Unit Appointments - Honourary Lieutenant Colonel
11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael D. McKay CD, AdeC

Lieutenant Colonel Michael McKay was born in Kitchener, Ontario. He moved to Guelph at the age of six.

Lieutenant Colonel McKay joined the 29th Battery of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA in April of 1965 as a Gunner. On completion of the basic Gunnery Course he was transferred to the 16th Battery to train as an Artillery Technician. In the summer of 1966, he attended CFTA Niagara-On-The-Lake completing the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Course. Lieutenant Colonel McKay was subsequently promoted to Bombardier early in 1967. In the fall of 1967, he applied for and was accepted for Officer Training and was enrolled as a Provisional Second Lieutenant. Upon completion of qualifying courses at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa he was commissioned in September of 1968, transferred to the 43rd Battery and appointed Gun Position Officer (GPO). In the spring of 1971, he served as a GPO with the Allied Command Europe (ACE) Mobile Force on attachment in Germany. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant in January of 1973, serving in this capacity for almost two years. Lieutenant Colonel McKay attended the Major Qualifying Course in August of 1976, was promoted Major in September 1978, and appointed Battery Commander of the 16th Battery. From September 1979 to August 1981, he was attached to Headquarters, Hamilton Militia District as Staff Officer 2 (SO2) Operations. Upon his return to the Regiment he was appointed Battery Commander 29th Battery.

In October 1983, he was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer. He attended the Militia Command and Staff College in July 1986. In December of 1986 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed Commanding Officer of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. He gave up command in May of 1990 on transfer to FMC HQ (Army Headquarters) St. Hubert, Quebec where he served as Senior Staff Officer, Reserve Operations. Two years later he was transferred to Land Forces Central Area HQ as Senior Staff Officer Artillery. He retired from military service in May of 1994.

On May 11, 1982, Colonel The Honourable John Black Aird, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario appointed him Aide de Camp. In September 1985, the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario reappointed Lieutenant Colonel McKay as Aide de Camp, a position that he has continued to hold for each successive Lieutenant Governor up to the present day.

Lieutenant Colonel McKay is a recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD), as well as the Canada 125 medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award presented by The Honourable James Bartleman. He received the Colonel Commandant’s Commendation September 18, 2004 from Major-General J. A. MacInnis, CMM, MSC, CD for his continuing generous support to 11th Field Regiment, The Royal Canadian Artillery Association and to The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery as a whole. He is a member of the Regimental Senate, a Life Member and past President of the Royal Canadian Artillery Association where he is currently a member of the Advisory Council (Trustee). He is currently Executive Director for the Artillery Support Group of Guelph.

In February 2006, Lieutenant Colonel McKay was appointed Honourary Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery by the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Gordon O’Connor.

In civilian life, Lieutenant Colonel McKay commenced his business career working as a Process Development Engineer in the molten metal industry traveling extensively throughout Canada. Special projects necessitated frequent travel to the United States as well as to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. He was a member of both the Canadian and American Institutes of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. He is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of MDM Insurance Services Inc. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) and is a member and graduate of the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning. He is a Health Insurance Associate (HIA), an Associate of the International Claims Association (ALHC), a Managed Health Care Professional (MHP), Advanced Trustee Management Standards (ATMS), and a member of the Independent Financial Brokers of Canada.

In November 2005, Lieutenant Colonel McKay was elected Chairman of the Health Industry Electronic Commerce Association (HIEC) and he continued to serve as Chair for 2006 and 2007.

His past community service includes work as a volunteer case worker for the Guelph Credit and Debt Council. He has served as director and president of this same organization. He also served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Guelph Wellington. He assists with fund raising for various charities and other worthy causes.

In 2006, Lieutenant Colonel McKay was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Guelph Police Service.

In 2008, Lieutenant Colonel McKay was appointed to the RCA Heritage Council.

Lieutenant Colonel McKay resides in Guelph and has two adult daughters, Stacy and Lee, as well as three grandchildren, Braden, Charlotte and Michael.