Ottawa, Ontario
Mr. David Cole is a Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces having served 26 years as a Canadian Forces Physician Assistant and a further 12 years in the Medical Primary Reserve. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer in 2014. He served during the Gulf War as well as on multiple United Nations, NATO and peacekeeping deployments to places such as Cyprus, Golan Heights, the former Republic of Yugoslavia and Ethiopia. Mr. Cole has been a dedicated member of The Royal Canadian Legion for over 20 years and has held most branch executive positions. He serves as chairman of the Zone 5 Executive Committee. In the past, he has spearheaded and acted as the master of ceremonies for a fundraising dinner, which was attended by both the Minister of National Defence as well as the Korean Ambassador to Canada. Mr. Cole is a sought-out expert in preparing and updating ribbons and medals for Veterans.
Mr. Cole is now employed as a para-funeral director for the past five years and has been instrumental in helping to update the Wall of Remembrance as well as to create a new centre where the annual Veterans’ Week activities are held. He helps plan funerals for deceased Veterans and has organized and led dozens of Legion “Celebration of Life” events.
In the past, Mr. Cole has taught First Aid to Canadian Armed Forces members and to the Veteran community. Mr. Cole has also donated time in support of Veterans by collecting food for food banks, driving Veterans to medical appointments and helping acquire and redistribute wheelchairs and other mobility equipment to Veterans in need. He has spent numerous hours visiting and assisting Veterans both in facilities and in the community. As a Knight of St. George, he volunteered many hours in helping to organize and coordinate “Field Knighting” of esteemed Second World War Veterans at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre in Ottawa.