Pierre Pellerin (left) and Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight (right).
Pierre Pellerin is a Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who has dedicated almost 40 years of his time, energy and expertise to improving the lives of Veterans in his community, notably through his unwavering commitment to The Royal Canadian Legion.
As a member of Branch 11 Lacolle and the district since 1985, Pierre has held several leadership positions over the years, including Sergeant-at-Arms, 1st Vice-President and President. He is known as a pillar of the branch, always motivated by the well-being of the Veterans. In 2005, he revised the bylaws of the branch and played a key role in obtaining an exemption from municipal and school taxes for the Legion building. For decades, he coordinated the Poppy Campaigns, the Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Canada Day celebrations and the annual Veterans’ dinner.
In 1999, Pierre initiated the creation of G.H. Murray Park in Lacolle, in honour of Corporal Murray, a Veteran of the Italian Campaign, and of all the Veterans in the region. He conducted fundraising campaigns, wrote grant applications and supervised the work. In 2017 and 2018, he managed the modernization of the Lacolle cenotaph to include the NATO and UN missions and the mission in Afghanistan, in order to reflect all of Canada’s military contributions.
Pierre also organized large-scale commemorative events, among them a joint ceremony with the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in 2005, which included a historical display and the participation of cadets in uniform representing different time periods. In 2011 and 2012, he contributed to planning the regional activities marking the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Pierre is still committed to improving the services offered to Veterans, and he is a Service Officer for the operational stress injuries (OSI) section of his branch. In 2019, he started the VetBuild program in Lacolle; it was one of only a few branches in Québec to offer that service. This innovative program uses the construction of small-scale models in a convivial, no-pressure setting that is conducive to relaxation, camaraderie and well-being among Veterans living with mental health issues.
In 2022, he supported the Café Buddy Check project, which involved creating a community support space for the Veterans. His commitment to Veterans suffering from OSIs also led him to collaborate with District 13 of the Legion to ensure that every branch had a trained Service Officer.
Pierre Pellerin is an exemplary volunteer whose continued commitment and passion for the cause of Veterans have had a deep and lasting impact on his community.