Post by Michael Bonner

Last evening, the NATO Association of Canada’s held its 2026 Gala Reception of Honour and honoured four outstanding Canadians with the Louis St. Laurent Award for their exceptional contributions to transatlantic security, international cooperation, and the principles of the NATO Alliance. The 2026 Recipients: • Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Frances Allen, CMM, CD, ICD.D (former Chief of Defence Staff) • Blake C. Goldring, CM, OOnt(Executive Chairman AGF and founder Canada Company) • Blake Hutcheson, OOnt (President & CEO, OMERS) • Rose M. Patten, OC, OOnt, LL.D (Special Advisor, BMO Financial Group; Honourary Colonel) The award is named after former Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, who signed Canada into NATO in 1949. It recognizes strong support for collective defence, peace, and the shared democratic values of the North Atlantic alliance. The awards were followed by an excellent panel discussion moderated by the one and only Murray Brewster. It was a clear discussion filled with reminders, and calls to action as to what Canada needs to do next. Thank you to Hon. David Collenette and to Robert Baines and the NATO Association of Canada. Blake Goldring, C.M., O.Ont., CFA Blake Hutcheson Murray Brewster Paul Lehmann Jeff Roman