Presentation of Canadian Honours

Her Excellency presented the Order of Merit of the Police Forces to Chief Superintendent Stephan Joseph Marcel Drolet. Mr. Drolet has been a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer for over 20 years. He is an exceptional leader who developed a nationally recognized emergency plan to mitigate the risk of flooding in the Lower Mainland of B.C.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Her Excellency delivered remarks recognizing the recipients for their excellence, courage or exceptional dedication to service.

Her Excellency presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to André Guitard. Retired from the military, Mr. Guitard is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of veterans. A board member of the Royal Canadian Legion Gaspé Branch 59, he volunteers his time to ensure the success of military ceremonies and demonstrations.

Her Excellency presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Manon Garneau. For the past 13 years, Ms. Garneau has been involved with the Polyvalente de Black Lake school. Notably, she helps to organize benefits, fundraising campaigns and numerous student life activities at the elementary and high school levels.

The Medal of Bravery awarded to the late Constable Douglas Larche was received by his wife, Mrs. Nadine Larche and his three daughters. Constable Larche was in the process of establishing a containment perimeter around the area of the shooting when he suddenly came under fire from the suspect. Despite being outgunned, Cst. Larche actively engaged the suspect himself before being fatally wounded.

Constable Nicolas Gilfillan, Constable Shelly L. Mitchell and Constable Eric Dubois received a Medal of Bravery for risking their lives as they engaged in a manhunt for a shooter in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Sébastien Lapierre received the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division). In 2017, Mr. Lapierre became the first Canadian to ski, solo and unassisted, from the Antarctic Coast to the South Pole, a feat accomplished by only about 20 others in the world.

Her Excellency presented the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) to Stella Marguerite Bowles. Elementary school student Stella Bowles studied the contamination of the LaHave River near her home for a science project. When she discovered that untreated sewage was polluting the river, she used social media to gather support to have it cleaned up.

John Allan Baker received the Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division). At the age of 21, Mr. Baker recognized the potential of computer-based learning to revolutionize teaching practices. He founded Desire2Learn (now D2L), a company that has grown into a world leader in the field of education-based software.

Her Excellency presented the Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division) to Allan Ian Aitken. For over 30 years, Mr. Aitken, founder of Enactus Canada, has inspired young Canadians to become innovative, socially minded entrepreneurs and to tackle real-world issues like food security and sustainable development.

The Governor General presented honours to 26 recipients during a ceremony at the Citadelle of Québec.