Victoria, British Columbia
Mr. Gerrard is a Second World War Veteran who was a prisoner of war in Hong Kong for more than three and a half years. He has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) for 61 years and has held numerous executive positions including president, 1st and 2nd vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. Mr. Gerrard has chaired several RCL committees, including the House Committee, and the Honours and Awards Committee, and he is currently serving as Sergeant-at-Arms. He was a member of the Hong Kong Veterans Association for 50 years and the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association since its beginnings. Mr. Gerrard has helped organize the Remembrance Day ceremony at a local cenotaph, and he has served for more than 50 years on wreath detail. He is in charge of organizing groups to assist in mailing envelopes for poppy fundraising. Mr. Gerrard has spoken to the Royal Canadian Air Force Air Crew Association about his experiences. In December 2011, Mr. Gerrard was part of a delegation that travelled to Japan to receive an apology from Japan for the treatment of Canadian prisoners of war during the Second World War, on behalf of all Hong Kong Veterans.