Calgary, Alberta
Mr. Wilson is a Second World War Veteran and retired Canadian Forces Naval Veteran. Known to his community as "Mr. Navy", Mr. Wilson is tirelessly dedicated to capturing and recording Canada's naval history and artifacts for future generations to study and appreciate. In 1992, Mr. Wilson was appointed Honourary Captain (Navy) of the First Canadian Submarine Squadron in Halifax. He was then given the rare honour when asked to serve a second term in 1996, this time with Maritime Operations Group IV in Esquimalt. As Honourary Captain, he has been instrumental in forging a special bond between the Province of Alberta, the City of Calgary and HMCS Calgary. He has been highly successful in obtaining large bore naval guns and a wide variety of naval artifacts for the Naval Museum of Alberta. Mr. Wilson retired earlier this year as the General Manager of the 7 year long "Sharing Our Military Heritage Campaign" which successfully raised in excess of $26 million to renovate and expand the tri-service military museum complex in Calgary. Mr. Wilson is a former Commanding Officer of the Navel Reserve Division HMCS YORK in Toronto, a Past National President of the Naval Officers Association of Canada, a Past Chairman of the Naval Museum of Alberta, a Past National President of the Naval Officers Association of Canada, a Past Chairman of the Naval Museum of Alberta, a Past Honourary President of the Calgary Naval Veterans Association and has received a number of decorations and awards including an Order of Military Merit, an Alberta Centennial Medal etc. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Military Museum Society which is responsible for the operation of the Education Programs of the Military Museums in Calgary, now the largest Armed Forces museum complex in Canada.