Jason Teakle
BRANT NEWS

One of Canada’s top military brass is coming to speak in Brantford.

Former Canadian Forces Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier will be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant in partnership with TD Bank Group on Sept. 11 during An Evening With General Rick Hillier at the Best Western Brant Park Inn.

“I had the pleasure of hearing Gen. Hillier’s keynote address at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce conference in Victoria,” Steve Portelli, past president of the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant said. “I was truly inspired. Gen. Hillier is a gifted storyteller who captivated his audience like no one I’ve seen.

“He is what leadership is all about and you can not help but be affected.”

Hillier, born in Newfoundland and Labrador, joined the Canadian Forces in 1973 and joined his first regiment in Petawawa after completing his armour officer classification training.

He then served with, and later commanded, the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Canada and Germany.

Hillier has commanded troops from the platoon to multi-national formation level in Canada, Europe, Asia and the U.S.

He has worked as a staff officer in several headquarters, first at the army level and later at the strategic level.

In 1998, Hillier was appointed as the first Canadian deputy commanding general of III Corps of the U.S. Army in Fort Hood, Texas. Two years later, Hillier assumed command of the NATO Stabilization Force’s multinational division in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 2003, Hillier was appointed commander of the army and later that year, he was selected as commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In 2005, Hillier was promoted to the position of Canadian Forces chief of the defence staff. In 2008, he joined TD Bank Group as a senior advisor.

The event begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and Hillier’s address at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $59 plus HST for chamber members and $69 plus HST for general admission.

Tickets are available by contacting Nancy Billard at the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant at 519-753-2617 ext. 25 or online at www.brantfordbrantchamber.com.