Manon Beauregard (left), daughter of deceased recipient Jacques Beauregard, and Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight (right).
Veteran Jacques Beauregard had been helping Veterans through his involvement with The Royal Canadian Legion for 14 years and with Vétérans Nouvelle Génération Canada & UN-NATO for 12 years.
Over the course of his 15 years as a member of The Royal Canadian Legion, he held the positions of Sergeant-at-Arms and Parade Commander for the Branch’s commemorative events. His responsibilities as Sergeant-at-Arms included maintaining order during meetings, organizing the installation of officers in their new positions, presenting colours at official functions, and accompanying the President and various dignitaries on official visits to community organizations. He also held the position of Funeral Director for five years and never missed an opportunity to participate in a Poppy Campaign.
Jacques was also Vice President and Brother Helper (Frère Aidant) for the UN-NATO group from 2012 to 2015. Both of these roles consisted of helping Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of traumas suffered during their service to the country. His job was to listen to them, counsel them in the search for solutions, and refer them to the appropriate resources, such as Veterans Affairs Canada or The Royal Canadian Legion. He also organized cash and clothing drives to help homeless Veterans in co-operation with Maison Lauberivière in Québec City.
Until his death, Jacques was Vice-President of Vétérans Nouvelle Génération Canada, a group dedicated to helping Veterans overcome isolation and organizing a variety of activities and meetings for Veterans. He had also organized five parades for Remembrance Day and other commemorations for Veterans hospitalized at Maison Paul Triquet in Québec City.
For two years, Jacques worked as Public Affairs Director for the Ma Langue Aux Chats Cat Café in Québec City, whose mission is to accompany, support and help Veterans and members of the community through pet therapy. He answered phone calls, handled suicide cases, and made travel arrangements for the mascot, La Vet 11.11. With this organization, he played a leading role in organizing the Québec Remparts’ annual Veterans’ Week ceremonial puck drop.
Jacques was also involved in several other organizations in his community, including, since 1964, the Knights of Columbus, whose four core principles are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism; and, since 1995, the MIRA Foundation, whose mission is to increase the autonomy and social inclusion of people who have visual or physical disabilities or who are on the autism spectrum. To this end, MIRA provides free dogs developed and trained to meet their needs.