Mr. Douglas J. Cardinal Appointed to the MNCTP Board of Honorary Governors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2016

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Mr. Douglas Cardinal

(From left: Mr. Douglas Cardinal, and Mr. Marc O’Neill, President, Canadian Museum of History, and unknowns, laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, in 2014)

Today – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), appointed Mr. Douglas Cardinal O.C., Ph.D. (h.c.), B.Arch, O.A.A., A.A.A., S.A.A., A.I.B.C., A.I.A., NCARB, R.C.A.A., F.R.A.I.C., F.R.I.A.S., F.R.S.C., President, Douglas Cardinal Architect Inc., to the Board of Honorary Governors of the MNCTP.

Mr. Cardinal is a world renowned Canadian architect based in Ottawa, Canada. Mr. Cardinal is famous for his flowing architecture marked with smooth lines and influenced by his Aboriginal heritage as well as European Expressionist architecture. Mr. Cardinal is perhaps best known for his designs of the Canadian Museum of History, located in Gatineau, Quebec (1989), and the National Museum of the American Indian, located in Washington, D.C. (1998).

“As a Canadian icon, personal friend, and colleague, Mr. Cardinal has distinguished himself as a great human being dedicated to supporting native rights and improving their communities. Mr. Cardinal also plays an important role in honouring our Aboriginal Veterans by not only attending our sacred wreath laying ceremonies, but also strongly entrenching their inherent cultural values into our day-to-day community living.As a Canadian icon, personal friend, and colleague, Mr. Cardinal has distinguished himself as a great human being dedicated to supporting native rights and improving their communities. Mr. Cardinal also plays an important role in honouring our Aboriginal Veterans by not only attending our sacred wreath laying ceremonies, but also strongly entrenching their inherent cultural values into our day-to-day community living.”

Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP

Mr. Cardinal is also an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the most prestigious awards given to a Canadian. He was also awarded the declaration of being “World Master of Contemporary Architecture” by the International Association of Architects.

“For the last decade, I have supported the cause of the Canadian, Allied Merchant Navy, and American Merchant Marine, spearheaded by Mr. Ouellette. Given that Aboriginal Veterans are also perhaps as marginalized as their fellow men and women of the merchant marine, Mr. Ouellette ensures that all veterans’ groups are included in the Merchant Navy Day ceremonies that take place at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, on or around September 3. And this is certainly a good way to honor my ancestors, not only from WWI and WWII, but our native warriors that have fought for freedom from time immemorial.”

Mr. Douglas Cardinal, President, Douglas Cardinal Architect Inc.

Mr. Cardinal and Mr. Ouellette are also collaborating on an initiative to promote the Sydney Harbour Fortifications, in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This is part of the Allied Merchant Navy Promotion and Commemorative Celebrations (AMNPCC), a global maritime promotion integration strategy (GMPIS) designed to unite nations of the world under common veterans’ and maritime themes.

In addition, upon recommendation by Mr. Ouellette to Mr. Tony Patrick Trigiani, President, Never Forgotten National Memorial Foundation (Mother Canada), Mr. Cardinal was appointed as an Honorary Patron to the foundation.

“Mr. Tony Trigiani is a distinguished Canadian citizen and patriot in his own right, fervently dedicated to preserving the heroism and sacrifices of our servicemen and women. In my many encounters, rarely have I seen such passion, commitment, and dedication to honoring and preserving the memory of our fallen. And I consider it a great privilege to also be an Honorary Patron to the foundation. I thank Mr. Trigiani wholeheartedly for giving me that opportunity.”

Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP

Mr. Trigiani established the Never Forgotten National Memorial Foundation to honour over 114,000 Canadians and Newfoundland soldiers that have given their lives overseas in defence of this great nation. Mr. Trigiani believes that we must forever remember and honour the contributions of our Aboriginal Veterans, and all those that fought and died for our freedom… Wherever They May Lie.

For more information on the Allied Merchant Navies, the Never Forgotten National Memorial (Mother Canada) initiative, or on Mr. Douglas Cardinal, please select:

Backgrounder

Allied Merchant Navy Promotion and Commemorative Celebrations (AMNPCC)

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