Honourable senators, as Canadians turn their attention to Canada’s North and defence of our territory, the Rangers are in our line of sight. Yukon Rangers have a 100-year history in the territory. They are a diverse population, inclusive and welcoming. The Whitehorse Ranger group has a waiting list to join.

Our home in the North is more than the coast that one usually envisions of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and the boundary between the U.S. and Canada in the Beaufort Sea and the Yukon. There is also a nearly 2,500-kilometre land boundary between Alaska and the Yukon that, in the words of Robert Service, is “unpeopled and still,” for the most part, if one doesn’t think about weather balloons.

The Rangers regularly patrol this land boundary, sometimes with the RCMP. Yukoners are grateful for our Rangers. I was proud to recognize the service of some of our Rangers, presenting the King Charles III’s Coronation Medals to eight of them over the last few months throughout the Yukon.

Honourable senators, these Rangers and many Yukoners gathered recently to honour one of their own. On June 13, which also happens to be the one hundred and twenty-seventh birthday of the Yukon, Lieutenant-Colonel T.A. Hanes, Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, based at the Joint Task Force North, or JTFN, in Yellowknife and Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army, joined Yukoners at the Whitehorse Cadet Training Centre, Camp Boyle, to honour Ranger Master Corporal Richard Newell.

Born February 24, 1940, in Oshawa, Ontario, Richard Newell enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, or CAF, on September 13, 1957, in Toronto as an administrative clerk. In 1963, while posted to 1 S.S.M. Battery, he deployed to Germany. With Canada’s Armed Forces, Richard Newell worked in a number of capacities from nuclear-capable units to supporting NATO operations; he has travelled throughout the country.

In 1987, he joined the Carcross Yukon Ranger Patrol and has over 20 documented Ranger exercises, awarding him the Special Service Medal given to CAF members for “taking part in activities and operations under exceptional circumstances.”

On this occasion, Ranger Richard Newell received the Canadian Forces’ Decoration, or CD, awarded for 12 years of service. A clasp is awarded for every additional 10 years of good conduct. Until this ceremony, only four individuals had received their fifth clasp denoting 62 years of service. The others? The Queen Mother; His Late Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent; and the late Air Commodore Leonard Joseph Birchall. Richard Newell made history as the fifth honoured, second still living and only recipient continuing to serve.

It was truly an honour to join Rangers from throughout the Yukon and Atlin, British Columbia, distinguished guests of the Canadian Forces and Richard Newell’s family to witness the presentation of this award.

To Master Corporal Newell and to the Rangers in the Yukon and throughout Canada, thank you for your service. Shäw níthän, mahsi’cho, gùnáłchîsh.