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Colonel Gary Chris Solar, MSM, CD – President

Colonel Solar served as the Commanding Officer, HLCol. HCol, of the Fort Garry Horse, Commander of the Manitoba Militia District and retired as the Deputy Commander of Prairie Area in 1989.

On completion of studies at (MIT), the Manitoba Institute of Technology, he was promoted to Operating Engineer for the City Pools. Later, he was appointed Manager of City Centre/Fort Rouge Branch for the Parks and Recreation Department, from where he retired in 1990.

He was Chairman of the Sports Federation of Manitoba, served as national sports member of the Canada Games Council, Western Canada Games Council, Manitoba Games Council, the Sports Development Advisory Committee, Advisory Committee of the University of Manitoba School of Physical Education, and later appointed President of the Sports Federation of Canada, Secretary General of IANCS, the International Association of National Confederations of Sport (America’s Region) and was Canada’s delegate at the IANCS international conference in Switzerland.

He served as Special Advisor on Military Affairs to the Manitoba government for seven years, and earlier as advisor to four of Winnipeg’s Mayors. In 2012, he served on the Board of Directors of the Center for Asian Crime Studies (CACS) in Washington DC. In 2014 he was appointed Director of Operations for the Center for Crime and Terrorism Studies (CCTS).

Gary is semi-retired and spends his time with a host of volunteer agencies. Some of these are: former President and Provincial Commissioner of St. John Ambulance (Manitoba Council), President of the Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation, representative on the Hospital Wellness Institute campaign, Chair of the Tri Hospital Lottery (Seven Oaks, Misericordia and Victoria Community hospitals), Director, Royal Commonwealth Society and President of the Intrepid Society for approximately 10 years. He lectures on democracy, military history, espionage and the “Man called Intrepid”.

Don Finkbeiner – 1st Vice President

Don grew up in Winnipeg and attended high school at St. James Collegiate. In 1968 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Manitoba. After post-graduate studies in Geography at the U of M, he acquired a position with Sunflight Holidays in Winnipeg.

In the late 1970s, Don joined McDonald Travel and created a sports group department which specialized in organizing recreational/oldtimers’ hockey and high school volleyball and basketball team tours of Europe. In 2001, Don formed Heartland International Travel and Tours which concentrated on incoming tourism to Manitoba including transportation and tour coordination for conferences and specialty groups. Additionally, he focused on tours to Churchill to see Polar Bears. Don received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Tourism Winnipeg Awards of Distinction.  

On a personal level, he enjoys watching all world class sport competitions and events and was a completive curler from 1958 to 1988.

Robert Poirier, CD, MA, psc – 2nd Vice President

Robert Poirier was born and raised in Kenora, Ontario. He joined the Army Reserve while in secondary school, and from there joined the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery as an officer. His service included regimental duty in Canada, instructing at the Royal Canadian School of Artillery at Camp Gagetown, command of a battery in Germany, Chief Instructor in Gunnery at the Air Defence Artillery School at Camp Chatham, New Brunswick, and staff appointments at Mobile Command Headquarters, St. Hubert, Quebec and at National Defence Headquarters.

Upon retirement in Winnipeg after 29 years of regular service he joined the Army Reserve, again, and retired from the position of Commander, 38 Canadian Brigade Group in 2010. Upon leaving the regular army he worked for two decades in municipal administration around Winnipeg, was the managing director of the Cartier Regional Water Co-operative for 12 years and owned and operated a company providing emergency management services to municipalities and commercial clients.

His education includes the Regular Officer Training Plan (Royal Roads Military College and Royal Military College), graduating with a BA (Hons) in History; and a Master of Arts in History from the Royal Military College; the year-long Instructor-in-Gunnery Course; Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College; and the British Army Staff College, Camberley. He enjoys reading and writing in the field of military history and is an avid cyclist.

Alan Parkin – Past President

Alan is currently president of the Intrepid Society Inc. and a board member of the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society.  In addition, he is a past board member of the Military History Society of Manitoba, The Royal Military Institute of Manitoba, The Manitoba Cycling Association and the Manitoba Runners Association, for which he was presented with a Builders Award. 

Alan is a former accountant and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).  He was instrumental in bringing to Winnipeg in 2023, the film “Gino”, which told the story of a young Italian orphan who was rescued by Canadian soldiers in war-torn Italy in WW2. In 2024, he also helped bring “Fallen Heroes” to Canadian theatres–the moving story of the origins of the Ramp Ceremony in Afghanistan, which precedes the return to Canada of our fallen soldiers.  He is a serious student of history, with a particular emphasis on World War 1 and World War 2, as well as a growing interest in Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan.  Alan’s interests include cycling, reading, gardening, carpentry, quality olive oil and his granddaughter, Ellie.  He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Dwight Macaulay – Past President

Dwight Macaulay is a Past President of the Intrepid Society. A native of Killarney, Manitoba, he attended Brandon University (Science) followed by a career in radio and television news broadcasting before joining the Manitoba Government in 1980.

He served with the Manitoba Government as Director of Radio and Television Services and Director of Information Services which handled all government news releases, news conferences and radio and television services. Additionally, he was also Director of the Citizens’ Inquiry Services, a public information easy-access service.

In 1998 Dwight was selected to be the Chief of Protocol for the Government of Manitoba. As Chief of Protocol he organized and worked on several Royal visits – including those of Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, The Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson) and several additional members of the Royal family including Lord and Lady Selkirk, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and also a Royal visit by the King and Queen of Sweden.

He serves or served as the President of the now-defunct Winnipeg Press Club (the oldest Press Club in Canada and third oldest in the world), Vice President of the Manitoba Chapter of the Royal Commonwealth Society, the board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the St. John’s Ambulance, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Manitoba Music Experience. He also serves on the Senate of the Fort Garry Horse regiment. He has served as the Citizenship Ceremony Presiding Officer for many years.

Robert Harold Vandewater BA, KStJ. GcLJ. CPA. Hon., CD. – Treasurer

Born in Kitchener ON. in 1941. Bob graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1964 and joined Wood Gundy’ an investment firm in Toronto.

He has served on numerous boards including: St. John Ambulance, Manitoba, Chair and on the national board as audit chair; MB. chair of the Canadian Forces Liasson Council of MB and their National Audit Chair; The Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Chair of its Western Conduct Committee, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; Governor of Commissionaires Manitoba; Life member of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Association and past Honorary Colonel; and The Royal Military Institute of Manitoba.

He is a retired board member of the institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba, member of the Manitoba Health Services Commission serving as Chair of the Construction and Compensation Committees.

Bob is the current treasurer of the Intrepid Society and has been serving in a financial role with it for about 15 years. Bob was a member of St Charles Golf and Country Club and is a past president of the Manitoba Club.

Dr. Ruth Swan; Ph.D – Recording Secretary

Dr. Ruth Swan has a Ph.D. in Indigenous History. She specialized in the history of the Metis in the Red River Valley but also studied Indigenous hIstory in Canada and the USA. She has published articles on Metis and Indigenous People in Manitoba, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Dr. Swan appeared as an expert witness in a Metis fishing rights case in Saskatchewan. She is retired and lives in Winnipeg. Dr. Swan is currently a member of Amnesty International and the Scandinavian Cultural Centre in Winnipeg. The latter fostered her interest in Sir William Stephenson, an Icelandic-Canadian who grew up as part of the Icelandic community in Winnipeg.

Dale M. Watts, CD; Ph.D – Director

Dr. Dale Watts holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a teaching Certificate in Adult Education, a Masters in Public Affairs, and an Inter-Disciplinary Doctorate, the latter two degrees with the University of Manitoba.

Following university graduation, Dale accepted a teaching position at RRCC.  During his 41+-year career with RRC, he was an instructor, educational development officer, training consultant to industry, program coordinator and Dean of Trades and Technology programs. As Dean, he sat on numerous local and national academic and vocational committees, councils and associations He retired in 2013 as the Interim Vice-President Academic and Research at RRC.

LCol Watts began his military reserve career as an Officer Cadet with the 38^th Battery, 26th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in Portage La Prairie while attending university. He enrolled in the Militia Area Prairie Intelligence Section in January 1974 and served as Officer Commanding from 1977 to 1983, at which time he re-mustered to 17 (Winnipeg) Service Battalion.

He served as Commanding Officer of that unit from 1986 to 1990 retiring as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 17 (Winnipeg) Service Battalion (2009 to 2012), re-appointed (2013 to 2016) and appointed Honorary Colonel of 38 Service Battalion (2018 to 2021). He has been Chair of The Service Battalion Senate, Inc. since 2009. He is also Chair of The CSS Museum Board and volunteers at the CSS Museum at Minto Armouries weekly. He completed a certificate program in Museum Practices in 2015.

LCol Watts was a former national President of the Canadian Intelligence and Security Association (2000-02), is board member of The Intrepid Society, on the Board of Governors of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires and a member of the Canadian Military Intelligence Association (CMIA), Winnipeg Chapter, as well as a Board member with the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba.

Lois Mallet – Director

Lois Mallet is a Canadian Forces veteran’s widow who has lived in various communities across Canada for nearly fifty years.  In each community she was fully involved with teaching in schools and in many community activities.

Lois was involved in the Military Family Resource Centre in Winnipeg for over thirty years and was Chairperson of the Board of Directors for nearly four years.  She strongly believes military families are the strength beside the unform. One of her  proudest accomplishments has been the presentation of a plaque honouring the contribution of military families, which is mounted on the Wall of Military Honour in the Manitoba Legislature.

Lois has sung in and directed many choirs across Canada.  Presently, she sings in three choirs.  She has been President of the Irish Myst Choir for the past six years.  This choir goes to senior and community centres to entertain. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Irish Association of Manitoba.

Lois has  served on the Board of Directors for Winnipeg West Electoral District Association for the past 13 years and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Intrepid Society honouring the contribution of one of our county’s great citizens…Sir William Stevenson, who was a confidant of Sir Winston Churchill and was  instrumental in ending WW 2.

Her greatest accomplishments are her two daughters and two granddaughters.

Bert Page – Director

Bert joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 23 Nov1960 as a Flight Cadet and began Basic Aircrew Training at RCAF Stn Centralia. In June 1962, after completing the Advance Phase at RCAF Stn Winnipeg, he was awarded his Radio Officer Wings, a Queen’s Commission, and promoted to Flying Officer.

Subsequently, Bert’s operational flying in an Argus Maritime patrol aircraft against Soviet conventional and nuclear submarines and surface ships during the Cold War occurred from bases in Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Portugal and Hawaii while he served with 415, 404, and 407 Squadrons.

During 1967-68, Bert was assigned to the Iceland Defense Force at NAS Keflavik as the 404 Sqn and Maritime Command Opcon Liaison Officer. In1971, he was posted to the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre (ADAC) in Halifax as the Operations Officer and later the Executive Officer. He worked closely with the US Navel Intelligence Center in Washington DC in the development of Acoustic Intelligence.

Bert was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. Additionally, he designed the Hands and Eagle Memorial to the Support Personnel at CFB Winnipeg and the VP International Memorial at CFB Greenwood erected to honour the crew members of land-based Maritime Patrol Aircraft who lost their lives in the performance of their flying duties.

Bert and his wife Gerri donated the Bader bailout picture to the Intrepid Society and the trilogy aircraft prints on display in the Billy Bishop Building atrium. His hobbies are gardening and helping the Intrepid Society create model displays related to Sir William Stephenson.

Carolyn Rickey – Director

Carolyn retired from her public relations company, Cedars Communications Services Inc.  She is an award-winning public relations professional possessing proven organization, planning, community relations, development and sponsorship skills.  Her over forty years in public relations gave her extensive business experience with skills and expertise in both the profit and not-for-profit fields in Manitoba.

She is a firm believer in life-long learning, and the value of volunteering in the community.  She currently serves on five Boards of Directors and volunteers for other organizations, such as the Friends of the Public Library, the St. Andrews Society of Winnipeg and Dead of Winter. 

James G. Oborne – Director

A graduate of McGill University, James G. Oborne UE worked 12 years each for two national Investment Dealers in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg before setting up his own company to manage a large pension fund and venture capital assets. 

Mr. Oborne served on over 30 boards of directors, public and private, in the above three cities and in Calgary, Vancouver and Anchorage, Alaska. He chaired several board committees and was designated as an Investment Counsel with the Securities Commission. He is a long-serving member and Board member of the Intrepid Society.