The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is honoured to announce the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Argylls) as the 2014 Royal Bank of Canada Hamilton Citizen of the Year

Hamilton native and regiment member, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, was standing guard at the National War Monument in Ottawa when he was tragically killed on October 22, 2014. In the days to follow, with the eyes of the nation upon Hamilton, the Argylls faithfully escorted their fallen brother back to Hamilton along the Highway of Heroes and performed their “most sacred task” in laying him to rest.

“As reservists, the Argylls have been unsung heroes for over a century, working in the community by day and training to defend it by night,” said Keanin Loomis, President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “But when we look at 2014 specifically, no group of citizens brought more honour, distinction and recognition to Hamilton. The strength they displayed under the most difficult of circumstances brought world-wide admiration.”

The Hamilton Citizen of the Year was started in 1938 by the Hamilton Advertising & Sales Club to salute this city’s best in citizenship and volunteerism. When that group went defunct in 1999, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce assumed stewardship of the annual tradition, with the support of RBC Royal Bank and the Hamilton Spectator.

“The regiment is honoured to be recognized in this way,” states Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Hatfield, Commanding Officer of the Argylls. “Ours is a proud tradition of service to our country for more than 110 years. The shocking events of November 2014 and the death of our own Corporal Nathan Cirillo will never be forgotten. We accept this recognition with gratitude and on behalf of all of those who have gone before us and all of those who have fought to make Canada and the world a better place.”

Past Citizen of the Year (1997) and Honourary Colonel of the Argylls, Ron Foxcroft, was also grateful for the recognition. “As Honourary Colonel and former Citizen of the Year, I am extremely proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the committed Argyll reservists, who have responded to the call, to serve, whether at home or abroad. At the same time, they have exhibited passionate, dedicated and extensive involvement in the community.”

Due to the solemn nature of this year’s recognition and the overwhelming number of requests from the community to commemorate Corporal Cirillo, the Cirillo Family and the Argylls since the tragic events, the annual gala dinner will not be held.

 

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