Conception Bay South, Newfoundland & Labrador
Mr. Best is a retired Canadian Forces Veteran. In 1994, he formed a bluegrass band that has performed for Veterans in numerous facilities in the St. John’s area. In 2002, Mr. Best successfully lobbied the City of St. John's to erect a memorial plaque to honour Canada’s role in peacekeeping at the Memorial Centre, Mile One Stadium. He began the first Newfoundland and Labrador chapter and was President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, and he currently serves as the Regional Chair, Atlantic Provinces. In 2003, Mr. Best raised $200,000 to cover the cost of completing a life-size bronze statue of a peacekeeping soldier. He then lobbied the City of St. John’s to have the statue placed in Molley Park and to have the park renamed Blue Beret Memorial Park, both of which were done in 2006. In 2004, he succeeded in having August 9 declared Peacekeeping Memorial Day. Mr. Best negotiated with government officials to have a “Walk the Caribou Trail” tour for military personnel and their spouses of Beaumont Hamel and Gallipoli for October 2013. He lobbied the provincial government to rename the Conception Bay South Bypass Highway Peacekeepers Way in 2015. He speaks to local students during Veterans’ Week and throughout the year for history classes.