The winner of the 1999 Vimy Award was Lieutenant-General (Retired) Charles Belzile, CMM, CD, DMSc.
The Vimy Award is presented annually to a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the security of Canada and to the preservation of our democratic values. Previous winners include the Right Honourable Joe Clark, General John de Chastelain, Major-Generals Lewis Mackenzie, William Howard and Romeo Dallaire, Dr. Jack Granatstein, the Right Honourable Brian Dickson and Vice-Admiral Larry Murray.
General Belzile was born in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, in 1933. He followed an illustrious career in the Canadian Army and the Canadian Forces from1951 to 1986, during which time he held command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, the Combat Arms School in Gagetown, the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Germany, Canadian Forces Europe and Mobile Command, and served with both the United Nations and NATO. In 1986, France appointed him Commander of the Legion d’Honneur for enhancing military cooperation between France and Canada.
In1996, he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Royal 22nd Regiment. Since retiring from the Canadian Forces, General Belzile has continued his pace of activity. From 1987 to 1992, he was Vice- President, Business Development, for SNC Industrial Technologies, and since 1992 has been President of CH Belzile Consultants. He has carried on his service to Canada through his voluntary activities, which include serving as Member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, as Member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires and as President of the Canadian Battle of Normandy Foundation.
He has been directly involved in major activities aimed at the betterment ofCanada’s security and the preservation of her democratic values. In 1994, he was a member of the Committee of Thirteen, a group of high-placed volunteers who contributed a major part to the 1994 White Paper on Defence. From 1995 to 1997, he served as Commissioner in a Special Commission on the Restructuring of the Reserve Forces. In 1997, he was appointed one of three members of the Special Advisory Group on Military Justice and Military Police Investigative Services, taking over the
duties of Chairman on the death of the Right Honourable Brian Dickson in 1998.
General Belzile is married to the former Janet Scott of Braeside, Ontario. They have two children, Denise and Suzanne, and reside in Ottawa.
The Vimy Award jury was composed of the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, PC, CD, Chief Justice of Canada, General Maurice Baril, CMM, MSM, CD, Chief of Defence Staff, and Mr. Thomas d’Aquino, President and Chief Executive of the Business Council on National Issues.