We recently learned that Francis “Frank” Clegg, FHG 180, passed away on September 19, 2021 at the age of 91. Frank joined the Fort Henry Guard in 1950, and studied at Queen’s University. In 1955, he was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Regiment, and retired from the army in 1975.

Following his time in the military, Frank joined the BC government’s Provincial Emergency Program, and retired in 1996 as the Regional Director – Lower Mainland, Ministry of the Environment.  A talented tennis and hockey player, Frank enjoyed playing golf several times a week well into his late 80s.

We extend our condolences to Frank’s wife Dee, his children Neil, Shelagh, and Geoffrey, and his grandchildren.

Obituary:  Chilliwack Progress

Board member Tom Little has put together the annual FHGCC Work Plan, which provides a great overview of the numerous projects and activities that the board will be undertaking this year.  It includes special events, such as the 85th reunion and the annual awards night, as well as ongoing activities, such as the newsletter and Guard merchandise.

If there are any members who might be interested in volunteering to assist with any of these activities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Sorry to learn that another former member of the Fort Henry Guard has passed away.  Donald Foster, FHG 198, died on October 19, 2022 at the age of 90.  Donald joined the Guard in 1952 and was part of its first trip to Washington in 1955.  After a 30+ year career with Imperial Oil, he returned to Kingston in the late 1980s and was an active volunteer for many years.

The family is encouraging donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Donald’s honour.

We extend our condolences to his children Donna and Paul, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to his extended family and friends.

Obituary:  Kingston Whig-Standard

Dr. Walter Rosser, FHG 490, passed away on October 2, 2022 after a brief illness.  Walter was a member of the Guard of 1961, and went on to have a remarkable 55-year career as a clinician, teacher, researcher and leader in family medicine.

Walter’s personal and professional accomplishments and accolades are too long to list here.  He served as chair of four of the five family medicine departments in Ontario: University of Ottawa; McMaster University; University of Toronto and Queen’s University, his alma mater, where he was a professor emeritus in his final years. In 2017, his peers established The Walter Rosser Chair in Family Medicine in his honour.

In 2010, Walter was named to the Order of Canada, and his citation read:  “Walter Rosser has helped to advance the field of family medicine and has contributed to the evolution of primary care research in Canada. He has been most influential in building mechanisms for the review and evaluation of health care systems, notably helping to establish practice-based research networks in Canada… and has long promoted evidence-based medicine in his field. A leader in primary care reform, he has influenced policy and guidelines not only within Canada, but also in many other countries around the world.”

We extend our sincere condolences to Walter’s wife Janet, his children Tom and Nancy, and his many family, friends and colleagues.

Obituary: Ottawa Citizen

We were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Ronald Blair, FHG 1219, on August 31, 2022.  Ron grew up in Kingston, and was a proud member of the Fort Henry Guard, which he joined in 1983.  After graduating from St. Francis Xavier University, he had a successful career as a CFO and consultant for several Ottawa-based tech companies.

Donations in Ron’s memory may be made to the Ottawa Heart Institute or the Ottawa Food Bank.

We extend our sincere condolences to Ron’s wife Sandra, his children Jacob and Samantha, and to his family and friends.

Obituary:  Tubman Funeral Homes

The annual Fort Henry Guard Awards Night, which took place on August 30, concluded with a very special announcement.  Rob Hamilton, FHG 1741, shared the news that the Fort Henry Guard Foundation has created the Commitment to Excellence Award, which recognizes the importance of returning Guard.  16 members of Fort Henry’s programming staff were each presented with the inaugural $500 award in recognition of their significant contributions this past summer rebuilding the Fort Henry Guard. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Shaundra Buelow, Jordan Clark, Anna Holden, Ethan Krause, Nicholas Lafreniere, Hailey Leslie, Caitlin McAllister, Amberlyn McDougald, Jeff McPherson, Anthony Pacheco, Cameron Turner, Michael Valiquette, Josh Vivian, Colin Watts, Peter Webb and Erin Woznow.  Without their dedication and perseverance, it’s hard to imagine the Guard would have returned as quickly, and as strongly, as it did over the past four months.

Learn more about this vitally important initiative, and about how you can support next year’s Commitment to Excellence Award, in this message from FHGCC President Alex McLean.

 

THE FORT HENRY GUARD FOUNDATION COMMITS TO THE REBUILDING OF THE FORT HENRY GUARD

The Fort Henry Guard Foundation promotes and supports the Fort Henry Guard as a military animation/interpretive unit at Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada, a living museum for the display of authentic British military music and drill of the mid-19th century for the education and enjoyment of Fort Henry visitors.

As has been felt in performance groups and living history sites around the world, the Fort Henry Guard saw great reduction in its operations since the global COVID-19 pandemic began. The Fort Henry Guard is a group of Victorian-era military and civilian living history interpreters consisting of university and college students working at Fort Henry each spring and summer. Fort Henry’s living history programming relies on experienced programming staff returning year over year at all levels to provide stability and to pass on their knowledge and experience to new staff. The key to the Fort Henry Guard’s world class renown, excellence in performance, and future growth rests with these returning staff and the acknowledgement for their hard work deserves recognition and support.

The Fort Henry Guard Foundation’s mandate is to support the Fort Henry Guard and therefore has established the Fort Henry Guard Foundation Commitment to Excellence Award to recognize the importance of returning Fort Henry programming staff. At the Fort Henry Guard Club Awards Ceremony held in August 2022, sixteen returning programming staff members each received $500.00 in recognition of their commitment to excellence, their outstanding work in leading the rebuilding of the Fort Henry Guard and espousing its traditions. Recognizing that the Fort Henry Guard rebuild is a multi-year process, the Fort Henry Guard Foundation has committed to continue this award program for the 2023 season and will award returning eligible Fort Henry programming staff members at the Annual Awards Night in August 2023. The Fort Henry Guard Foundation stands with the Fort Henry Guard and truly embodies the motto of the Fort Henry Guard: Et Nos Meremur – We Also Serve.

The Foundation wishes to thank the incredible generosity of the Fort Henry Guard Club members and Fort Henry Guard alumni and supporters who have donated over the years. It is thanks to those donors that this new award program exists. Those wishing to donate can do so here.

Alex McLean (he/him)

President

Fort Henry Guard Foundation & Fort Henry Guard Club of Canada

For the first time since 2019, the annual Fort Henry Guard Awards were presented on August 30, 2022.  Members of this year’s Guard, FHGCC board members, and invited guests, including Honorary Guard Commander Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, gathered in the Great Hall at Fort Henry to celebrate the Guard’s many accomplishments over the previous four months.

This year’s award winners, presenters and guests.

This year’s event was hosted by board member Matt Archibald, FHG 1826, who did a fantastic job, and featured the presentation of 14 awards, including the newly created Domestic Interpreter award, which recognizes the Domestic Interpreter who best exhibits excellence in leading guided tours, portraying the domestic life of the garrison, and other interpretive duties. 

The event concluded with a very special surprise – the announcement of the Fort Henry Guard Foundation Commitment to
Excellence Award, which recognizes the importance of returning Fort Henry programming staff.  Board member Rob Hamilton, FHG 1741, presented sixteen returning programming staff members with the $500.00 award in recognition of their commitment to excellence, their outstanding work in leading the rebuilding of the Fort Henry Guard and espousing its traditions.  Stay tuned for more information about this important initiative, including how you can lend your support to next year’s program.

Click here for a list of all of this year’s nominees and award recipients, as well as photos of the winners and presenters.

Special thanks to everyone who donated to support this year’s awards – your sponsorship is greatly appreciated.

The Annual General Meeting of the Fort Henry Guard Club of Canada took place in a hybrid format on August 30, 2022.  Twenty members were in attendance, either in person in the Great Hall at Fort Henry, or online via Zoom.

A total of six members were elected to the Board of Directors for a 2-year term:

FHG 2100 Alex McLean
FHG 1826 Matthew Archibald
FHG 1741 Rob Hamilton
FHG 1692 Chris Dearlove
FHG 593 Tom Little
FHG 2172 Emilie Coyle

In addition, Alex McLean was acclaimed as President, and Chris Dearlove was acclaimed as Vice-President.

Thank you to all those members who took part in the AGM, and to those members who agreed to stand for re-election.