OTTAWA, June 17 - John C. Mah, Chancellor of the Priory of Canada, operating as St. John Ambulance, will be promoted(*) to the grade of Bailiff Grand Cross the highest grade in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, during National Investiture ceremonies to be held in the Senate Chambers, Ottawa on June 20, 2009.
In Mr. Mah's 15 years of outstanding service, two of which as Chancellor of the Priory of Canada (operating as St. John Ambulance), Mr. Mah has launched a series of strategic initiatives to strengthen First Aid training programs, revitalize youth programs, secure new corporate partnerships, and broaden public awareness of the St. John mission.
Leading by example, Mr. Mah has mobilized more than 25,000 volunteers, from each corner of Canada, to embrace a strong common purpose and direction. Each year, more than 6,000 St. John Ambulance instructors train upwards of 600,000 Canadians in First Aid and CPR. Mr. Mah's vision and leadership style have effectively guided a major $64M Canadian charitable organization through a particularly dynamic period in the 125 year history of St. John in Canada.
Equally talented as an ambassador, Mr. Mah expanded the international portfolio of St. John by contributing to development and relief programs in Papua New Guinea, the Caribbean, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Under his watch, he was instrumental in galvanizing support for the Eric Barry International Development Fund which supports home-based care for AIDs victims in southern Africa.
"This very special honour is being bestowed upon Mr. Mah in recognition of not only his leadership and energy but his many accomplishments both in Canada and abroad," says Professor Anthony Mellows, Lord Prior of the worldwide Order of St. John. "It also recognizes the way in which Mr. Mah has built consensus and commitment to our global mission of providing First Aid, health care and humanitarian services."
The grade of Bailiff Grand Cross is a highly esteemed distinction held by just 21 non Royal appointees at any one time within the worldwide Order of St. John. Mr. Mah is only the third Canadian, since 1989, to be so recognized.
(*)The promotion to the grade of Bailiff Grand Cross was sanctioned by
the Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlla Jean, Governor-General
of Canada and Prior of the Priory of Canada, on behalf of Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth 11, as Sovereign Head of the Order. The Order of St John
is one of five national orders in the Canadian Honours System which also
includes the Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit, Order of Merit of
the Police Forces and the Royal Victorian Order.
For further information: Jennifer Lavoie,
Director of Communications,
St. John Ambulance Canada,
(613) 884-6510,
Jennifer.Lavoie@nhq.sja.ca