The Conference of Defence Associations Institute is happy to announce the 2024 Laureate of the Vimy Award, General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczyk for his significant and outstanding contributions to Canadian security and defence and to the promotion and preservation of Canadian democratic values.
General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczyk’s career and service to the nation have been exemplary, culminating with the roles of Chief of the Defence Staff, President of the Canadian Space Agency, and Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs.
Learn more about his outstanding contributions here.
Celebrating its 32nd edition, the Vimy Gala has consistently held its reputation of being the most exclusive defence and security recognition gala of its kind, annually bringing together Senators, Members of Parliament, foreign dignitaries, senior public servants and general and flag officers of the Canadian Armed Forces as well as the business community to remember and honour Canada’s fallen heroes and celebrate the lifelong accomplishments of outstanding Canadians in security and defence.
Vimy Award Gala 6 November 2024 – War Museum – Response by General (Retd) Walt Natynczyk
Thanks so much Guy! I am truly grateful to receive the Vimy Award.
Mesdames et Messieurs, ce soir, c’est vraiment pour moi une leçon d’humilité. Je suis très, très reconnaissante d’avoir eu l’occasion de servir le Canada.
I would like to thank the leadership and all members of the Conference of Defence Associations for granting me this honour.
I am privileged to join the ranks of distinguished Vimy Award recipients of past years.
I am receiving this award due to the exhaustive hard work and creative writing by an exceptional leader and one of the most dedicated, hard-working gentlemen I know. Major-General (Ret’d) Jim Ferron was the nominator for this award. Jim, thanks so much my friend. Thanks as well to all those who supported my nomination.
I am so pleased to be able to share this recognition with my family. I could only have served with the support of my amazing wife Leslie and my three children, Margaret, William and John. Our children supported their Mom and me over the numerous postings, long deployments and frequent absences. They have found their own paths to service and have created beautiful families to make Canada stronger. And these days, it is Leslie’s and my turn to support them during their absences/missions. And what a great privilege that is!
J’aimerais que ma mère et mon père soient ici aujourd’hui parce que c’est leur expérience en temps de guerre qui est à l’origine de mon désir de servir le Canada par le service
My father felt he owed Canada. You see, he was ethnically cleansed from Eastern Poland, he survived slave labour in a Soviet Gulag, was a Polish war combatant (a private soldier and Sherman tank driver); he was wounded at the battle of Monte Cassino in Italy and arrived in Canada as an indentured farm worker.
At the end of the war, he could not return to his homeland; he was a displaced person. Canada gave him a home and he was truly grateful.
My Mom also spent the war in uniform. However, she wore a German Air Force uniform. She was an aerial search light operator. After the war she fled Germany to make a new life in Canada.
My parents met at a church dance in Winnipeg, having served in opposing armed forces, neither speaking the others’ language, nor English very well (!), yet they found love and created a truly Canadian family. I was named in honour of my mother’s younger brother, Walter who at the age of 17 died as a soldier fighting on the Russian Front.
Canada gave my parents a safe haven; hard work was rewarded with opportunity, fostered by public education and universal health care.
We as Canadians are blessed. Yet our blessings must not be taken for granted and if needed, must be defended.
Je suis tellement reconnaissant de cette opportunité que j’ai eue de contribuer à la défense de la paix et de la sécurité du Canada. Mes parents seraient ravis.
This evening, I would like to share with you a few remarks that I hope will contribute to the dialogue on national security. I wish to share with you some of my concerns, but also what inspires me and gives me hope for the future.
When I stood here 12 years ago, retiring as your Chief of Defence Staff, it was clear that the Canadian Armed Forces was in better shape than it had been in many years. From our combat mission in Afghanistan, the humanitarian mission in Haiti, the NATO mission in Libya, support to the 2010 Winter Olympics and other domestic operations, the Forces were a well-oiled operational machine.
The ranks were full. Recruiting was up by 10% across the country except in Quebec and Alberta, where recruiting was up by 15%!
However, news of our Forces in recent years have shifted dramatically, where Canada and its military are depicted as ill-prepared for an uncertain future. In fact, the deficiencies are worrisome: the lack of personnel, aging and unserviceable equipment, and budget constraints, among others, are reducing the ability for the Services to train and to prepare for contingencies and to provide Government with options for future operations.
Indeed, over the past decade the world has become even more volatile, uncertain, chaotic and ambiguous than at any time during my service, and more dangerous than at any time since World War II. War is exploding in Ukraine and the Middle East while tensions are heightened in Asia-Pacific region.
On voit aussi les risques de dégénération régionale et d’erreurs coûteuses et involontaires progresser de jour en jour. Chez nous, les changements climatiques font des ravages au Canada, et nos Forces doivent être prêtes à intervenir en dernier recours.
Le moment est venu pour la nation de se rendre compte qu’elle a besoin que ses forces soient prêtes à faire face aux incertitudes de notre avenir.
In the face of these serious concerns, however, there is hope for the future.
I’m inspired by the quality of Canadians who are serving today. Those in the ranks reflect our modern Canadian society, products of a solid education system, social services and health care. The new recruits are unlike those who joined with me in the 70’s, nor those who joined 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
Effectivement, ils et elles reflètent notre jeunesse d’aujourd’hui. Ils sont unis par leur désir de servir et d’avoir une carrière de service aventureuse. Ils veulent aller quelque part, démontrer leurs compétences et faire une différence.
Today’s junior ranks are led by the world’s finest cadre of senior Non-Commissioned Members. Our Sr NCMs are the technical masters of our profession. They know what right looks like and are making their best efforts to train tomorrow’s warriors, to maintain standards of training and discipline, the ingredients of a professional force.
I am inspired by the officers of the Canadian Armed Forces. It warms my heart to see the quality of our military leaders from our Chief of Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, the Flag officers, General officers and entire chain of command.
C’est incroyable de voir à quelle vitesse le temps passe quand je réalise que les gens qui ont servi avec moi il y a peu de temps en tant que capitaines, majors et lieutenants-colonels, dirigent maintenant nos forces en tant qu’amiraux et officiers généraux. Bravo!
These leaders were identified years ago as exceptional commanders and staff officers, with the values, skills and trust to warrant their advancement. I had trust in them years ago, and I trust them now.
With rare exception, they represent the best leaders our nation has produced. They represent the military values of service before self, integrity, loyalty and courage that brings honour to our country. They understand that the military must reflect the societal norms and culture of respect, inclusion and diversity.
The Forces are not perfect. The military has its faults and has witnessed individuals who have breached values. The Canadian military is, after all, a reflection of civil society.
But that reflection stops at one big difference: the military is and must continue to be held to a higher standard.
C’est pour ça qu’on doit tous rendre des comptes. C’est aussi pour cela qu’il n’y a aucun doute dans mon esprit : nos Forces sont une organisation professionnelle, disciplinée et respectée qui fait de son mieux pour servir notre nation.
I am inspired by the ongoing trust, cooperation and partnership with our international allies and friends. Strong relationships between members of the Canadian Armed Forces and members of our allies have been established over the course of decades. Mutual trust and confidence were earned in tough operations. The trust established between our allies and Canada is essential for operational success in the future.
Je suis inspiré par le service attentif et loyal de notre fonction publique dans l’ensemble du gouvernement. J’ai toujours été impressionné par le travail d’équipe et le partenariat de la main-d’œuvre civile à la Défense nationale.
Et pas seulement à la Défense. En effet, les gens extraordinaires de l’Agence spatiale et ceux d’Anciens Combattants Canada qui m’ont accueilli dans leurs rangs étaient un excellent reflet du professionnalisme, du dévouement et de l’excellence de la meilleure fonction publique.
The Space Agency is like a battalion of brilliant engineers, scientists, astronauts and operators. Every day, they contribute towards Canadian science, innovation, commerce and defence. They inspire generations of Canadians, especially our youth, to reach their full potential. On that note, my best wishes go out to Jeremy Hansen for success in his upcoming mission.
The people at Veterans Affairs live the values of Care, Compassion and Respect towards our Veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for Canada. They have a pivotal role to assist and enable the well-being of our Veterans and treat each one of them like they are family. The care is sincere.
Members of our Public Service have also deployed alongside our Forces and faced extreme risks. I wish to honour all of them, but tonight, I would like to mention a couple. Glyn Berry made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with our troops in Afghanistan. We will remember him.
Bushra Saeed-Khan survived severe traumatic injuries of an Improvised Explosive Devise while serving with our soldiers. With determination and fortitude, she has returned to her duties at Global Affairs.
I am also inspired by the many Canadians who, through Not-for -Profit organizations, support homeless and disadvantaged Veterans. Service Organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion, Veteran Associations and the medical research teams such as those at CIMVHR, the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence and Atlas Institute are making a huge difference in the lives of those who have served.
Ces organismes fournissent un soutien essential aux membres des Forces, aux vétérans et à leurs familles pour les aider à faire face à leurs tâches, les aider dans leur transition vers la société civile et assurer leur bien-être à long terme.
D’autres organisations le font d’une autre manière… Je suis inspiré par l’innovation, l’attitude positive et la résilience de l’industrie canadienne de la défense, qui fournit aux Forces le meilleur équipement possible dans les circonstances.
The nature of warfare is changing at an exponential rate. Technology must keep pace to provide our Forces an advantage when our nation sends them into harm’s way. I appreciate the resilience of industry leaders in their efforts to navigate the labyrinth of processes and to collaborate with Government to get the best equipment into the hands of our sailors, soldiers, air personnel and special forces troopers.
I am inspired by our journalists and members of media who make the effort to learn about the military, to report on its operations, to sail, to fly and to join patrols with our military, to understand its problems and to recognize its contributions towards peace and security.
Following the military’s operations can be a dangerous endeavour with extreme risks. I was inspired by Michelle Lang when she joined my visit team to Kandahar over Christmas 2009 and deeply saddened when she died a few days later when an Improvised explosive device struck an armoured vehicle, at the same time killing our four brave soldiers, Private Garrett Chidley, Sergeant George Miok, Corporal Zachery McCormack and Sergeant Kirk Taylor and injuring Bushra Saeed-Khan. We will remember all of them.
Je remercie les médias d’avoir veillé à ce que les Canadiens entendent parler des réalisations, des problèmes et des sacrifices des fils et des filles en uniforme du Canada. Sans cette contribution importante, beaucoup auraient été oubliés.
Folks, I am inspired by the ongoing support of our military families. Like my own, they have sacrificed so much to support their loved ones in uniform. Numerous postings, causing disruptions of spousal employment, school changes, missing friends, and spotty medical coverage all add to the anxiety of the military member’s frequent absences on training and dangerous operational deployments.
Mesdames et Messieurs, nos familles sont résilientes, mais elles ont besoin de soutien pour endurer les dures réalités liées au soutien de leurs proches en uniforme.
I am inspired by our Veterans. Over two million Veterans have served in our military. Over our nation’s history, when Canada called upon them, young and old flocked to the recruiting centres.
In fact, I recall meeting privates in Afghanistan who who signed up and were grandparents; they joined in their fifties. Like those who served at Vimy Ridge or landed on the Normandy Beaches, they signed up to fight for peace and security, to be part of something greater than themselves.
Lorsqu’ils retournent à la vie civile avec une riche expérience de vie et un leadership éprouvé, ils sont généralement le tissu qui rassemble les communautés.
Recently, a Veteran who was quite prominent in the Ottawa Valley passed away. Dr. Roly Armitage was underage when he joined the army and, after a few years of training, at the young age of 19, he landed in Normandy on D+10 and fought through to the end of the war.
After the war, he took up Veterans education benefits to become an accomplished Veterinarian. He was also elected as the Mayor of Nepean, and West Carleton, and later served as the manager of Rideau Carleton Raceway and the Carp airport.
But, back in June 1944, during the intense battle for the city of Caen in France, his troop officer was killed in combat. Roly was distraught and angry that such a young and talented life had been taken away and questioned why he had signed up to serve, why was he even there?
He questioned why he hadn’t just stayed in the Ottawa Valley to live a normal teenager’s life, like his pals who were chasing girls and having fun.
In his own words, Dr. Armitage said, “If not me, then who? Who will serve to bring peace?”
Ladies and Gentlemen, to apply Dr. Armitage’s words to all who defend Canada, “if not us then who?”
If not for all of you in this hall and all those whom you represent, who will defend Canada?
It takes all of us to defend the peace and security of our nation. Those who currently serve in uniform, those who support them, those who report on them, their families and our Veterans. All of us as Canadians have a role to play and for that do I thank you!
Merci pour cet honneur et merci pour tout ce que vous faites pour le Canada.
In this the week of Remembrance, we say, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
Thank you. Merci.
