Mr. Coutu served 31 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is the vice-president of The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, where he is heavily involved in the restoration of the Louiseville cenotaph. Mr. Coutu actively participates in Veterans’ Week activities and assists with the yearly Poppy Campaign. As a representative of his Legion branch, he regularly attends RCL provincial conferences, as well as district meetings. Last November, he represented the president of his Legion branch at several press conferences and mayoral tours of the region to highlight the presentation of the first poppy for Veterans’ Week. Mr. Coutu speaks to students in schools, where he brings awareness to young Canadians of the sacrifices, efforts and achievements of Veterans. He is also known for giving technical support to those looking for assistance with pensions and benefits provided by Veterans Affairs Canada. Mr. Coutu is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is also an active member in his community as president of the Foundation of Handicapped Adults in la Mauricie, an organization that provides assistance to some 200 handicapped people in the region.