His Honour, Colonel (Retired) the Honourable Donald Ethell has had a distinguished military career of over 38 years in the Canadian Army, including 14 peacekeeping tours and other secondments to the UN and other international agencies.  After his retirement in 1993 he was actively engaged in direct service and/or the provision of service support to UN Peacekeeping Forces in several operations; to US Special Forces; and to CARE Canada in East Africa. 

He was also instrumental in the establishment and development of the Canadian Association of Veterans of UN Peacekeeping – in a move that began in Alberta and spread across the country to have August 11th marked nationally to recognize Canadian Peacekeepers – and in the creation of the Wall of Honour for Peacekeepers and Peacemakers in Calgary.  

His Honour’s unwavering commitment to veterans and their families has been exceptional. He has worked tirelessly “to lessen the stigma of mental illness, to better the lives of individuals who suffer from mental disorders, and to assist families who have lost a loved one as a result of military service”.  He was an invaluable resource to the Operational Stress Injury Special Support Program as it developed peer support services for bereaved families. He was also instrumental in the development of the New Veterans Charter in 2006 and was always a strong advocate for the need to involve Veterans and Canadian Forces members in the design, implementation and evaluation of government programs and services for veterans. 

Donald Ethell is currently serving his Alberta community as Lieutenant Governor – in itself a testament to the esteem with which he is held in his home province, as well as among his peers.