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RCAF’s 443 squadron welcomes new honorary colonel
March 18, 2015 By RCAF
March 18, 2015, Shearwater, N.S. - Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick MacNamara, commanding officer of 443 Maritime
Helicopter Squadron, invested the squadron’s new honorary colonel in a
December 8, 2014, ceremony in Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
Honorary
Colonel Michael Sudul stepped into the position vacated by outgoing
Honorary Colonel Jeffrey Morris, who served since 2009. Colonel Lise
Bourgon, 12 Wing’s commander, presided over the parade.
“We
are proud of the commitment, sacrifice, and resourcefulness of Honorary
Colonel Jeffrey Morris,” said Lieutenant-Colonel MacNamara, “and we are
proud to invest the squadron’s new honorary colonel, Michael Sudul.”
The position of honorary colonel is bestowed upon distinguished
Canadians who foster unit esprit de corps and help build positive
relationships within the community. The tradition dates to 1934, when
the Royal Canadian Air Force began appointing local dignitaries to act
as honorary colonels.
Honorary Colonel Sudul has lived much of his life on Royal Air Force
bases in England. In the 1970s, he founded a travel agency in Victoria,
British Columbia, and in 2000 became the president of Osler Systems
Management Inc., an electronic medical records business. Honorary
Colonel Sudul is an avid traveler and pilot with more than 150,000
kilometres of motorcycle riding and 5,300 flying hours under his belt.
Outgoing Honorary Colonel Jeffrey Morris will continue his path in
the aviation industry through his non-profit charity, Angel Flight,
which offers free air transportation for Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, cancer patients requiring medical services at hospitals and
centralized care facilities in both Vancouver and Victoria. He hopes to
continue the long-lasting friendships he has made at 443 Squadron.
“Honorary Colonel Morris has reached out countless times to the
community at large for our squadron,” said Warrant Officer Jay
Krzywonos, from Airborne Electronic Sensor Operations Readiness.
“Honorary Colonel Morris has always made himself available to promote
unit camaraderie.”
During the investiture ceremony, Honorary Colonel Michael Sudul
accepted the responsibilities held by outgoing Honorary Colonel Jeffrey
Morris. Traditionally, the squadron’s honorary colonel supports
activities such as Family Day and serves as Santa at the children’s
Christmas party, and often simply lends an ear or tells a good story.
