Montreal, Quebec
Patrick White is a member of the Royal Canadian Navy. He is nominated for his work with “Project Naval Distinction” which he founded to ensure balanced recognition with the other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces.
He has volunteered “hundreds of hours” connecting with Canadians through a variety of mediums and has done so outside of his employment, studies and service in the Royal Canadian Navy.
He initiated a parliamentary petition, which received hundreds of signatures from across Canada and abroad, to name HMCS Haida as the flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy. In response, on January 29, 2018, the Minister of National Defence confirmed that HMCS Haida would be named the flagship that year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of her commissioning.
He also helped guide a campaign to protect Canada’s ocean war graves. He successfully presented before parliamentary committees and due to his efforts, Canada’s ocean war graves are now to be recognized by Canadian law for the first time and the Canadian government has acknowledged the need to protect them.
Recently, he worked with The Royal Canadian Legion and the Montreal branch of the Naval Association of Canada to have a naval tradition be included in the Remembrance Day ceremony. The inclusion of “piping the side” was appreciated by many, especially the naval Veterans in attendance.