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Appointee Biographies

Soldiers' Aid Commission

FRANCIS COLTON

Francis (Chris) Colton joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and graduated as a pilot in 1967. Over the next 36 years he served in Canada and the US. His command appointments included operations in Norway, Djibouti, Kuwait, Cyprus and Australia. He was also appointed as the Commanding Officer of 440 Transport and Rescue Squadron. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the RCAF in 2001. In 2002 he was appointed as the Executive Director of the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton. He retired from that position in 2018. He has served on the Board of Trenval, the local Business Development Corp., as a planning committee member of the Mutual Concerns Conference at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton serving as President in 2001. He is married to Major (ret.) Micky Colton, also a former RCAF pilot.

G. ROBIN COOKE

G. Robin Cooke, CD was born in Windsor, Ontario. Mr. Cooke attended St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, University of Guelph, and Queen’s University, Kingston. He was employed as a Technological Education teacher and department head for the North Shore, Norfolk and Grand Erie District Boards of Education. Mr. Cooke was commissioned an officer in the Canadian Forces in 1986 and joined the 56 Field Regiment, RCA where he held several Regimental appointments. In 2006, Captain Cooke entered full-time service with the Canadian Armed Forces as G3 Plans with Task Force 3-06. In September 2006, he filled the G3 Plans position at 31 CBG in London. Captain Cooke joined 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, Task Force 3-08 in April 2008 deploying to Afghanistan in September 2008. Mr. Cooke enjoys recreational flying, kayaking, reading and gardening. He is an active member of Branch 79, Royal Canadian Legion assisting other veterans as the branch Service Officer.

KEN OSBORNE

Kenneth Osborne served in the Canadian Forces for 24 years. As a lawyer with the Office of the Judge Advocate General, his key posts included roles with NATO, the Strategic Joint Staff, and as a Deputy Judge Advocate. He is a veteran of peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and combat operations in Afghanistan. Deploying to Afghanistan on two occasions, he served as the lawyer to Canada's Special Operations Task Force, and subsequently deployed as legal mentor in a rule of law capacity with the US Forces. For service as a mentor in Afghanistan, he was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal. Mr. Osborne's community involvement includes service with the Town of Aurora Council Compensation Committee, and he has volunteered with the Government of Canada Charitable Workplace Campaign. Following retirement from the military, Mr. Osborne now resides in Niagara Falls Ontario, and works with the Law Society of Ontario.

JOHN CYRIL GREENFIELD

John Cyril Greenfield worked for the Corporation of the City of Oshawa for 40 years. Mr. Greenfield has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 37 years, a Service Officer and a Sergeant at Arms for 23 years, as well as a member of the Clarington Older Adult Association for 21 years. He is a life member with the Temple Lodge AF and AM No. 649 ERC, Oshawa, Ontario, where he has been a member for 62 years. An executive member of the Bowmanville Navy League, supporting Cadets for 18 years. A Director on the Condo board of Durham Condominium Corporation #156 assisting unit owners to maintain a better lifestyle for the past 6 yrs. Mr. Greenfield's community service includes volunteering at the Legion & assisting veterans to get the benefits the deserve as Sgt at Arms involved in 25 to 30 events per year organizing the cross program where we place over 1400 Crosses on veterans Graves each November, assisting in the Poppy campaign each year and the Adult Centre serving meals and maintaining the trees & bushes.

DARRYL CATHCART

Darryl G. Cathcart enrolled in the Canadian Army in 1991 as a private soldier, was commissioned from the ranks as a senior non-commissioned member, and retired in 2017 as a senior officer. During his operational service, Darryl held command and staff positions in The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, where he deployed to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. Notable domestic appointments include serving at the Infantry School and as instructional staff at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, the United States Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College, and Queen’s University. Darryl holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Western University.