Ted Barris

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Barris receives Veterans Affairs Commendation

Ted Barris and Jayne MacAulay, his wife, at the Commendation ceremony in Mississauga, Ontario. Photo courtesy Kate Barris.

On July 27, 2011, the Minister of Veterans Affairs for Canada awarded 19 citizens his annual commendation. Traditionally, the award is “presented to those veterans … who, in an exemplary way, have contributed either to the care and well-being of veterans or to the remembrance of the sacrifices and achievements of Canadians in armed conflict.”

Most of the 2011 recipients are veterans. Ted Barris, a civilian, also received the commendation.

His citation read, in part: “Ted Barris has made such exemplary contributions by generously giving of himself and so both benefiting veterans and making manifest the principle that Canada’s obligation to all who have served in the cause of Peace and Freedom, must not be forgotten.”

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Barris receives citizenship award

On July 1 – Canada Day 2010 – residents of Uxbridge Township assembled at a local park to celebrate the nation’s 143rd birthday. Hundreds settled in for food, refreshments, amusements and, of course, the evening’s annual fireworks display. Wedged into the evening’s slate of activities was the annual announcement by the Uxbridge Times-Journal newspaper of the “Citizen of the Year.” T-J reporter Don Campbell invited several dignitaries to the stage – including MP Bev Oda, MPP John O’Toole, Mayor Bob Shepherd – and finally the recipient … Ted Barris.

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Holland vets remember

In May 2010, Ted Barris led a tour of veterans and their families to Holland for the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the country by Allied soldiers. Among those on the tour were three Canadian vets who had participated in the liberation. Images of Don Kerr, Ron Charland and Barclay Craig accompany their comments from the revisit to the Netherlands.

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