Cambridge's Dave Sopha to be granted knighthood

by Delta Wed 19 Sep 2018, 10:34 am

Cambridge's Dave Sopha to be granted knighthood

Walter Gowing writes about the latest honour for city's most famous painter

Cambridge Times
Tuesday, September 18, 2018

A Cambridge man will become a knight in the Order of St. George.

This city’s famous portrait painter, Dave Sopha, will be taken into knighthood of the historic Order of St. George in Kingston on the Sept. 29.

Among white tie and tails, some wearing medals, the popular Cambridge painter has become a celebrity in his own right.

At an investiture service at the renowned St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in downtown Kingston later this month, members of the Order of St. George will honour Sopha for his outstanding recognition of our service personnel, both military and first responders.

His contribution of spending hundreds of hours of painting to complete the 158 military members who gave their lives in service in Afghanistan, and other paintings of firefighters, police and medics, are treasures for this country to appreciate.

The faces of the 158 Canadians lost in Afghanistan are found in what is now the famous Portraits of Honour. This 58-foot long oil painting has been on display all across Canada, the United States and Europe.

In addition to the faces on the canvas, Sopha has painted 114,485 red poppies, representing every Canadian who has lost their life in the military service of Canada since the beginning of the First World War.

Grand Master of the Order of St. George, Gareth J. Green of Canada and the Americas, has stressed “the most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds, which provides support and immediate financial resources to the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Forces personnel”.

Through his paintings, Sopha has raised hundreds of dollars for the families of the military, including widows and orphans.

Patron of the Order of St. George is Gen. (retired) Rick Hillier, former chief of the defence staff of Canada. Vice patron of the order is Maj. Gen. (retired) Lewis MacKenzie.

Dave Sopha has already been recognized for his great contributions to Canada’s men and women who serve this country.

Here are just a few of his medals and awards: Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, NATO medal, Veterans Affairs Commendation, Royal Canadian Legion 150th medal, Wilfred Renner Dedication Cadet Youth Development Centre medal and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal.

Also, he has received the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow, the Kinsmen Hal Rogers Fellow and the Kiwanis Walter Zeller Fellow awards.

Walter Gowing is a lifelong Cambridge resident, author and journalist who has been to 131 countries worldwide.

Cambridge Times