A Canadian Forces decorated veteran who was fatally shot last year during an encounter with an RCMP emergency response team will be awarded a posthumous Memorial Cross.
Last September, Greg Matters was killed on his property outside of Prince George ending a 30-hour standoff with police.
Matters suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and the family has said he did not have a firearm at the time of his death.
Veterans Affairs Canada recently wrote to Matters' mother stating: "In recognition of your great personal loss, we are pleased to award two people the Memorial Cross."
The letter arrived less than two days before what would have been Greg's 41st birthday today.
Tracey Matters, sister of the deceased veteran, said that she and her mother will be honoured to receive the medals.
She lives in Australia and hopes to make it back to Prince George in September for the anniversary of his death and is requesting that the family be presented with the medals at that time.
Also known as the Silver Cross, the Memorial Cross is awarded to next of kin of any member of the Canadian Forces who loses his or her life in active service, including peacekeeping duties.
"Our family has been devastated by the loss of my brother Greg who was a proud Canadian and had spent 15 years serving our country in the Canadian Forces," says Tracey Matters.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO), the civilian-based watchdog that looks into police involved deaths and serious injuries, reportedly hopes to have an investigation of the incident completed by the end of this month.
"My brother was a loving member of our family who was known for his intelligence, generosity, kindness and warmth," Tracey Matters said. "He was deployed to Bosnia, came home injured and suffered significantly with post traumatic stress disorder."
He was undergoing treatment for PTSD through video conferencing with Dr.Greg Passey at the Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Vancouver at the time of his death.
Passey delivered the eulogy at Greg's funeral last year stating that Matters' story had touched his life and that he had a clear will to recover with hopes for the future and for a bigger and better life. "He was a man of principles, justice, strength of character and conviction," Passey said.
"Greg volunteered for the Canadian Forces because he wanted to serve his country and to help those who were disadvantaged and unable to defend themselves."
He was keen to start his university studies so that he could help other veterans with PTSD.
A private birthday barbeque will be held tomorrow in memory of Greg Matters with family and close friends at the family farm south of Prince George. Greg's favourite 'tuxedo' cakes will be served and there will be a display with fireworks he bought before he was killed. His mother also plans to release helium balloons with messages in them with the hope that one of them will reach his sister in Australia.
