Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2003-05-26
Invested on: 2003-12-05
Willard McWilliams, M.S.M., Navan, Ontario
Wyatt McWilliams, M.S.M., Navan, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
In July 2002, prairie farmers faced one of their most devastating droughts, which led to a severe shortage of feed for livestock. In order to help their counterparts in need, Willard McWilliams and his son Wyatt spearheaded the Hay West campaign. Not only did they rally more than 1,800 producers from eastern Canada to donate their excess hay, but they also garnered support from railway companies, federal and provincial governments, Canadian citizens and businesses to contribute to their project. Thanks to the McWilliams’ compassion and determination, some 110,000 tons of the much-needed hay, as well as equipment, food and money, were shipped in a matter of weeks to farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan.