Comrade Don Critchley
April 28, 1929 to April 25, 2016
Cmd. Don joined the Legion in 1980. Married to wife Joyce and they had three children, two boys and one girl.
He joined the Army Cadet Corp. in September 1942 and was discharged June 1947 as a Corporal.
Member of Branch 287 - South Porcupine since 1980. He held several positions: President between 1980-1982, he served on the Executive for 15 years between 1988-2003 and was still very active. He was also Chairman of Honours & Awards 1995-2002 and Sargent at Arms between 1988-2003.
Zone K3 Zone Commander 1997-1999 also served as Chairman for Seniors 4 years and Membership 1995-2001.
District K Commander 2009-2011. Served as Membership Chairman 1993-2003.
Became a Life Member May 27th 2003.
He was still active at Branch, Zone, and District as a delegate.
He was also Member of the South Porcupine Lions since 1975.
He is a 26 year ordinary member of the Legion. He had a full Army Cadet career, ending as a Cadet Captain with numerous summer camps at Ipperwash finishing with Banff National Army Cadet Camp. He then became a Civilian Instructor and was the Training Officer for the Cadet Corps. He then joined the Canadian Forces Reserves as a member Cadet Instructor Cadre, held brief positions as a Supply and Admin Officer, but most of his time was spent as Training Officer and Commanding Officer. He held almost every instructor certification available allowing him to run an intense action packed program for the Cadets. He was proud to have built our Cadet Corps to a strength of 2 full platoons in a small community which won many awards including the Lord Strathcona Shield numerous times as top Cadet Corps, they also won the Provincial Drill Competition with and without arms and Best Drill Team Captains for both. He was also proud to have sent a large number of Cadets to premier exchanges overseas based on overall final marks. He retired as a Captain once more, became a member of the Army Cadet League and was the Liaison Officer for over 10 years. He was then was asked to join the Legion as they needed a Sgt-At-Arms for meetings and to run the community parades and colour parties. He has since run the parades for many years in our community and two surrounding communities plus one First Nations Reserve. He became First Vice President and then on to Branch President which is a position He still holds today after 10 years. During this time he was also the Branch PRO, Poppy Chairman, Zone Poppy Chairman and Leadership Chair for many years. He was elected Deputy Zone Commander, completed two terms as Zone Commander, a term as a Deputy District Commander, then moved on to District Commander which he is currently completing his second term.