Aurora, Ontario
Mr. Thomas “Dave” Gordon, a 36-year Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force and a former Canadian Forces Staff College instructor, has been a dedicated volunteer since the late 1950s.
Since 1993, he has served as a volunteer with the Armour Heights Officers’ Mess as their President, and he has been a volunteer member of the American Institute of Navigation, the Bruce Trail Association, the British Royal Institute of Navigation and the Royal Canadian Military Institute. He has also volunteered his time to motivate and challenge youth to aspire to a career in the Canadian Armed Forces through the Regular Officer Training Plan and Non-Commissioned Trades application options.
During his time in service, Mr. Gordon continually took the opportunity to support local cadet programs through visits and logistics to permit local Commanding Officers to encourage and nourish citizenship among youth – Canada’s future leaders. His Air Transport aircrew career assignments provided much opportunity to meet young people across our large country.
Since 2009, Mr. Gordon has volunteered as a member of the Commissionaires Ceremonial Marching Unit, marching at parades across the province to pay respect to and raise awareness of Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He also volunteers his time with the Ceremonial Unit by attending monthly meetings as a member of the executive committee. When requested, Mr. Gordon attends the funerals of Veterans as part of the Commissionaires Honour Guard.