Ontario Awards Local Veteran for Community Service Excellence
November 10, 2026NORTH BAY — Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government has awarded Captain Mike Harrison, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 599 West Ferris with the Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence (OVACSE). The award recognizes veterans for exceptional and ongoing service to their communities; partners can each nominate one veteran annually.
“Our government understands the importance of recognizing local veterans for their selfless efforts to improve our community,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “Though we can never fully repay the brave men and women who have served our country, we are honoured to recognize the legacy of our veterans and their contributions to building a stronger Ontario.”
In 2025, our government launched the Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence (OVACSE), a first-of-its-kind provincial recognition program that celebrates veterans who have made significant and sustained contributions to their community through outstanding community service. The program is delivered in partnership with The Royal Canadian Legion – Ontario Provincial Command and Manitoba and Northwest Ontario Command, along with other eligible veterans’ organizations.
For the 2026 nomination year, the program was expanded to include four additional nominating organizations. Thes include Treble Victor Group, True Patriot Love Foundation, Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS), and the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP), broadening the program’s reach and impact across Ontario.
On Friday, November 6, 2026, West FERRIS Legion Branch 599 hosted an award ceremony where Captain Harrison received a certificate and a lapel pin. Branch 599 nominated Captain Mike Harrison (retired) as he dedicated his career to service, first through the Canadian Armed Forces, and subsequently through extensive volunteer work supporting veterans, their families, and communities across Northern Ontario and Canada.
Additional Information
- Ontario Launches Award to Honour Exceptional Veterans | Ontario Newsroom
- Ontario Veterans Award for Community Service Excellence