We are saddened to learn of the passing of the Honourable Hugh D. Segal, OC, OOnt, CD.  Hugh, FHG #4, was the Fort Henry Guard’s Honorary Commander from 2006 to 2021, and he was a wonderful advocate and champion for the Guard during his many years of service.  We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. 

The Honourable Hugh Segal has for many years observed the unique and strong character of the Guard and a wonderful advocate he has been. Hugh has faithfully attended the Guard’s annual Awards Ceremony, providing inspiration and sage advice that was always so keenly absorbed by young and impressionable minds; an opportunity and an honour that was so deeply appreciated. Hugh, we sincerely thank you for your faithful and dedicated service to the Guard since 2006. You are a dear friend whom we all will miss very much, although we hope you will continue to visit the Fort and support the Guard by your presence from time to time. We wish you all the best going forward.

Remarks from FHGCC Past President Michelle Foxton, FHG 1670, at the 2021 Change of Command Ceremony

You can read an interview with Hugh that appeared in The Guardsman in 2007 here. 

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. David Coulson, FHG 229, on December 29, 2022 at the age of 91.  David was a graduate of Queen’s University, where he received his medical degree in 1955, and he joined the Guard in 1953. 

During a long and distinguished career, David practiced medicine in several cities, including Thunder Bay, St. Anthony NL, and Musquodoboit Harbour NS.  He was an active member of the Canadian Naval Reserve, and was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Griffon, the first Medical Officer to hold that honour.

Donations in David’s memory may be made to The St. John’s (Portsmouth) Anglican Church Food Bank in Kingston, the Thunder Bay Food Bank or to the charity of your choice.

We extend our sincere condolences to David’s wife Beverley, his daughters Anne, Mary and Susan, son-in-law Frank Edgson, step-children Rosemary and George, and to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Obituary:  Kingston Whig Standard

We recently learned that Francis “Frank” Clegg, FHG 180, passed away on September 19, 2021 at the age of 91. Frank joined the Fort Henry Guard in 1950, and studied at Queen’s University. In 1955, he was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Regiment, and retired from the army in 1975.

Following his time in the military, Frank joined the BC government’s Provincial Emergency Program, and retired in 1996 as the Regional Director – Lower Mainland, Ministry of the Environment.  A talented tennis and hockey player, Frank enjoyed playing golf several times a week well into his late 80s.

We extend our condolences to Frank’s wife Dee, his children Neil, Shelagh, and Geoffrey, and his grandchildren.

Obituary:  Chilliwack Progress

Sorry to learn that another former member of the Fort Henry Guard has passed away.  Donald Foster, FHG 198, died on October 19, 2022 at the age of 90.  Donald joined the Guard in 1952 and was part of its first trip to Washington in 1955.  After a 30+ year career with Imperial Oil, he returned to Kingston in the late 1980s and was an active volunteer for many years.

The family is encouraging donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Donald’s honour.

We extend our condolences to his children Donna and Paul, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to his extended family and friends.

Obituary:  Kingston Whig-Standard

Dr. Walter Rosser, FHG 490, passed away on October 2, 2022 after a brief illness.  Walter was a member of the Guard of 1961, and went on to have a remarkable 55-year career as a clinician, teacher, researcher and leader in family medicine.

Walter’s personal and professional accomplishments and accolades are too long to list here.  He served as chair of four of the five family medicine departments in Ontario: University of Ottawa; McMaster University; University of Toronto and Queen’s University, his alma mater, where he was a professor emeritus in his final years. In 2017, his peers established The Walter Rosser Chair in Family Medicine in his honour.

In 2010, Walter was named to the Order of Canada, and his citation read:  “Walter Rosser has helped to advance the field of family medicine and has contributed to the evolution of primary care research in Canada. He has been most influential in building mechanisms for the review and evaluation of health care systems, notably helping to establish practice-based research networks in Canada… and has long promoted evidence-based medicine in his field. A leader in primary care reform, he has influenced policy and guidelines not only within Canada, but also in many other countries around the world.”

We extend our sincere condolences to Walter’s wife Janet, his children Tom and Nancy, and his many family, friends and colleagues.

Obituary: Ottawa Citizen

We were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Ronald Blair, FHG 1219, on August 31, 2022.  Ron grew up in Kingston, and was a proud member of the Fort Henry Guard, which he joined in 1983.  After graduating from St. Francis Xavier University, he had a successful career as a CFO and consultant for several Ottawa-based tech companies.

Donations in Ron’s memory may be made to the Ottawa Heart Institute or the Ottawa Food Bank.

We extend our sincere condolences to Ron’s wife Sandra, his children Jacob and Samantha, and to his family and friends.

Obituary:  Tubman Funeral Homes

Walter William Gulka, FHG 171, was a member of the 1949 Fort Henry Guard for only one year. I had talked him into joining because of his tremendous musical talent and thought he could train more buglers and fifers, but the Director was more focused on a fife band. He left the Guard after the one season for a better paying summer job.

Walt was born on September 18, 1931 in Toronto and his family moved to Kingston in 1943. He joined the Grade 8 class at Rideau Public School , went to KCVI and then to the University of Toronto where he was also the conductor of the U of T Marching Band. He had an exceptionally successful career as an educator and as a professional musician. He was a principal at several Toronto high schools before moving to Thunder Bay in 1970 where his wife Lillian’s family was from. He was principal at several high schools there as well.

During the 1950’s and 60’s he played trombone professionally with many of the leading dance bands in Muskoka and Toronto, playing with some of the top entertainers of the era. In Thunder Bay he spent 44 years with the Thunder Bay Symphony, retiring at age 80.

He moved to an Ottawa retirement residence in 2021 to be closer to his family there and passed away on May 29, 2022. He is survived by his daughters Lianne, Leslie and Larissa, grandson Marko, several nieces and nephews and sons-in-law, as well as his sister and brother-in-law Joanne and Roger Campbell. Lillian passed away in 2011.

It was written about Walt that as much as he embraced life, life certainly embraced him.

By Doug Thompson, FHG 154

Dr. Cameron M. Stevenson, FHG 167, died peacefully at Kingston General Hospital on June 15, 2022 after a brief illness, with his children at his side.

Cam joined the Guard in 1949. He was born in Picton but grew up in Kingston, attended KCVI and then Queen’s Faculty of Medicine where he graduated in 1955. He was appointed Guard Captain in 1951 but left the Guard after 1953 for summer work in hospitals related to his medical studies. He established a Family Practice in Kingston and later pursued his interest in mental health and was certified in Psychiatry in 1963. In 1977 he was appointed Medical Director of the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital. He retired in 1989 and continued with a private practice until recently.

Cam is survived by his sister Frances Crowe, who was married to FHG 260 Gary Crowe, children Brian, John, Carol and Janet, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Cam loved to golf, worked out at the gym and fitness centre at Queen’s, was a member of the KCVI Old Boys Coffee Club and attended Guard Club reunions, especially with his life-long friends, Doug Thompson FHG 154 and Bill Patterson, FHG 211, the last one being in 2018.

We extend our condolences to Cam’s family and friends, and offer thanks to Doug Thompson and Bill Patterson for sharing this.