East Sooke , British Columbia
Mr. Thomas is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and he spends 20 to 30 hours each year collecting donations for the Poppy Fund. He is a regular volunteer at the Canadian Armed Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, where he conducts tours and is responsible for the creation and maintenance of all displays relating to the Canadian Army. Mr. Thomas has completed a new display that tells the story of Chinese Canadian Force 135 who fought in the Far East during the Second World War. On top of this work, Mr. Thomas has been volunteering at Fort Rodd Hill since 1997, where he gives demonstrations to visitors, and helps each year to plan and organize numerous military-themed events, in which he also participates. From 2001 to 2008, Mr. Thomas served as vice-president and president of the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse Preservation Society. He is the founding member and the President of the Victoria-Esquimalt Military Re-Enactors Association, whose mandate is to authentically portray Canadian military history. Mr. Thomas is an active volunteer with the Navy League of Canada, where he serves as a Civilian Instructor and has helped to organize events, including a 25-kilometre fundraising march for the Wounded Warriors Fund in 2011.