London, Ontario
Mr. John William Pattison Cook is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course at the Canadian Army Forces Staff College in Kingston and served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1964 to 1966 and from 1969 to 1991. His service to his country did not end with his retirement however, as he has four decades of volunteer service to Canadian Veterans to his credit. He is currently the second Vice President of The Royal Canadian Legion Vimy Branch and a member of the Zone No. 6 Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund. He is a key organizer of the local Remembrance Day parade and ceremony at the cenotaph and is a primary contact for community organizations that want to have Veterans involved in community events, such as Canada Day celebrations and school visits. Mr. Cook also produces a monthly Military Calendar for the London area that he circulates to individuals and organizations to keep Londoners informed about military events and observances in the area.
Mr. Cook is on the Board of Directors of both the 4th Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment and the 32nd Brigade Communication Regiment, in addition to being a member of The Royal Canadian Regiment Association and the Airborne Association.
Mr. Cook was the second Vice President of the Garrison Community Council from 2002 to 2017, the Chair of the Veterans Memorial Parkway Community Advisory Board from 2011 to the project completion in 2017 and a member of the Canadian National Exhibition Warriors’ Day Parade Council from 1990 to 2014. He was also the Chair of the Western Fair Warriors Day Parade Council from 2002 to 2017 where he was responsible for coordinating the annual “Warriors Day” celebration at the Western Fair, which sees Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members participate in a parade through the fairgrounds.