Colonel Canyon joins the base

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Country music sensation George Canyon characterized his February 21 investiture as an honorary colonel at 14 Wing Greenwood as a personal triumph, one that realized a lifelong dream to be part of “the best military in the world."

The brief swearing in ceremony began with Canyon escorted into the Annapolis Officer’s mess by 14 Wing’s Commanding Officer. Close to 200 guests included local dignitaries, 14 Wing members and Canyon’s wife, Jennifer, and two children.

Wearing the blue dress uniform of the air force, Canyon saluted the flag while the national anthem was played and later expressed his appreciation and respect for those who serve their country.

“To be associated with Canada’s military is such an honour for me,” said Canyon, appointed honorary colonel to the wing last December by fellow Pictou County native, Minister of Defence Peter MacKay. The role is a long-standing military tradition which carries many responsibilities: developing, promoting and sustaining strong community ties; assisting in hosting parades and other wing functions, fostering esprit de corps and establishing and maintaining a liaison with the wing’s charities and associations. Canyon says he takes his new post seriously.

“I look forward to stepping out there and helping the Canadian public understand the job that 14 Wing Greenwood is doing worldwide.”

Speaking later, Canyon said his new title “is the best thing that I think has ever happened to me in my career. It’s far beyond anything I ever could have imagined.”

A former semi-finalist on the TV show Nashville Star, Canyon has won numerous music awards in his career, the most recent at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards, where he was voted the fan-favorite entertainer of the year.

Canyon’s recent visit to Greenwood was not his first. Last September, he performed at the base’s Wing Welcome celebration. Many years before that, he attended cadet camp at the base.

While his childhood dream of a military aviation career was dashed when he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a teenager, Canyon credits the two weeks he spent in Greenwood when he was 14 for being “an important part of me becoming a man” and for contributing “to a lot of my success.”

In welcoming Canyon to the 14 Wing family, Colonel Derek Joyce remarked “wherever you are in the world, my friend, you now share in belonging to the best wing in the air force.”