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André M. Levesque

OMM, KStJ, OOnt, CD, FRSA
Born1959
Ottawa, Ontario
AllegianceCanadian Armed Forces
Service / branchPublic Affairs Branch
Primary Reserve
RankLieutenant-colonel
UnitGovernor General's Foot Guards, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
Known forPioneering the field of memorialogy and his efforts to commemorate war history
Alma materUniversity College Cork, National University of Ireland
Carleton University

André M. Levesque (born 1959 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a historian, geographer, former public servant and retired Canadian military officer. He is currently the Chancellor of the Priory of Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and also holds volunteer leadership roles for a number of other organizations including association Monument Amicitia France-Canada, Société nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille militaire, and Souvenir français au Canada.

Levesque is known for pioneering the field of memorialogy, the study of memorials and commemorative practices. He was responsible for the repatriation of Canada's Unknown Soldier from Vimy to Ottawa, along with other commemorative projects like the creation of the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.

Biography

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Early life and education

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Levesque was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. His early studies were in urban and economic geography, and he completed a bachelor's degree and master's degree at Carleton University in Ottawa.[1][2] He later obtained a PhD in history at University College Cork, National University of Ireland in 2013.[3]

Levesque was a research fellow of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.[4]

Military career

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Levesque was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Army Reserves for 35 years, from 1974 until 2008. He initially served with the Governor General’s Foot Guards, before transferring to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own).[5] He retired from the Public Affairs Branch in 2008 at the rank of lieutenant-colonel.[3] During his service, Levesque met with veterans from conflicts such as World War II and the Korean War, which inspired him to become involved in the preservation of veterans' histories.[6]

While working with the Department of National Defence's Directorate of History and Heritage, he was the project manager responsible for planning and implementing Operation Memoria. The operation involved the repatriation of Canada's Unknown Soldier from Vimy, France to Ottawa, Ontario, in May 2000,[7] along with the organization of national commemorative ceremonies at both cities.[6]

He was the project manager responsible for creating Canada’s National Military Cemetery located at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, which was dedicated on June 28, 2001, by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.[8] He has volunteered as the cemetery's chief historian since December 2016.[9][10]

Levesque led a partnership between the Organization of Military Museums of Canada (OMMC), Department of National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada, as well as schools, youth, and veterans organizations to compile a detailed list of military monuments and plaques across Canada.[11] After three years of research, this volunteer group created a National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials website that was launched on April 2, 2001. The website, originally located with OMMC, was later transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Renamed the Canadian Military Memorials Database, it has more than 8,200 memorials listed.[6]

In 2001, at the request of Chief of the Defence Staff General Maurice Baril, Levesque re-established the Canadian Forces Artists Program and served as project manager.[12] The re-established program included an advisory committee that included representation from various organizations such as the Canada Council for the Arts, the National Gallery of Canada, Library and Archives Canada, and the Canadian War Museum.[13] Levesque created a pilot project that sent artists to military facilities and training areas throughout Canada and overseas to countries such as Afghanistan. The project was unveiled on D-Day, June 6, 2001. As of 2020, eight groups of artists had held an exhibition at the Canadian War Museum, with some of the best works being selected to be part of the museum's permanent collection.[14]

Civilian career

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In his civilian career, he worked in urban planning and economic development with the City of Ottawa from 1986 to 1998. In 2001, he joined the Public Service of Canada to become a Senior Communications Advisor managing the Canadian Forces Parliamentary Program within the Department of National Defence.[15] In 2002, he became Chief of Canadian Forces Honours and Awards, and four years later, he was appointed as the Canadian Armed Forces' first Director of Honours and Recognition. During his tenure, he helped develop policies that changed the way members of the defence forces were recognized while serving in overseas operations.[16]

Levesque served on many policy and advisory committees, such as the Government Honours Policy Sub-Committee,[17][18] the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee (Bravery), the National Diamond Jubilee Advisory Committee, and Secretary of the Advisory Committee and Advisory Council for the Order of Military Merit from 2002 to 2013.[19] He was also chair of the Victoria Cross Production Planning Group which was responsible for manufacturing Canada’s highest decoration for military gallantry in the Canadian Honours System.[20][21] Over eleven years, he oversaw the awarding of more than 200,000 awards to Canadians.[citation needed]

Levesque also modernized the regulations of the Memorial Cross, commonly known as the "Silver Cross", which had previously been unchanged since its creation in 1919.[22] With the beginning of the war in Afghanistan and the death of Captain Nichola Goddard in 2006, the regulations required substantive amendments that would reflect the fabric of modern families. Levesque proposed and received government approvals to increase the number of crosses from two to three and to allow members to designate recipients, instead of determining recipients based on consanguinity.[23]

2013-present

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From 2013 to 2016, Levesque was Director General of Commemoration at Veterans Affairs Canada in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.[24] As Director General, he organized national and international programs and events marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War.[25] Working with the French government, he successfully led a joint effort[26] to award and present the Legion of Honour to more than 1,400 Canadian veterans who liberated France during the Second World War.[27] In 2016, he returned to Ottawa to work as a visiting scholar at the Royal Military College of Canada and retired from public service in 2019.[15] On May 21, 2020, Levesque was appointed as a member and designated as chair of the Ontario Honours Advisory Council by the Government of Ontario.[28]

In August 2014, he founded the International Society for Commemoration, Memorials, and other Monuments, a non-profit learning organization composed of academics, professionals, students, and others.[6] In Levesque’s doctoral thesis, he established "memorialogy" as a new interdisciplinary field of study that combines the study of memorials and associated commemorative practices.[29] He was inducted into the Order of Ontario in 2020 for his work as a "pioneer of memorialogy".[6] In April 2024, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged Levesque's contributions in this area during his speech at a ceremony honoring veterans of Canada and France, which had both Attal and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in attendance.[30]

In June 2020, Levesque was elected as Deputy Chancellor of St. John Ambulance in Canada and of the Priory of Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. He was appointed as the Order's Chancellor for the Priory of Canada by its Grand Prior, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and invested by its Prior, Governor General Mary Simon on June 24, 2022 at the Chamber of the Senate of Canada. During his military service, Levesque had served as an instructor with the organization's training programs.[3]

Volunteer work

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Levesque has volunteered with a number of community, veterans, historical and charitable organizations and initiatives at the local, national, and international level.

Levesque is president of Amicitia France-Canada, an organization which commemorates the historical friendship between France and Canada.[31][32] He is president of the delegation of Canadian military medals at the Société Nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille Militaire,[33] and deputy delegate general of Souvenir français au Canada.[34] He is on the Committee of Experts on Commemorations for Canada's Capital with the National Capital Commission.

He is a volunteer historian with the Grays and Blues of Montreal, and also volunteers with the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada,[35] the Order of St. Lazarus, Grand Priory in Canada,[35] Friends of the Canadian War Museum,[36] Association des anciens combattants français résident en Ontario et au Manitoba, Association des décorés de la Légion d'honneur (Région de la capitale du Canada), Florida National Cemetery, RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) Brigade Volunteer Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force Association, the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, the Royal Canadian Legion, Scouts Canada, Veterans Initiatives Network of Prince Edward Island, and Veterans Voices of Canada, Flags of Remembrance.[citation needed]

Honours, arms and awards

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Levesque has received the following orders and medals.

Awards

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  • 1999: Certified Economic Developer – Fellowship, Economic Developers Association of Canada[37]
  • 2000: Head of the Public Service Award, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Project[38]
  • 2000: Canadian Armed Forces, Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Military) Commendation
  • 2001: Canadian Armed Forces, Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Military) Commendation
  • 2003: Canadian Armed Forces, Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Military) Commendation
  • 2003: Certified Human Resources Professional, Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations
  • 2005: French Senate Medal of Honour (France)
  • 2008: Department of National Defence, Deputy Minister’s Commendation
  • 2008: Governor General’s certificate of appreciation for “the historic production of Canada’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross”
  • 2008: Mayor’s proclamation, André M. Levesque Day in the City of Ottawa
  • 2010: Canadian Armed Forces, Commander Land Force Command Commendation
  • 2010: The Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service[39]
  • 2014: Order of St. John, Priory of Canada, Chair’s Commendation
  • 2014: Medallion, Order of Military Merit Advisory Committee[40]
  • 2014: Medallion, The Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee (Bravery)
  • 2015: Life Member, Organization of Military Museums of Canada
  • 2015: Fellow Royal Society of Arts (United Kingdom)
  • 2017: Medal of Honour, Société Nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille Militaire (France)
Honours and orders
Ribbon Description Notes
Commander Cross with Swords pro Merito Melitensi 2024
Order of Ottawa 2023[41]
Order of Ontario 2020[42]
Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (France) 2017[43]
Knight of Justice of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ) Knight of Justice 2014 (KStJ)[44]

Commander 2011 (CStJ[45]

Member 2000 (MStJ)[46]

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012[47] – Canadian Version of this Medal
Knight of the National Order of Merit (France) 2012[48]
Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem 2006, and bars, 2011, 2016, 2019
Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) 2006[49]
Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) 2006
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002[44] – Canadian Version of this Medal
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal 1992
Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) 1986, and bars,1996, 2006

Arms

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Coat of arms of André M. Levesque
Notes
He is the first Levesque (individual or organization) to be granted a coat of arms from the Canadian Heraldic Authority.[35]
Adopted
March 21, 1996
Crest
Rising out of a coronet erable Gules a demi lion guardant triple queued and mitred Or and holding between the forepaws an astrolabe Gules
Escutcheon
Gules a lion rampant guardant triple queued and mitred and holding between the forepaws and dexter hind paw a crozier Or Crest
Motto
SUCCESSUS A DILIGENTIA (trans. "Success comes from Diligence")
Badge
An astrolabe Gules perched thereon a parrot reguardant Or
[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "76th Convocation, Nov 7 1982". 1982.
  2. ^ "The law of the retarding lead; the adoption of cable television and telephone switching equipment". January 1986.
  3. ^ a b c "Dr. André M. Levesque appointed Chancellor for the Priory of Canada | St. John Ambulance Canada". www.sja.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Levesque cdainstitute.ca [dead link‍]
  5. ^ Aikman, Bill (January 11, 2005). "Levesque Interview - CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM" (PDF). Musee de la Guerre. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Association, Ontario Community Newspapers (October 29, 2021). "Celebrating Stories of Ontarians: André Levesque, Member of the Order of Ontario". Kingsville Times. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "PRESS & MEDIA". AMICITIA. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "10th Anniversary of the National Military Cemetery". September 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "Veterans to be remembered at National Military Cemetery". CBC. November 10, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sponsored: Beechwood Cemetery's deep community roots". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Annex A – CME Memorials" (PDF). cmea-agmc.ca.
  12. ^ "Birth of a Nation: Vimy Ridge".
  13. ^ "DHH - CFAP Historical Background". Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "Local artists' work on display at Canadian War Museum". February 13, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Clerk, Office of the City (November 2, 2023). "Order of Ottawa and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching - past recipients". ottawa.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  16. ^ New medal for overseas operations legionmagazine.com November 2010 [dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Policy Respecting the Awarding of an Order, Decoration or Medal by a Commonwealth or Foreign Government". June 10, 2014.
  18. ^ "Chapter 6 – Commonwealth and foreign honours to Canadians". July 20, 2021.
  19. ^ Honours canada.ca
  20. ^ Military valour decorations 1993–2018 canada.ca
  21. ^ "How we made Canada's Victoria Cross". June 2018.
  22. ^ "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Memorial Cross Order (World War I)". March 22, 2006.
  23. ^ "More Canadian Forces Families Recognized For Their Loss". National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Vol. 9, no. 4. Ottawa. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010.
  24. ^ "Appointee Biographies - Public Appointments Secretariat". www.pas.gov.on.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Evidence - ACVA (41-2) - No. 4 - House of Commons of Canada".
  26. ^ "Opinion Articles | Inside Ottawa Valley". January 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "P.E.I. Veteran thrilled to join highest national order of France | SaltWire".
  28. ^ "Order in Council 798/2020 | ontario.ca".
  29. ^ "Redefining military memorials and commemoration and how they have changed since the 19th century with a focus on AngloAmerican practice" (PDF). cora.ucc.ie.
  30. ^ "Les PM Trudeau et Attal à une cérémonie pour d'anciens combattants".
  31. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique- (October 16, 2022). "Un monument dédié à l'amitié entre le Canada et la France inauguré à Ottawa". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  32. ^ "Amicitia: un monument national dédié à l'amitié entre le Canada et la France". uniquefm.ca (in French). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  33. ^ nationale, Défense (September 27, 2022). "La Société Nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille Militaire". www.canada.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  34. ^ Souvenir (March 4, 2022). "Portraits de Délégués Généraux". Le Souvenir Français (in French). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c "The Public Register of Arms, Flags, and Badges of Canada". November 12, 2020.
  36. ^ "Resources". friends-amis.org.
  37. ^ "Papers in Canadian Economic Development".
  38. ^ "National Defence". September 20, 2023.
  39. ^ Honours recognition 2010 canada.ca [dead link‍]
  40. ^ "Appendices - The Order of Military Merit" (PDF). Canada.ca.
  41. ^ Relations, Public Information and Media (November 2, 2023). "2023 Order of Ottawa inductees and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching recipient announced". ottawa.ca. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  42. ^ "Several Ottawans appointed to Order of Ontario". CBC. January 21, 2021.
  43. ^ Trois Canadiens decores 5enord.ca May 2018 [dead link‍]
  44. ^ a b "Major Andre Levesque".
  45. ^ "Knights and Dames of the Order of St. John Promotions As of October 6, 2010". gazette.gc.ca.
  46. ^ "About St. John Ambulance Canada | Priory of Canada".
  47. ^ "Joseph Marc Andre Levesque".
  48. ^ "Awards to Canadians". Canada Gazette. February 25, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  49. ^ "Major J.M.A. Levesque".
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