November 7, 2023 OTTAWA, Ontario
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presented 55 Meritorious Service Medals (M.S.M.), during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Thursday, November 9.
Created by Queen Elizabeth II, the Meritorious Service Decorations recognize great Canadians for exceptional deeds accomplished over a limited period of time that bring honour to our country.
The following four Engineers were among the recipients.
Brigadier-General Christopher Charles Ayotte, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.
From July 2019 to July 2020, Brigadier-General Ayotte was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait as an embedded officer within Combined Joint Task Force–Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. At a time of unprecedented tension within an active conflict zone, he displayed innovative leadership, remarkable strategic acuity, and indomitable poise and composure within this vital United States-led fighting coalition command. Having earned the trust of his coalition commander, Brigadier-General Ayotte made significant and influential contributions to the task force’s efforts, which had a substantial strategic effect and brought great credit to Canada.
The recipient is now retired.
Colonel Donald Roy Henley, M.S.M., C.D.
As commanding officer of Real Property Operations Unit – Ontario, Colonel Henley was instrumental in managing a delicate and complex First Nations protest at former Camp Ipperwash from March to July 2019. Through daily communications with protesters, the Chief of Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and other partners, he showed genuine compassion and respect for First Nation peoples, while resolving the standoff. His efforts to develop a successful path forward serve as an example for Indigenous community engagement.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Henny Ka-Leong Ng, M.S.M., C.D.
As the senior Canadian liaison officer to the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from 2016 to 2020, Lieutenant-Colonel Ng led the development of a comprehensive five-year rolling capability plan, the first of its kind. The outcome of this initiative has been praised by the senior leaders of the Five Eyes geospatial-intelligence community. It will showcase Canada’s space-based collection assets and strengthen Canadian Armed Forces capabilities as well as its relations with the United States and other Five Eyes partners.
The recipient is now retired.
Chief Warrant Officer Devin Roy Whiting, M.S.M., C.D.
As the regimental sergeant major with the Real Property Operations Unit Ontario from June 2018 to December 2021, Chief Warrant Officer Whiting demonstrated exemplary leadership, engagement and collaboration with myriad departments and organizations involved in the continued remediation of the former Camp Ipperwash. His actions propelled progress on a variety of contentious legacy issues such as unexploded ordnances, derelict housing, security, and Indigenous relations. Chief Warrant Officer Whiting’s exceptional efforts directly contributed to the Government of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation commitments.