Meritorious Service Medal

• Awarded on: May 25, 1998
• Invested on: September 15, 2000

Anthony Vincent, M.S.M., Ottawa, Ont.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)

In December 1996, Anthony Vincent, then Canadian Ambassador to Peru, was held hostage by armed terrorists who had raided the Japanese Embassy in Peru. After being released by the rebels, Mr. Vincent negotiated their demands with the Peruvian government. Throughout this ordeal, he displayed outstanding courage by returning to the occupied embassy numerous times to continue talks. During public appearances, Mr. Vincent exhibited a professional and confident manner that was a credit to himself, the foreign service and the Canadian government. The hostage incident ended in April 1997 when Peruvian forces stormed the embassy.