Ottawa, Ontario
During the Second World War, Mr. Southam served in the United Kingdom, Italy and Northwestern Europe, first with the Royal Artillery and then with the Royal Canadian Artillery. After the war, he became a journalist and later joined Canada’s foreign service where he continued to serve his country in various postings and finally as Ambassador to Poland. Through the course of his outstanding career, Mr. Southam has been dedicated to preserving Canada’s military heritage. Among his accomplishments, he was the founding member of the military museum task force which lead to the Canadian War Museum and he founded the Battle of Normandy Foundation to mark the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. He also proposed the idea for a new, national monument to honour Canadian men and women who have contributed outstanding wartime service to Canada. He became the President of the Valiants Foundation which brought the idea to fruition when the Valiants Memorial on Confederation Square, Ottawa, was unveiled during Veterans’ Week 2006. Among his many honours, Mr. Southam is an Officer of the Order of Canada.