Newmarket, Ontario
Brian Patterson is nominated for his dedication to helping is fellow Veterans.
For decades both during and after his own service, he has worked tirelessly to help Veterans of all ages and from all conflicts. His dedication has allowed him to change the lives of several of his comrades. He most recently stepped in to assist a Second World War Veteran who was admitted to Sunnybrook hospital with COVID-19. He helped the Veteran and his family to complete the necessary paperwork to access the care required. In another case, he helped relocate a Veteran who had been evicted to a Royal Canadian Legion apartment. He not only secured the apartment and an RCL apartment kit, but also helped with the move itself.
He has made a significant contribution to homeless Veterans by providing them with First Aid kits, socks and backpacks. He also negotiated an agreement with a major cellular provider to donate cell phones to homeless Veterans. He has been a regular volunteer with Toronto’s “Out of the Cold” program which offers sleeping shelter for the homeless. He is always called upon whenever a homeless Veteran arrives seeking shelter and does all he can to help access the services and benefits this Veteran needs.