Board of Directors

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Tom Eagles

Chairman

Tom works for the Town of Plaster Rock, NB in the Public Works and Recreation Department where he has been for several decades. Previously he spent several years with the Province of New Brunswick as a Revenue Officer.

A member of the Legion’s Marble Arch #29 Branch in Plaster Rock, Tom has served the organization in varying capacities at the local and national levels. His positions have included Dominion Command President, Provincial Command President, District Commander and Branch President. He currently holds several positions on Dominion Command Committees.

Tom was awarded the Legion’s Meritorious Service Medal, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. He is a recipient of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.

In his volunteer time, Tom has served as President of Plaster Rock’s Minor Hockey League and spent five years on the Tobique Valley Manor Board of Directors. He was a member of the Tobique Lions Club for eight years.

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George O'Dair

Vice Chairman

George has an extensive history working in industrial management positions, later creating his own sales agency and retiring from it in 2017. He was educated in Cornwall where he is currently based. He remains President of the S.D.&G. Highlanders Glens’ Association, having first joined the S.D.&G Highlanders (Reserve) as a recruit in 1958.

A Life Member of the Legion’s Cornwall #297 Branch, George has served as a Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command Vice President, Ontario Command President, District and Zone Commander and Branch President. He has spent significant time as a member of several Legion committees at the national and local levels.

For his service on the Tomb of the Unknown Solder Implementation Team, George was presented the Government of Canada Head of the Public Service Award. He is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary medal, the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, and the Legion’s Meritorious Service medal and  Palm Leaf.

Active in the community, George is a Life Member of the Association of KIN Clubs and has served on the local Hospital Foundation.

 

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Bruce Burnham

Director

Bruce has a long history of working in the group, life and financial insurance sectors. He received his education in Business from the University of Western Ontario.

After becoming a Branch Manager at Sun Life, he moved into brokerage with Farrow Insurance Agencies in London, ON, and helped establish their Life and Group Insurance Divisions. This experience led to several successful ventures including the creation of the national insurance company, Programmed Insurance Brokers (PIB) and RWAM Insurance Administrators.

Skilled in recognizing opportunities, Bruce is a founding member and past Vice President of the Third Party Administrators' Association of Canada, which establishes guidelines and standards within the insurance industry. He is a Life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, recognized as setting the standard in ethics, knowledge, service, and productivity in the life insurance and financial services business.

Bruce was made an Honourary Member of the London Police Association for his work them, and with Crimestoppers. A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, he was appointed the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment in 2017.

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Dr. Paul Kavanagh

Director

Paul is a Certified Specialist in Periodontics based in Laval, Québec. He received his degree in dentistry from McGill University and has taught periodontics at both McGill and l’Université de Montréal.

He is a member of multiple professional associations including the Canadian and American Academy of Periodontology. Paul has been recognized with several honours for his work with Veterans. Among them are the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, The Royal Canadian Legion’s Certificate of Merit, and the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.

Paul was part of the Fundraising Committee for the Centenary of the First World War. He organizes students from schools across Canada to travel to Ottawa for the National Remembrance Day Ceremony. He is the Founder of Operation Veteran - a program in association with the Canadian War Museum - to honour and raise awareness about Veterans and their sacrifices.

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Larry Murray

Director

The Grand President of The Royal Canadian Legion, Larry also serves as the federal government’s Chair of the Indpendent Review Panel on Defence Acquisition. He graduated with a BA from Carleton University, later trained as an Advanced Navigation and Combat Control specialist and commanded HMC ships CHALEUR, MIRAMICHI, and IROQUOIS, the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron and Maritime Command.

Larry retired while in the role of Acting Chief of the Defense Staff and as a Vice Admiral - having served for over three decades with the Royal Canadian Navy.

He has held several roles within the Legion and within the Public Service over the years, including as Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada. He was Chairman of the Board of the Public Policy Forum, first Chair of the Veterans Ombudsman Advisory Committee and President of the Nova Scotia Mainland division of the Navy League of Canada.

A Member of the Order of Canada, Larry’s awards are numerous and include Commander of the Order of Military Merit, the NATO Special Services Medal, Chief of Defence Staff Commendation, and Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals.

Steven Clark

Steven Clark

National Executive Director

Steven Clark served as a Royal Canadian Air Force Reservist and member of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, before his transition to the non-profit sector.

He is an Ordinary member of the Legion and joined its National Headquarters as an Administrative Officer in 2005. He later became the organization’s Director, Corporate Services and in 2019 was named to the position of National Executive Director.

Sam Laprade

Sam Laprade, CFRE

Director, Development, Legion National Foundation

Sam loves to connect people!  As a professional fundraiser Sam works closely with generous donors to impact Veterans through the Legion National Foundation. Ms. Laprade’s extensive experience, for over three decades, in fundraising, media and municipal politics has created an impressive network of community and business leaders.