Director of Security Services receives a commendation
MP Patty Hajdu presented the commendation to Lorne Clifford in late August.
Lorne Clifford, Director of Security Services at Lakehead University, recently received a commendation from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Now a Lieutenant (Navy) with the local Cadet Corps after a distinguished career with the Canadian Armed Forces and as a senior police commander, Lorne continues to be engaged in veterans’ issues, both personally and as a member of the local Royal Canadian Legion.
"I'm honoured and absolutely humbled to be recognized with this award,” he said. “We have a sacred obligation to those who have sacrificed and continue to give so much of themselves to ensure peace and freedom in Canada. They are the ones who need to be remembered. We can all do our part – we just need to look after each other."
Lorne arranges for veterans to come speak to his cadet unit regularly and has them participate as reviewing officers during parades.
He also engages his cadets to volunteer during Veterans’ Week and the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign. Lorne is a gifted speaker who spoke in front of 5,000 people for the Thunder Bay Remembrance Day ceremony in 2013, bringing his perspective on the modern-day peacekeeping veteran. He has given dozens of presentations and he continues to speak to local community groups on the role of Canadian peacekeepers.
As leader of the Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band for over 30 years, Lorne has provided a yeoman service for countless Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police ceremonies.
He has provided over 50,000 volunteer hours to the community through his efforts with the pipe band. In 2017, the band performed 20 free concerts at seniors’ homes to commemorate Canada 150 and to highlight the 100th anniversaries of the Battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. As a fundraiser for the band, he was able to donate proceeds to a local PTSD survivors group called Healing in the Wilderness.
Through work with his church, Lorne is responsible for setting up support for veterans using an effective outreach service called A Brother in Need. He draws attention to the unique needs of Canadian veterans and offers a grass roots peer support system.
He has connected individuals seeking support with the guidance or assistance needed. For example, he helped an Australian family to arrange a memorial service for their family member, a Royal Canadian Regiment veteran who died an accidental death in Canada.
Since Lorne was overseas on July 29 when the Minister of Veterans Affairs hosted the presentations, MP Patty Hajdu presented the commendation to Lorne shortly after that.
