André M. Levesque

André M. Levesque

OMM OOnt CD FRSA
Levesque at Currie Hall in 2024
AllegianceCanadian Armed Forces
RankLieutenant-colonel
UnitGovernor General's Foot Guards, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
Known forCommemoration and memorialogy
Alma materUniversity College Cork
Carleton University

André M. Levesque is a Canadian historian, former public servant and retired military officer known for his work in commemoration. He is delegate general of Le Souvenir français au Canada,[1] and former chancellor of the Priory of Canada of the Order of Saint John.

Early life and education

Levesque completed a bachelor's degree and master's degree in geography at Carleton University in Ottawa,[2] and a PhD in history at University College Cork in 2013.[3] His PhD thesis was entitled "Redefining military memorials and commemoration and how they have changed since the 19th century with a focus on Anglo-American practice".[4]

Career

Levesque was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Army Reserves. He served in the Governor General's Foot Guards before transferring to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.[5] In 2008, he retired after 35 years at the rank of lieutenant-colonel.[3] He became interested in commemoration after meeting veterans while in the service.[6]

He was manager of Operation Memoria, which repatriated Canada's Unknown Soldier from Vimy, France to Ottawa, Ontario.[7] He was volunteer chief historian at Beechwood Cemetery.[8][9] In 2001, he set up the National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials website.[6] He was program manager of the Canadian Forces Artists Program.[10] He worked in municipal urban planning and economic development in Ottawa from 1986 to 1998. In 2001, he joined the Public Service of Canada. In 2002, he became Chief of Canadian Forces Honours and Awards, and in 2006 he became Director of Honours and Recognition. He oversaw the awarding of over 200,000 medals.[11] Levesque was secretary of the Advisory Committee and Advisory Council for the Order of Military Merit from 2002 to 2013.[12] He chaired the Victoria Cross Production Planning Group.[13][14]

In 2019, he retired as visiting scholar at the Royal Military College of Canada.[15] He chairs the International Society for Commemoration, Memorials, and other Monuments.[6]

In 2020, Levesque became deputy chancellor of St. John Ambulance in Canada and of the Priory of Canada of the Order of Saint John. He became chancellor of the priory in 2022. During his military service, he was an instructor with the organization.[3]

Levesque is president of the Canadian delegation of the Société Nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille militaire,[16] and Monument Amicitia France-Canada, which commemorates the historical friendship between France and Canada.[17][18] He is delegate general of Le Souvenir français au Canada.[1] He was a research fellow of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.[19]

Awards and honours

Levesque received the Order of Ontario in 2020 for his work in memorialogy.[6] and the Order of Ottawa in 2023.[15] In 2024, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London,[20] and an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree from the Royal Military College of Canada.[11]

He has received the following orders and awards.

Orders and awards
Description Notes
King Charles III Coronation Medal 2024 – Canadian version of this medal[21]
Order of Ontario 2020[22]
Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (France) 2017[23]
Order of Saint John Knight of Justice 2014[24]

Commander 2011[25]

Member 2000[26]

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012[27] – Canadian version of this medal
Knight of the National Order of Merit (France) 2012[28]
Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) 2006[29]
Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) 2006
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002[24] – Canadian version of this medal

Arms

Coat of arms of André M. Levesque
Adopted
March 21, 1996
Crest
Rising out of a coronet erable Gules a demi lion guardant triple queued and mitred Or and holding between the forepaws an astrolabe Gules
Escutcheon
Gules a lion rampant guardant triple queued and mitred and holding between the forepaws and dexter hind paw a crozier Or
Motto
MEMORIA (trans. "Memory") has been Levesque's motto since 2023.[30] Prior to this, it was SUCCESSUS A DILIGENTIA (trans. "Success comes from diligence").[31]
Badge
An astrolabe Gules perched thereon a parrot reguardant Or

References

  1. ^ a b "CAN". Le Souvenir Français (in French). Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Appointee Biographies - Public Appointments Secretariat". www.pas.gov.on.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Dr. André M. Levesque appointed Chancellor for the Priory of Canada". www.sja.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Levesque, J. M. André (2013). "Redefining military memorials and commemoration and how they have changed since the 19th century with a focus on Anglo-American practice". UCC doctoral theses.
  5. ^ Aikman, Bill (January 11, 2005). "Levesque Interview - CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM" (PDF). Musee de la Guerre. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Association, Ontario Community Newspapers (October 29, 2021). "Celebrating Stories of Ontarians: André Levesque, Member of the Order of Ontario". Kingsville Times. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "PRESS & MEDIA". AMICITIA. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Veterans to be remembered at National Military Cemetery". CBC. November 10, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sponsored: Beechwood Cemetery's deep community roots". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Birth of a Nation: Vimy Ridge".
  11. ^ a b Farooq, Andaleeb (October 2, 2024). "Announcement of Honorary Degrees at RMC's 131st Convocation". intranet.rmc-cmr.ca. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  12. ^ Honours canada.ca
  13. ^ Military valour decorations 1993–2018 canada.ca
  14. ^ "How we made Canada's Victoria Cross". June 2018.
  15. ^ a b Clerk, Office of the City (November 2, 2023). "Order of Ottawa and Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching - past recipients". ottawa.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  16. ^ nationale, Défense (September 27, 2022). "La Société Nationale d'Entraide de la Médaille Militaire". www.canada.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  17. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique- (October 16, 2022). "Un monument dédié à l'amitié entre le Canada et la France inauguré à Ottawa". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "Amicitia: un monument national dédié à l'amitié entre le Canada et la France". uniquefm.ca (in French). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Levesquecdainstitute.ca Archived December 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES" (PDF). City of London. June 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "André Levesque". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "Several Ottawans appointed to Order of Ontario". CBC. January 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Trois Canadiens decores5enord.ca May 2018 Archived August 7, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ a b "Major Andre Levesque".
  25. ^ "Knights and Dames of the Order of St. John Promotions As of October 6, 2010". gazette.gc.ca.
  26. ^ "About St. John Ambulance Canada | Priory of Canada".
  27. ^ "Joseph Marc Andre Levesque".
  28. ^ "Awards to Canadians". Canada Gazette. February 25, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Major J.M.A. Levesque".
  30. ^ "Joseph Marc André Levesque". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  31. ^ "Joseph Marc André Levesque". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
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