Thunder Bay, Ontario
Now a Lieutenant (Navy) with the local Cadet Corps after a distinguished career with the Canadian Armed Forces and as a senior police Commander, Mr. Lorne Clifford continues to be engaged in Veterans’ issues, both personally and as a member of the local Royal Canadian Legion.
He arranges for Veterans to come speak to his cadet unit regularly and has them participate as reviewing officers during parades. He also engages his cadets to volunteer during Veterans’ Week and the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign. Mr. Clifford is a gifted speaker who spoke in front of 5,000 people for the Thunder Bay Remembrance Day ceremony in 2013, bringing his perspective on the modern-day peacekeeping Veteran. He has given dozens of presentations and continues to speak to local community groups on the role of Canadian peacekeepers.
As leader of the Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band for over 30 years, he has provided a yeoman service for countless Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police ceremonies. He has provided over 50,000 volunteer hours to the community through his efforts with the pipe band. In 2017, the band performed 20 free concerts at seniors’ homes to commemorate Canada 150 and to highlight the 100th anniversaries of the Battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. As a fund raiser for the band, he was able to donate proceeds to a local PTSD survivors group called Healing in the Wilderness.
Through his work with his church, he is responsible for setting up support for Veterans through an effective outreach service called “A Brother in Need.” He draws attention to the unique needs of Canadian Veterans and offers a grass roots peer support system. He has connected individuals seeking support with the guidance or assistance needed. For example, he helped an Australian family to arrange a memorial service for their family member, a Royal Canadian Regiment Veteran who died an accidental death in Canada.