October 24, 1996
(Executive Council)

"Reserve Force Day" declared

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will honour members of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve by declaring Sunday, October 27, 1996, as "Reserve Force Day" throughout the province.

There will be a 2:00 p.m. ceremony at Confederation Building during which Dr. Rex Gibbons, Minister of Mines and Energy, will sign a proclamation for the reserve force on behalf of the provincial government.

"Men and women from this province have made an outstanding contribution to our province and to Canada," said Gibbons. "Whether it is an international situation like Rwanda, Somalia, or former Yugoslavia or a local emergency such as the power failure on the Avalon Peninsula several years ago, reserve soldiers can be counted on to provide relief and assistance. As a government and as a province, we want to acknowledge that service by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians."

John Craig Eaton, national chairman of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, welcomed the province's support for its employees who are members of the Canadian Forces. "Reservists bring valuable skills and qualities to their place of work - leadership, dedication, communication, personnel management to name a few. Newfoundland and Labrador is a model of employer support for reservists. I hope that this example will inspire other municipal and provincial governments to take the same step."

Contact: Tara Laing, Assistant Director of Communications, (709) 729-0050 or Lieutenant Edward Hollett, Area Public Affairs Officer, (709) 570-4900, ext. 4774.