Québec, Quebec
Mr. Lafontaine is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served from 1985 to 1995. From 2009 to 2011, he was in charge of public relations for the Veterans UN NATO Canada group, and in 2012 he became communications director for the Quebec Aboriginal Veterans Association. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Lafontaine also sat on an advisory committee working on improvements to the New Veterans Charter, and since 2011, he has been the sergeant at arms for the National Aboriginal Veterans Association. In 2012, he was elected second vice-president of Branch 265 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Quebec City. Mr. Lafontaine devotes much of his time to helping veterans understand their rights and showing them how to gain recognition of their needs. Through his determination to raise public awareness around the importance of commemoration, he has worked very closely with Legion Branch 265 to increase the number of commemorative activities in his community. In 2011, Mr. Lafontaine was part of an organizing committee to promote recognition of National Peacekeepers Day in Quebec. Thanks to his dedication, Mr. Lafontaine managed to assemble 250 veterans at the Monument de la Bravoure at Place George V in Quebec City, where a first candlelight tribute was held. Following that activity, the Government of Quebec passed a motion to officially recognize August 9th as Peacekeepers Day in Quebec.