Honouring heroes

Of the national historic sites administered by Parks Canada, approximately 50 are related to the two world wars. Working with local communities, Parks Canada offers events commemorating the world wars and, in doing so, showcases the country's rich national heritage. Through the Hometown Heroes program, Canadians and visitors from all over the world can pay tribute to remarkable individuals, their outstanding achievements and the invaluable contributions they have made to their communities.

Hometown heroes

Get to know the remarkable stories of these hometown heroes, honour their memory and express your gratitude for their service by visiting Parks Canada's National Historic Sites, National Parks, and National Marine Conservation Areas.

New hometown heroes!

Come and discover the growing list of Canadians who have been recognized for their contributions to the Canadian Military and for their dedication to help preserve and promote Canada’s naval heritage, as part of Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes initiative. By sharing these exemplary stories with Canadians, we express gratitude for their service and sacrifices.

Rowland Collinge Marshall (1927 – )

A young Canadian enlisting in the Second World War was not an unusual thing; over 1 million Canadians joined over the course of the war (1939-1945). What is unusual is being an eager young man enlisting at the age of sixteen and a half. Because of the lower age requirements of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), this is exactly what Rowland Marshall did. Joining the RCNVR in Windsor, Ontario, Marshall joined the crew of HMCS St Pierre (K680) where he was assigned duties as a “torpedoman”, an experience that saw the teenager arming the ship’s depth charges and escorting captured German U-boats to Northern Scotland. What must have seemed like a big adventure for a young man not yet 17 was just the start of an extraordinary career.

At the end of hostilities, Marshall continued his career, serving onboard HMC Ships Ontario, Magnificent, Toronto, Lauzon, Athabaskan, and Saguenay. In 1962 he transferred to the Naval Reserve and joined HMCS Scotian where he underwent officer training, becoming Commanding Officer in 1975.

Rowland remained in the Reserves for a total of more than 40 years. In 1977, as the retiring Commanding Officer of HMCS Scotian, the division was awarded the 1977 Award of Excellence, best amongst the 18 reserve divisions across Canada at that time. He also holds a BA and MA from the University of Western Ontario and a doctoral degree from the University of Ottawa and taught for 40 years at St. Mary’s University. In his retirement Rowland became a student, taking many classes at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, plunging into his life as an artist with gusto. He participated in many art shows and donated his paintings to numerous fundraising organizations.

Marshall is also a long-time trustee of HMCS Sackville, Canada’s oldest warship and last of the corvette-class ships. Sackville is now a Canadian Naval Memorial and National Historic Site where she welcomes visitors from all over the world. In addition to his work with Sackville, Marshall also dedicates much of his time to the Naval Association of Nova Scotia where he has twice sat as that organization’s chair. Rowland’s philanthropy includes scholarships at secondary education institutions, and he is an active member of his church, community hall and local politics. Despite all this, Rowland was not a natural ‘joiner’, but just like his military service when he was asked to serve, he served actively and faithfully.

On his 95th birthday, Rowland was presented with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal and received a Quilt of Valour in March of 2023 for his contributions to Canada. Rowland is the father of five children, nineteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren and lives in Seaforth, Nova Scotia.

Sharon Richardson (1936 - )

You might say that Sharon (Sherry) Richardson was destined to fly, but the road to her pilot’s license at the age of 74 is the most interesting part. Coming from a family with deep roots in military service, it’s no surprise her journey started with enlistment.

Born in Toronto in 1936, Sherry enlisted with the Naval Reserve in 1954 when she joined the crew of HMCS Donnacona in Montreal. However, her time with Donnacona was to be short-lived; in 1955 she transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and was drafted to HMCS Stadacona, HMC Electrical School and trained as an air electronics technician. She was then drafted to HMCS Shearwater with VU 32 Squadron Air Electronics section.

In 1960, Sherry was commissioned in the Canadian Intelligence Corps, including a three-year Russian language course. This was followed by time working at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa and CFB Trenton. In 1985 she returned to Halifax as staff training co-ordinator at Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM) Headquarters and then to Debert, Nova Scotia where she was attached to Regional Operations Reserve.

The 1990s brought significant change as Sherry was appointed the first female Commanding Officer of HMCS Sackville. The last of Canada’s corvette class ships, Sackville is now a Canadian Naval Memorial and a National Historic Site that has been restored to her wartime configuration. It includes exhibits, artifacts and a memorial dedicated to those who served during the Battle of the Atlantic. Richardson also represented the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust which oversees the ship at commemorative events around the world, including a Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945) event in Northern Ireland. In 2010, Richardson was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh aboard HMCS Sackville as part of the Royal Canadian Navy’s centennial.

Sherry’s love of planes was likely a result of both of her parents having their pilot’s licences. In fact, she also had an uncle who flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War (sadly, he was killed in action in 1942 and is buried in Holland). Her time spent in proximity of pilots and their aircraft on Shearwater furthered her desire to fly and she received her pilot’s license at age 74 and her Private Pilot License at 78. When asked about her preference, sea or air, Sherry replies, “Both! Fleet Air Arm- Naval Air.” Now 87, she still flies and continues her association with the Sackville and the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust.

Commodore Laraine Orthlieb (1938-)

A groundbreaking career with the Canadian Naval Reserve

Born in Saint John N.B., Laraine Orthlieb’ story is one of exceptional achievement and commitment. She became the first female flag officer, the second woman at the helm of a ship's company, and eventually retired with the rank of Commodore. When she was the Captain of HMCS Tecumseh, the naval establishment on land was named “Best Naval Reserve Division in Canada” in 1985.

An advocate for preserving and presenting Canada’s naval history

In addition to her work in the navy, Mrs. Orthlieb played an instrumental role in the creation of the Naval Museum of Alberta, the largest naval museum in Canada where the history and traditions of Canada’s navy act as an inspiration to all who visit.

A true inspiration

Laraine Orthlieb has received considerable recognition in her community for her work in both the navy and private sector. Her accomplishments serve as a wellspring of inspiration for countless women sailors, reinforcing that gender should never hinder the pursuit of excellence. Parks Canada is honoured to mark the 100th anniversary of the Naval Reserve in 2023 by adding Commodore Laraine Orthlieb to the Hometown Heroes program.

Paris K. Sahlen (1944-2018)

Paris “Smiley” Sahlen was born in Barons, Alberta. He helped around the farm well into his teenage years, but realized he wanted to do something different and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1962.

While Sahlen left the navy following his three-year commitment, his heart remained there, and his determination to help preserve and promote Canada’s rich naval heritage drew most of his attention. For decades, Paris Sahlen was a mentor and a leader who devoted much of his life fostering connections between veterans, youth, and their navy.

In recognition of his public service over many years, Paris Sahlen received numerous awards, including the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was also made Honorary Coxswain of HMCS Calgary in April 2018. Paris Sahlen passed away on 29 December 2018.

Captain(N) (ret’d) William H. Wilson, OMM, CStJ, AOE, MSM, CD (1924-)

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Bill Wilson was 14 when the Second World War began and he joined the Sea Cadets. Three years later, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a seaman gunner on HMCS Ottawa (2nd) when it took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Normandy Landings.

Officer of the Order of Military Merit and known to his community as “Mr. Navy”, Wilson has dedicated his life to preserving Canada’s naval history and artifacts for future generations to study and appreciate. His dedication to educating youth was a driving force behind the creation of the Naval Museum of Alberta, opened in 1988, and later as part of the “Military Museums”.

In recognition of 62 years of honourable service and tireless efforts to promote greater awareness of Canada’s rich naval history, the Royal Canadian Navy appointed Bill Wilson an Honorary Captain in 1992, a position in which he served until 2014. He also received the Admirals’ Medal in 2008 and the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2013.

Hometown Heroes Laraine Orthlieb, Paris K. Sahlen and William H. Wilson share a common passion for the Navy. They also recognize the importance of interacting with new generations in order to keep our history alive.

Watch the video honouring Paris K. Sahlen and William H. Wilson

Home Port Heroes

Commemorating Canada’s Merchant Navy

Throughout the war, Canadian, Allied, and neutral merchant fleets lost 4,200 vessels, mainly to enemy action. In excess of 62,900 sailors perished, including more than 1,600 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who are now commemorated in the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance housed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Since 2003, September 3 is recognized as Merchant Navy Veterans Day honouring the contributions of those who served in this service. Their sacrifice is equally recognized as part of the Battle of the Atlantic, commemorated yearly on the first Sunday in May.

An impressive challenge

To support the Allied war effort, Canadian shipyards undertook an ambitious building program. Between 1941 and 1945, they completed more than 400 cargo ships. Of these, the Park Steamship Company Limited, a Crown corporation, operated some 180 vessels named after Canadian parks while many other Canadian-built merchant ships, named after forts from Canadian history, were supplied to Britain.

Today, a number of these places with namesake park or fort merchant vessels are preserved and presented by Parks Canada as part of Canada’s extensive network of national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

Several national historic designations commemorate Canada’s Second World War merchant service and shipbuilding industry:

• Role of the Canadian Merchant Navy during the Second World War National Historic Event
• Battle of the Atlantic National Historic Event
• Battle of the St. Lawrence National Historic Event
• Shipbuilding at the Burrard Dry Dock Company National Historic Event
• Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club National Historic Site of Canada
• German U-Boat Attacks at Bell Island, 1942