GORDON HAMILTON SOUTHAM – 2005 VIMY AWARD WINNER
30 August 2005. Ottawa. The Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI) is pleased to announce that Gordon Hamilton Southam, OC, BA, has been selected as the recipient of the Vimy Award for 2005. The award will be presented on Friday, 18 November, at a mixed gala dinner in the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau.
The Vimy Award Selection Committee was composed of The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada; General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces; Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Robert Fischer, Vice-President General Dynamics Canada; Mr. Harry Wilmot, President ATCO Frontec; Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Al DeQuetteville, Vice-President, Boeing Aerospace Canada; Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Richard J. Evraire, Chairman of the Conference of Defence Associations; and General (Ret’d) Paul Manson, President of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and Chair of the Selection Committee.
Mr. Southam is a distinguished Canadian who has exhibited the highest standards of leadership throughout his career of service to Canada. Born in Ottawa, Mr. Southam received his BA from the University of Toronto in 1939. A veteran of the Second World War, Mr. Southam served in the Royal Artillery, and then the Royal Canadian Artillery in the UK, Italy, and NW Europe. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
Following the War, Mr. Southam was a reporter with The Times of London, and Editorial Writer with The Ottawa Citizen, before joining the Department of External Affairs in 1948. During his diplomatic career he served as Third Secretary in Stockholm, Chargé d’Affaires in Warsaw, Ambassador to Poland, and as Head, Information Division, Department of External Affairs in 1962. Since then, Mr. Southam has been
the Coordinator and Director General of the National Arts Centre, Chairman of the Canadian Mediterranean Institute, and Chancellor of the University of King’s College.
Mr. Southam’s contributions to military affairs as founding member of the military museum task force, leading to the present War Museum, his personal founding of the Battle of Normandy Foundation for the 50th anniversary of D-Day and his continuing support of its evolution, his persistent and inspired efforts in seeing through the Valiants Project are legend and worthy of recognition.
The CDAI is dedicated to increasing public awareness of Canada’s security situation and the vital role that is played by the Canadian Forces in our society. The Institute is the sponsor of the Vimy Award. Since 1991, the Award recognizes one Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values.
Remarks – Bill Graham, Minister of National Defence
Remarks – Gordon Hamilton Southam