Join Vanessa Kennedy of the Barrie Native Friendship Centre and watch a Skype presentation with Major (Ret'd) Bob Crane on the important contributions of the Indigenous people in military service.
Major (Ret'd) Bob Crane is a proud member of the Siksika (Blackfoot) First Nation, located near Calgary, Alberta. He is a retired Major with an extensive military career in the Canadian Forces where he received numerous medals and decorations.
Joining the armed forces in 1970, Mr. Crane’s early career specialized in Signals Intelligence and Electronic Intelligence, taking him into eastern and northern Canada as well as naval duty in the U.S. In later years, his role as Officer Commanding for numerous squadrons took him overseas into Israel/Syria, Iran/Iraq and the Gulf War. Through his extensive work in the military, his decorations also include the Special Service Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the Aboriginal Veterans Medal. Upon return from his service from the Gulf War, Mr. Crane was presented with a commendation by the city of Calgary for his Gulf War experience and a Warrior’s Headdress by his nation for his military service. He was the senior serving Aboriginal in the Canadian Forces when he retired in 1999.
After completing his military career Mr. Crane became a Senior Manager, Business Development specializing in Communications, Information Systems Operations and Maintenance for a major western modular construction group where he worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan. He then became the firm’s Indigenous Economic Development Officer throughout Eastern and Northern Canada.
More recently, Mr. Crane wrote and instructed Aboriginal Awareness for an Ottawa firm where he also counseled Aboriginal youth who are working towards a military career. For his work on behalf of Aboriginal Veterans, Mr. Crane was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Mr. Crane lives in Cumberland, Ontario.
---
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit people of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service to our country. The rate of Indigenous participation in Canada’s military efforts over the years has been impressive. These determined volunteers were often forced to overcome many challenges to serve in uniform, from learning a new language and adapting to cultural differences, to having to travel great distances from their remote communities just to enlist.
Visit Veteran's Affairs Canada to learn more of our shared history.
Our Painswick Branch is located in the south end of Barrie, near the corner of Big Bay Point Road and Yonge Street. The building and facilities are fully accessible. Enjoy the bright and sunny reading lounge, use our complimentary wifi, experiment with technology and maker tools, or book a room for your next event.
