Military Surgeon Honours CAF with a Painting

Left to right – Chief Warrant Officer Morissette, Lieutenant-Colonel O’Brien, and Lieutenant-Colonel Currie (the artist). The inscription on the bottom of the canvas reads ‘An enduring reminder of the extraordinary contributions and efforts made by the entire Health Services team throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic’.

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The Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) in Esquimalt will soon become home for a one-of-a-kind commemorative artwork.

Created by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Currie, Maritime Forces Pacific Formation Surgeon, the painting acknowledges the work done by Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) units in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is meant for each and every one of you to really commemorate the outstanding work that you’ve done,” said Brigadier General (BGen) Scott Malcolm during the live-streamed unveiling on June 27 at the CFHS Group Headquarters at Carling Campus in Ottawa.

The painting was reproduced into more than 70 commemorative prints, each to hang at CFHS units and clinics across Canada and internationally.

Throughout the pandemic, the Esquimalt clinic worked towards preventing infections through mass vaccine campaigns, diagnosing infections through testing, limiting spread through contact tracing, and treating ill military personnel.

The painting was commissioned by the Surgeon General, Major-General Marc Bilodeau, and the Health Services Divisional Commander, BGen Malcolm. The original was donated during the broadcast to the Commanding Officer of the Medical Unit BC, Lieutenant-Colonel A.J. O’Brien and Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Fred Morissette.

Funding to produce the 70 archival quality prints was made through the Senior Executive Appointment Grant.