Kingston, Ontario
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Robert Hamilton
Robert Hamilton
Commodore Robert Winston Hamilton, OMM, CD (Retired), began volunteering with the Friends of the Canadian War Museum (FCWM) in 2011 in the military history used book room. In 2014, he was elected to the board of directors, as corporate secretary. He was appointed vice-president in 2015 and has served as president from 2017 to 2022. The FCWM supports the Canadian War Museum through volunteering and fundraising. Under his leadership, it has contributed more than $200,000 in funding.
He also oversaw the development of a new FCWM website and a monthly newsletter which has been made available through social media. These initiatives have more than doubled the newsletter’s circulation, which has turned into increased membership and significantly increased donations.
During the pandemic, through his leadership, the FCWM held regular virtual meetings, and saw an increase in its number of members, reader interest and strengthened its financial position.
In 2015, Commodore Hamilton was invested as a Knight of the Order of St. George, and joined its board of directors in 2017, and assumed the role of president and chief operating officer in 2019. In this capacity, he was project lead for a fundraiser in support of the Legion National Foundation which raised $15,000, for the “Leave the Streets Behind” initiative. In 2020, he was appointed as chair of governance and audit and continues to serve on the board, while filling the position of prior of the Kingston Priory. He recently secured board approval for a national partnership with the True Patriot Love Foundation and a fundraiser for the settlement of Afghan refugees and families who served as interpreters with the Canadian defence team. The initiative raised more than $50,000.