Doug Chisholm in Ottawa receives his Meritorious Service Medal from Canada's Governor General Mary Simon (submitted photo/Doug Chisholm)

By Ben Tompkins

Meritorious Service Medal

Melfort man honoured for military personnel tributes

Apr 3, 2024 | 10:38 AM

A northeast local was recently honoured by Canada’s Governor General, in the form of a Meritorious Service Medal.

Melfort native Doug Chisholm was recognized as a heritage researcher and bush pilot, who has photographed and documented many of Saskatchewan’s 3,800 remote lakes, islands and rivers named in honour of military personnel who died in the Second World War.

“I didn’t undertake the project with the idea that there would be a medal at the end; it’s just something that comes up, but it was certainly an honour and I was delighted to get the call indicating that at some point, I would get a chance to go to Ottawa and receive this Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General, so that’s really special,” he said.

“When the Governor General is up there and she makes her speech and presents the awards, it can be a powerful moment. It’s unique and it’s really an honour to be there. I appreciate receiving the Meritorious Service Medal and it’s definitely one of the highlights of what I’ve been able to do.”

Chisholm began his research back in 1997, travelling about the northern parts of Saskatchewan, as he flew around the sites and photographed along the way.

Semi-final Potential

Mustangs pull off another comeback victory to clinch playoff spot

4h ago

Centennial Cup

Preliminary Round - Day Six

12h ago

Badminton Provincials

Nipawin locals claim hardware during badminton provincials on home court

May 12, 2024

During that time, he was able to get in contact with some of the family members, educating them on the exact locations and showing them his pictures.

When asked, he was also able to bring plaques the family had made to the exact sites, forevermore enshrining their legacies in Canadian history.

“The feedback that I got from the families, they were so grateful and it meant so much to them, so that just kept me going and I just keep on doing it because it seemed to be appreciated,” Chisholm added.

“I’ve met a lot of people who shared with me the stories of those warriors and what it meant to them to have the province name a site in memory, so it’s a very special life.”

Chisholm plans to continue to travel up north and do his best to put more plaques up to anyone who asks, so long as he continues to have a pilot’s license.

He will be going into the Far North this summer to lay a plaque for a family, in memory of a fallen soldier from Afghanistan.

–

news@northeastnow.com

On X @BenTompkins_8