Corporal Darryl Hansen of Powell River has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, which was presented to him by Major Philippe Blanchard of the Canadian Forces in a ceremony at the Esquimalt Naval Base in Victoria, August 1, 2013.
Hansen was born and raised in Powell River. He is the son of Cynthia Hansen and the late Joe Hansen of Paradise Valley. He graduated from Max Cameron Secondary School. Hansen enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 2005 and serves with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry division.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee commemorative medal marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. It is awarded to Canadians to honour “their contributions or distinguished service to their fellow citizens, to their community and to their country.”
In his introductory remarks before the medal presentation, Warrant Officer Matt Burton spoke about the circumstances behind Hansen’s nomination for the medal. He said it had been awarded “for his dedicated service to the Canadian Forces and his community. Due to the injuries received from his deployment, he has been posted to the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) to aid in his recovery. His positive attitude is an example for his peers.”
Hansen was injured on active duty while deployed in the Panjwai District in Afghanistan in 2008. He was exposed to IED blasts, a suicide bomb and mortar fire, and sustained both a knee injury and traumatic brain injury. He was stationed in Shilo, Manitoba until August of 2012. His superior officers there commended him for faithfully attending work every day despite pain from the injuries he sustained. His positive attitude was a demonstration of his character as he recovered from his injuries. The officers stated he was a fine role model for other CF members.
Hansen was posted to the JPSU in Esquimalt in Victoria in late July 2012.
He now lives in Nanaimo with his wife Emma (nee Behr), also from Powell River, and three-year-old daughter Tianna. Tianna insisted on wearing her shiny black boots to match her father’s spit-shined army boots on the day of the ceremony. Hansen currently works at the CF Reserve Unit Base in Nanaimo.
Hansen will be attending Vancouver Island University (VIU) in September to pursue further education as he will be released from the Canadian Forces next year. He will be studying for a diploma in heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the Duncan VIU campus.
