Rick Hillier

Template:Short description Rick J. Hillier (born June 30, 1955) is a retired Canadian Forces general, who served as the chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) from 4 February 2005 to 1 July 2008. He previously served as the chief of the Land Staff from 30 May 2003 until his promotion to CDS.

From 23 November 2020 to 31 March 2021, Hillier oversaw the province of Ontario's vaccination task-force in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.

Early life and education

Born in 1955 to Jack and Myrtle Hillier in Campbellton, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, he was the fourth of six children and the only boy. He attended Greenwood High School and graduated in June 1972.

Hillier intended to join the military early, at 16. After receiving his father's permission, Hillier submitted his application to join the Canadian Forces in Spring 1972. He initially wanted to be a fighter pilot, but failed the medical examination. He then applied to join the Canadian Forces as an officer cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada but was rejected. At a similar time, he applied to and was accepted by Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Hillier chose to attend Memorial University, studying biology. While at Memorial University, his application to become an officer cadet was accepted, but he chose to continue studying in Newfoundland as part of the Regular Officer Training Program.

While studying he met his wife, Joyce and they were married in Lower Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland.

Early military career

In January 1998, as commander of 2 CMBG, he led Operation Recuperation, the Canadian Forces' intervention in the paralyzing ice storm in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. He went on to command the Multi-National Division (South-West) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He was named chief of the land staff, commanding Land Force Command, on May 30, 2003. He is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. In 2003, when he was appointed chief of the land staff, he said, "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail." After serving as chief of the land staff and before being appointed chief of the defence staff, he commanded the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from February 9 to August 12, 2004.

Chief of the Defence Staff

On February 4, 2005, Hillier became chief of the defence staff. At the change-of-command ceremony he repeated his call, more broadly, for increased military funding. "In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with Prime Minister Paul Martin and Minister of National Defence Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets." Upon his appointment, he became the highest-ranking military officer from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Uncle Rick

Hillier was a popular CDS. When speaking to troops on parade, he would frequently call them into a hollow circle around him rather than delivering a generic speech from a podium while they stood to attention. At briefings, Hillier asked every person what they thought about a situation at hand – regardless of their rank, language, or nationality.

Media criticism

Hillier was known for his plain-spoken language and focus on frontline capabilities. Early in his term as CDS, he drew criticism from the media when he called terrorists "detestable murderers and scumbags". He went further, saying "we're not the public service of Canada. We're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."

Resignation

On April 15, 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on July 1, 2008.

Hillier was subsequently appointed as chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, effective July 3, 2008.

Post-military

Public speaking

Upon retirement in 2008, Hillier joined the public speaking arena and developed his own speaking agency.

Working with a number of large corporate clients, Hillier's speaking detailed the experiences of troops under his command, emphasizing the theme of "leadership in tough times."

Project Hero

In 2009, Hillier co-founded Project Hero, a scholarship program for the children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while on active military duty. The Children of Deceased Veterans – Education Assistance Act verification is used to verify Project Hero eligibility. The process is administered by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Academic

On August 14, 2008, Telus announced that Hillier was appointed as chair of Telus Atlantic Canada Community Board. Hillier said, “Telus is a company that gets stuff done both in business and in the community – I like that. They are entrusting their philanthropic efforts in Atlantic Canada to people who live and work here. I'm excited about the opportunity to help Telus engage with the Atlantic Canada communities that are so very important to me.”

TD Bank

Hillier announced on September 3, 2008, he will be working at an Ottawa office for the TD Bank to support initiatives that enhance the client and customer experience and to assist the bank's ongoing leadership development and training activities.

Provincial Aerospace

On June 16, 2009, while attending the 48th International Paris Air Show, Provincial Aerospace announced that Hillier will join the company’s Advisory Board.

Politics

Since his retirement from the military Hillier's name has been mentioned as a leadership candidate for several political parties. Hillier's name was mentioned by political pundits as a possible successor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, during Harper's minority Conservative government. When Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams retired from politics in 2010, Hillier's name was brought up as a possible successor to the Progressive Conservative premier. In August 2011, his name was brought up once again as a potential Liberal leader in his home province, when leader Yvonne Jones resigned. Hillier has stated on several occasions however that he has no interest in politics.

COVID-19 vaccine task-force for Ontario

In November 2020, Hillier was appointed as the chair of the vaccine distribution taskforce for Ontario by Premier Doug Ford in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. Hillier leads the task-force in its rollout and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada, distributed federally and administered by the province. After the Christmas and holiday season in December, 2020, Hillier formally apologized to Ontarians for halting vaccine administration for a number of days, calling the move a "mistake". Hillier left the position March 31, 2021. He was replaced with Homer Tien as operation lead.

Honours

In 2011, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada "for his service to our nation, which has inspired pride in our Canadian Forces". In December 2013, it was announced that Hillier would be appointed to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador by Lieutenant Governor Frank Fagan during a ceremony in February 2014.

Ribbon bars of General (Ret'd) RJ Hillier OC, CMM, ONL, MSC, CD Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt

Ribbon	Description	Notes
File:CAN Order of Canada Officer ribbon.svg	Order of Canada (OC)	Officer 4 October 2012
File:Order of Military Merit (Canada) ribbon (CMM).jpg	Order of Military Merit (CMM)	Commander 1 September 2001
File:Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg	Order of St John (O.StJ)	Officer 2005
File:Order Newfoundland Labrador ribbon bar.svg	Order of Newfoundland and Labrador (ONL)	Member 2013
File:CAN Meritorious Service Cross (military division) ribbon.svg	Meritorious Service Cross (MSC)	24 September 2001
File:General Campaign Star Ribbon.png	General Campaign Star	South West Asia
File:Special Service Medal Ribbon.png	Special Service Medal
File:CPSM Ribbon.png	Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal	30 Days Service on a United Nations or International Peacekeeping Mission
File:UN UNPROFOR Medal ribbon.svg	United Nations Medal	90 Days Service on Peacekeeping Mision Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars
File:NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar v2.svg	NATO Medal	With "ISAF" Clasp 30 Days Service on Nato Mission in Afghanistan
File:Canada125 ribbon.png	125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal	1992
File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	2002 Canadian Version of this Medal
File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012 Canadian Version of this Medal
File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with two bars.svg	Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)	With 2 Clasps 32 Years Service in the Canadian Forces
File:SCM ribbon.png	Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan	27 May 2005
File:ACM ribbon.png	Alberta Centennial Medal	24 March 2005
File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Commander.svg	Order of Orange-Nassau	Commander 25 October 2008 Kingdom of the Netherlands
File:Us legion of merit officer rib.png	Legion of Merit	Officer 24 February 2001 United States of America
File:Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service.png	Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service	17 August 2002 United Kingdom

Scholastic

University degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree
Template:Flagu	1975	Memorial University of Newfoundland	Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)

Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships

Location	Date	School	Position
Template:Flagu	2008–2012	Memorial University of Newfoundland	Chancellor

Honorary degrees

Location	Date	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
Template:Flagu	13 November 2009	Royal Military College of Canada	Doctor of Military Science (D.Sc.Mil)
Template:Flagu	11 December 2010	University of Calgary	Doctorate
Template:Flagu	29 May 2013	Memorial University of Newfoundland	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

Awards

Location	Date	Institution	Award
Template:Flagu	2008	Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph	Lincoln Alexander Outstanding Leader Award

Works

• Hillier, Rick (2010) A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War; hardcover, 552 pages; published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; Template:ISBN.
• Hillier, Rick (2010) Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders; hardcover, 272 pages; published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd; Template:ISBN.

External links

• GeneralHillier.com, his personal website
• Interview with Rick Hillier on The Hour
• Interview with Rick Hillier on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (starts at 9:45), recorded December 1, 2010
• CBC News Indepth background Career timeline (CBC)
• "Hillier gets combat-ready for business world", Globe & Mail, July 6, 2008
• Gowlings press release, July 7, 2008
• Canada's 25 Most Renowned Military Leaders