Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Upon his return to Canada from active service, Mr. Thompson, a Second World War Veteran, was appointed Provincial Service Officer and then Provincial Secretary of The Royal Canadian Legion in New Brunswick. In 1949, he became Director of the Service Bureau with Dominion Command in Ottawa and, in 1959, Dominion Secretary of The Royal Canadian Legion. A member of The Royal Canadian Legion for the past 34 years, Mr. Thompson developed a solid reputation for his leadership qualities and for bringing harmony out of discord. He was also a member of the War Veterans Allowance Board. He played a key role in lobbying the government for improvements to the Pension Act. His efforts on behalf of Veterans' organizations later led to the Woods Committee Report, which was followed by the Government's White Paper on Pensions. Mr. Thompson was appointed Chair of the War Veterans Allowance Board in 1970, and for the next 17 years, advanced substantial improvements to the Allowance Program. As a member of the Gerontological Advisory Council and the Prince Edward Island Seniors Advisory Council, he continues to champion the cause of Veterans. Mr. Thompson is an exceptional advocate for Veterans and is recognized in his community for his outstanding contributions and devotion to their cause.