Born in Belleville ON in 1950, I moved, or rather was carried, to BC in 1951. I lived in Port Alberni, Penticton and finally in Kelowna where I grew up with my three siblings and parents. My father’s family can be traced back to my United Empire Loyalist great great great great great grandfather, Captain John Walden Meyers (1745-1821) the founder of Meyers’ Creek – later Belleville – Ontario.

In 1970 I took a ship to New Zealand as part of my round-the-world adventure. A six week stay lasted ten years. I began my airline career there in 1971 with Air New Zealand in Auckland. I was one of the original staff in the new Reservations office in Vancouver in 1981 before a move to Edmonton in 1983 where I married my wife Judy. I finished my airline career in Vancouver with Air New Zealand in 2002 and we moved to Comox in 2003.

Besides pursuing an interest in art and painting, my retirement also expanded my naval reserve career with the sea cadets. And through the sea cadets I made contact with Mr. Laurie Patten of Nanaimo. Laurie is a recognized heraldic artisan and under his tutelage I have expanded my work into heraldic art and craft. Together we have built the large heraldry display at the Mews at Government House in Victoria.

I was elected in March 2016 to be the President of the BC/Yukon Branch of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. From my heraldic art interests I am also spreading the word about Canadian heraldry as the national Chair of its Heraldic Arts Committee. Besides displays and presentations I am also doing the artwork for the Sea Cadet Badge Project of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada as we complete new images for the 235 sea cadet units across Canada; 157 done to date. Another recent RHSC project was completing a range of heraldic images for the Society’s new booklet publication, “The Guide to Blazonry”, a joint project with Dr. Kevin Greaves and Mr. Gordon Macpherson.

Researching heraldry also realized the close link to genealogy. Since 2010 I have been delving into the military history of my family. I have now gathered details on some 72 military family members including the verification of their medals and honours.

I joined the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve in 1981 and became a Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) officer in 1996. After moving to Vancouver Island I became, in 2004, the Area CIC officer working with the eleven sea cadet units on Vancouver Island. I have been the Commanding Officer of three sea cadet units and retired from the Canadian Forces Reserves in November 2015. I live in Comox BC with my wife, Judy, and I am the personal litter box attendant for Her Grace, The Duchess of Murrelet (the cat).

Honours and Awards

• 2015 Licentiate of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
• 2014 Second bar to Canadian Forces Decoration
• 2003 First bar to Canadian Forces Decoration
• 1989 Canadian Forces Decoration