Some of the positions I held were: Pharmacist at Victoria Hospital, London, Pharmacist at Westminster Hospital, London, Food and Drug Inspector for the Department of Health and Welfare, Chief Pharmacist at Sydenham District Hospital, Wallaceburg, High School Teacher at John McGregor Secondary School, Chatham. I must have made a mark, as when I retired, several students wanted to do a write-up in the year-book, and two were selected to do it by the Staff advisor.
Education is to my way of thinking, a continuous process. One has to keep in mind that there is always something else to learn..... While working at Sydenham Hospital, I obtained a diploma in Hospital Departmental Management from the Canadian Hospital Association. When Hospital Pharmacy did not offer me any more challenges, I decided to change courses once again. I attended the University of Toronto where I obtained a High School Teaching Certificate, and qualified for a Bachelor degree in Education, which diploma I never bothered to pick up! From the University in St. Catherine I obtained a Diploma in Theatre Arts. Looking for more things to do, I decided to take more courses at the University of Windsor. There, in 1977, I graduated with a Master's degree in Education.
My extra curricular activities were varied. I joined Scouting at the Lyceum Group in Malta and held several ranks both in Malta and in Canada. I worked with every section of the movement except for Beavers. I hold the Wood Badge in Pack [Wolf Cubs], Troop [Boy Scouts], Company [Venturers], Crew [Rover Scouts], and in Service Team. [I don't know of too many Scouters, other than possibly professional ones, who have Wood Badge in Five sections]. I served on the National Team at both the Ontario Jamboree in 1968, and the Canadian Jamboree in 1971. In 1997, I received the Scout Association of Malta 50th Bronze Cross Anniversary Commemorative Medal [several years late, since apparently having emigrated to Canada, they could not find my address!].
I was active in St. John Ambulance both in Malta and in Canada. I held both the Instructor's and the Examiner's certificates. I was a Civilian Instructor for both the Air Cadets and the Army Cadets in Chatham. For several years, I was the Secretary of the St John Ambulance Board in Chatham. Due to health reasons, I resigned from these activities.
For several years, both in Malta and in Canada, I was involved with Amateur Theatre. I loved this aspect of my life as it relaxed me. I often reminisce about it, and now when we go to see a stage show, I am always looking with my critical eye.
Civic duties included being a trutee or board member of several committees, including: St. John Ambulance [Kent County], Wallaceburg Library Board, "Chatham Presents", Drug Awareness Council for Kent, Reward and Recognition Committee at St. Joseph's Hospital, and several others. I am active in Church affairs, and at present I am a Eucharistic Minister and a lector at my Parish, and a Eucharistic Minister at the hospital and Canadiana Nursing Home.
I am member of the Knights of Columbus, having held several positions in Blessed Sacrament Council #1412 and in St. Ursula's Council #9551. From 2000 to 2003, I was the District Deputy of Chatham-Kent District 16, of the Knights of Columbus. I am a member of the Fourth Degree and have held the position of Comptroller, Scribe, and Newsletter Editor of Father James Assembly #0867 for several years. When I was a member of Council #1412, my family was chosen as the Family of the Month for June 1991.
Over the years I took part in several events. I was on the Staff at the Ontario Scout Jamboree in 1968 in Milton, and on National Staff at the Canadian Jamboree [CJ-71] on Prince Edward Island, Canada. One of the highlights of my activities came in 1993, when I was a chaperone for a group of youth from my Parish during World Youth Day, held in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. While there, I had occasion to meet a group of Scouts from Malta under the leadership of Scouter Joe Mizzi, whom I had not seen for over forty years. During one of the events of World Youth Day, I had the pleasure of meeting in person, a very talented young Irish Singer, DANA, to whom I gave a Rose-for-Life [These cloth emblems are distributed by the Knights of Columbus to remind people to respect life at all stages]
My biography appeared in several issues of
MALTA WHO'S WHO
DICTIONARY OF INTERNATIONAL BIOGRAPHY, and
200 MEN OF ACHIEVEMENT.
