec. Il a reçu sa commission d’officier en qualité d’officier d’infanterie servant avec le Royal 22ième Régiment, suite à sa graduation de l’université Laval avec un Baccalauréat en Sc. (Économique)
En plus de servir avec toutes les unités du R22eR, il a aussi servi à deux reprises avec le Régiment aéroporté canadien. Il a commandé le 1er Commando (Régt aéroporté canadien), l’École de combat du R22eR et la 2ième FOIA, l’unité anti terroriste mieux connue sous l’appellation de JTF2.
Comme officier supérieur, le brigadier-général Côté a commandé la Base des Forces canadiennes de Montréal. Il a aussi commandé le contingent canadien en Haïti. Il était le chef d’état-major du Secteur du Québec de la force terrestre (SQFT) durant la crise de verglas de 1998. Le brigadier-général Côté a servi comme Chef d’état-major – Opérations et plans pour la mission des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo. À son retour du Congo, il a été nommé Directeur – Politique du maintien de la paix au Quartier-général de la Défense nationale. Sur promotion au grade de brigadier-général, il a commandé le Secteur du Québec de la force terrestre pour ensuite servir au Quartier-général de la Défense nationale comme Chef d’état major J3 (Opérations), jusqu’à sa retraite des Forces canadiennes. Depuis sa retraite, il a été Vice-président au développement organisationnel pour une compagnie minière et il travaille maintenant à son compte comme consultant
Le brigadier-général Côté est diplômé de l’École d’état-major des Forces canadiennes, du Collège de commandement et d’état-major des Forces terrestres, du Collège des Forces canadiennes et du Cours d’études stratégiques nationales.
Le brigadier-général Côté est marié à Andrée Fleury de Québec et ils ont trois fils : Jean-François, Pierre-Luc et Mathieu.
Vice-président du conseil
Colonel Charles R. Keple, CD (ret.)
Colonel Keple enlisted in 1958, and acquired unique military breadth with regular and reserve service spanning army, air force and international command and staff appointments. A Regina native, he was a rifleman,a gunner, a BEng (Civil), who served in 2 and 4Fd SqnRCE [with 2nd BR Div (Germany)]. An honour graduate of the British Technical Staff, Canadian Command & Staff, and National Defence College courses, hequalified as both a Combat and an Airfield Engineer. He held senior staff appointments in Canadian Forces HQ, Air Command HQ, Mobile Command HQ, HQ Allied Forces Central Europe, and Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe. He was Director General Military Engineering Operations at National Defence HQduring operations in Pakistan, Croatia, Kuwait, Somalia, Cambodia, and Bosnia. In 1996 he was transferred to the Supplementary Reserve, and retired in 2007.
Vice-président du conseil
Vice-amiral Ron Buck (ret.)
Vice Admiral Buck was born and raised in Montreal and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1967 under the auspices of the Regular Officer Training Plan. He graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 and was commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant.
He served his formative years from 1971 to 1975 in HMC Ships FRASER, SASKATCHEWAN, MARGAREE and PRESERVER. After his Combat Control long course he joined HMCS IROQUOIS as Operations Officer in 1977 seeing her through two tours as Flagship of the Standing NATO Naval Atlantic Force. In 1979 he was appointed on exchange to the Royal Navy returning to Canada in early 1982 after also completing the Royal Naval Staff Course at Greenwich.
He was appointed Executive Officer (second in command) of HMCS ATHABASKAN in 1983 and saw her through refit, operational trials and successful workups returning her to fleet duties. On promotion to Commander he was posted to National Defence Headquarters in 1985 as requirements Section Head responsible for the Canadian Patrol Frigate and IROQUOIS Class modernization.
In 1987 Vice Admiral Buck was appointed as Commanding Officer of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE having a very successful and demanding operational tour in 1989 he was in selected as the Project Manager for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project ($750 Million), which he led from the definition phase to successful award of implementation contract. In 1992 he was appointed as Commander Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron/MARCOM Deputy Chief of Staff New Equipment Trials. During this period he led the operational acceptance of new Frigates and updated Tribal Destroyers to fleet operations.
On promotion to Commodore in 1994 Vice Admiral Buck was appointed as Commander Canadian Forces Training System in Trenton and early in 1995 he was subsequently appointed as Chief of Staff of the Management Command and Control Reengineering Team (MCCRT) in Ottawa which reduced Headquarters numbers and levels very significantly as the CF was downsizing. In this role he led a very major and successful organizational change initiative.
In 1997 he was appointed as the first Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and after a busy year of operations in the Pacific he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific in 1998. Vice Admiral Buck served as MARPAC for three years through June of 2001 during which he was promoted to Vice Admiral and greatly enhanced the MARPAC operational profile.
Shortly after appointment as the Chief of Maritime Staff (head of Canada’s Navy) in June 2001 he led the planning and execution of the Naval component of Operation Apollo, the Canadian contribution to the Global War on Terrorism which saw almost all of Canada’s major warships deployed as Task Groups with significant international operational command responsibilities. It was also at this point that DND/CF Persons with Disabilities asked him to be their Champion, which he was honoured to undertake for the next 5 years.
Vice Admiral Buck relinquished command of Canada’s Navy after over three years in command and was appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 3 September 2004 assuming responsibilities as the Chief of Staff to the CDS and Deputy Minister with specific responsibility to lead strategic Business Planning, Force Development and resources assignment. It was during his tenure that the CF won the two largest Budget increases in decades firstly of $12.8B in Budget 2005 and then a further $5.3B in Budget 2006. He also was key in ensuring the detailed arrangements required to implement CDS CF Transformation were coordinated and implemented.
After just short of 40 years of service Vice Admiral Buck retired on 4 July 2006. Based upon his senior positions and experience he is skilled at strategic and operational command, organizational analysis, strategic visioning, strategic planning, organizational change and assisting senior management by providing strategic advice. He also has a detailed knowledge of Federal Government fiscal and procurement processes and has a project management background.
Since 2007 Vice Admiral Buck has provided senior mentorship support to the Canadian Forces College and has worked with several major firms providing strategic advice and in identifying potential government procurement opportunities.
Membres non-votants
President, Institut de la CAD – John Scott Cowan B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD
John Scott Cowan a étudié la physique, puis la physiologie, à Toronto. Une formation post-doctorale à Laval a précédé 24 ans à l’Université d’Ottawa comme professeur, chaire de physiologie, et comme vice-recteur. Il a été vice-doyen à Queen’s avant de devenir doyen du RMC, en 1999, poste qu’il a occupé jusqu’en 2008. Il a été président de la Fédération canadienne des sociétés de biologie, de la Société canadienne de physiologie et de l’Association canadienne du personnel administratif universitaire. Actif dans les relations de travail pendant 30 ans, il a été négociateur, arbitre, enseignant (dont le SUAC), et il fut le premier conseiller principal sur les relations de travail de l’AUCC.
Malgré qu’il ait eu une carrière étendue dans la recherche en physiologie, il a également eu une implication de longue date dans les questions de défense, à commencer par une monographie sur la politique de défense, en 1963. Ces dernières années, ses écrits ont porté beaucoup plus sur des questions reliées à la défense et à la sécurité (dont les menaces asymétriques et le terrorisme) et sur les caractéristiques de la profession des armes, ainsi que sur l’éducation à la défense.
Il est présentement vice-président du le Conseil de défense consultatif des sciences (BRS).
Past President, CDA Institute – General Paul D. Manson, O.C., C.M.M., C.D. (Retired)
General Manson served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 1986 to 1989. A fighter pilot, he served extensively with NATO in Europe during his 37-year military career. From 1977 to 1980, he was Program Manager of the New Fighter Aircraft project, which led to the selection of the CF-18 Hornet for the air force. Born in Trail, British Columbia, he was educated in Montreal and Pembroke, Ontario, before attending the Canadian Military Colleges at Royal Roads and the Royal Military College, receiving the Sword of Honour upon graduation from the latter. He holds BSc degrees in electrical engineering from both RMC and Queen’s University, and has received two honourary doctorates. He is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Staff College (1966) and the National Defence College (1974).
Following military service, General Manson entered business as the president of a large aerospace company, retiring in 1997 as Chairman of Lockheed Martin Canada. In 1992, he received the C.D. Howe Award for achievement in the fields of planning, policy-making and leadership in aeronautics and space. General Manson has been active in a number of volunteer undertakings, notably as chairman of the highly successful “Passing the Torch” capital campaign, which raised $16.5 million in support of the new Canadian War Museum. From 2000 to 2006 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, chairing that Board’s Canadian War Museum Committee and Canadian War Museum Building Committee. General Manson is a past chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
Among his honours and awards are Commander of the Order of Military Merit (1980), Commander of the U.S. Legion of Merit (1989), Officer of the Order of Canada (2002), and 2003 recipient of the prestigious Vimy Award. General Manson is on the Advisory Council of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute. He served as the president of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute from 2004 to 2008.
An avid musician, he plays trombone in two Ottawa bands. He is married to the former Margaret Nickel of Kemptville, Ont. (who, like him, is an ardent golfer). They have two sons and two daughters, and five grandchildren.