Colonel from Tsawwassen receives Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

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The Delta Optimist, September 21, 2012 Delta-Richmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay presented a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Friday to Tsawwassen resident Col. Rob Roy MacKenzie at a special ceremony in the House of Commons.

MacKenzie spent his high school years in Richmond and graduated from UBC in 1989.

He began his service in the Canadian Forces with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and transferred to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry following completion of his degree.

During his time in the regular army, he deployed on several United Nations operational tours, including Cyprus, Guatemala and El Salvador.

MacKenzie held many command and staff appointments and returned to Vancouver in 1999. He transferred back to the Army Reserve in 2000 and joined the Vancouver Police Department.

He commanded the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada from 2005 to 2008. More recently, he deployed twice to Afghanistan, in 2009 to Kandahar and in 2011 to Kabul as the senior advisor to the Afghan Border Police.

In the Vancouver Police Department, he was part of the emergency response team during the 2010 Olympics.

He is currently the Commander of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group and lives in Tsawwassen with his wife and teenage children.

"Col. MacKenzie has served Her Majesty and his community with distinction in the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, as commander of the Seaforth Highlanders and now as commander of the Army Reserves 39 Canadian Brigade Group and as a member of the Vancouver Police Department," said Findlay.

"This award of the Queen's Jubilee Medal to Col. MacKenzie is a fitting tribute to Her Majesty's 60 years of duty and service to Canada as our Queen."

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