Mr. Thomson is a Second World War Veteran. He was an active member of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) for 30 years beginning in 1953. Mr. Thomson has been president of Unit #2 for two terms, and has been the Dominion Command president twice, in 1974 and 1976. During Mr. Thomson's presidency and while he was an executive member, he was an avid fundraiser for the Scouts. He was chairman of the Calgary Unit Kiddies Christmas Tree Committee and helped raise funds for the less fortunate. During his tenure with Unit #2, Thomson received an Appreciation Award, a Life Membership, the Order of Service and the Award of Merit, the latter being ANAVETS’ highest award. In the 1960s, he was a member of a committee to have the Eternal Flame at Calgary's cenotaph in Memorial Park. In the 1970s, Mr. Thomson served on a committee to save the Colonel Belcher Centre, a long-term-care Veterans' Hospital. Additionally, Mr. Thomson volunteers as a driver for the Calgary Poppy Fund.