Orleans, Ontario
Mr. Michael Blow retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2008, after 35 years of service. Being an avid motorcyclist, in 2010, Mr. Blow joined the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV). Mr. Blow decided to leave the CAV and start his own national motorcycle riding club, whose main focus was to support serving and retired Forces members. In March 2010, he and two others founded the Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders (CVFR) with the creation the CVFR Ottawa Chapter. Since its beginnings, the club has grown to 14 units, including one unit in Germany containing Canadian members posted in Germany. Under Mr. Blow’s guidance, the Canadian Veterans Freedom Riders has turned into a lifeline for many Veterans across Canada. Mr. Blow’s leadership as National President with the CVFR has resulted in securing a service dog for an individual in need, and the raising of thousands of dollars, which have been donated to organizations supporting Veterans as well as other charitable organizations. Since 2011, Mr. Blow has also served as the Canadian Chair and Coordinator of the Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride, an international event for the remembrance of fallen allied soldiers. In addition, in 2014, Mr. Blow lobbied the Mayor of Owen Sound to have a park named after Corporal Robert Thomas James Mitchell, a soldier killed in Afghanistan. Mr. Blow rode eight hours to attend the dedication of the park and meet with his fallen comrade’s family members.