Etobicoke, Ontario
Mr. Melanson is a D-Day Veteran of the Second World War. He is a member of Branch 210 of The Royal Canadian Legion and has participated in the annual poppy campaigns as well as Remembrance Day Services. Mr. Melanson received the International Year of Older Persons Award in 1999, presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Mr. Melanson often shares his personal war experiences with students and community groups in the Etobicoke area. Mr. Melanson is a Director of the Juno Beach Centre, where he worked tirelessly to raise funds for the construction of the five-acre educational facility in Normandy, which honours all those who served in Europe during the Second World War. Together with other members of the Juno Beach Centre, Mr. Melanson attracted corporate sponsors for this project, such as Wal-Mart Canada, Proctor & Gamble, and Global TV. Currently, Mr. Melanson is helping to raise funds to lead Toronto high school students to France in June to participate in D-Day ceremonies. Mr. Melanson will be escorting 31 students and three teachers to Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach. He will once again be the keynote speaker before an audience of 1,000 on D-Day.