Name/Title
2011- Original painting of "The Canadian Grenadier Guards Armoury" presented to CGG by LCol Henry Gourdji, MSC, CD on his Change of Command by Canadian / US Artist Peter G. Pereira (1962-2023)Description
2011- Original painting of "The Canadian Grenadier Guards Armoury 'Home Station' located on Plateau Mont-Royal" by Canadian / US Artist Peter G. Pereira presented to CGG by LCol Henry Gourdji, MSC, CD on his Change of Command in 2011.
ABOUT THE ARTIST and THE PAINTING:
Artist Peter G. Pereira (1962-2023) was a modern self-taught painter born in Queens, New York, USA who specializes in Commissioned paintings, live performance art, public sculpture and live computer arts. This original painting was complete in 2011 and commissioned by LCol Gourdji, MSC, CD. "The artwork is symbolic, and the artist used a two-point perspective to capture the entire round of the CGG armoury instead of painting on a flat plane. In this way the building takes on a 3-D effect and jumps out at the viewer. The Artist drew inspiration for the bricks from the individual soldiers past and came up with a post-impressionist technique. 'If you try to count the bricks on the walls, you will find you cannot... because like the souls lost in war, there are too many to count." Finally, the artist used primary colours 9violet, blue, red, green) that would essentially creep life into the building making it a living monument. In the sky, you can see the sun and moon merging together" - Artist description of the piece
ABOUT THE CGG OFFICER: LCol Henry Gourdji, MSC, CD
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Gourdji, MSC, CD was Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding of The Canadian Grenadier Guards from 2008 until 2011. He was also one of only 18 Regimental 'Commanding Officers' of The Canadian Grenadier Guards during wartime service since 1866.
Lt.-Col. Henry Gourdji, MSC, CD joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1999. Since then, Henry has been with the Air Navigation Bureau and has principally managed one of ICAO’s leading programmes, the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). In 2014, he was appointed as one of the Bureau’s Deputy Directors; responsible for the management of all monitoring and oversight activities within ICAO Member States, and reporting on their capability of meeting their international obligations to ensure effective safety oversight of the States’ civil aviation industry.
In 2011, Henry retired as Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding of The Canadian Grenadier Guards, retiring after 31 years of military reserve service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. and in civilian life was the recipient of the Flight Safety Foundation President’s Citation award for his contribution to world aviation safety. Prior to joining ICAO, he held various management positions with Transport Canada and was the Chief Executive Officer of an aviation firm in Montreal.
RECIPIENT OF THE CANADIAN MERITORIOUS SERVICE CROSS
His Meritorious Service Cross awarded on: April 4, 2018
“Henry Gourdji has had a sweeping impact on air navigation safety as a senior official at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. His creative approach to expanding the organization’s oversight program and his ability to forge partnerships among ICAO’s member states have augmented safety procedures around the world and enhanced Canada’s reputation as an international leader in the field of civil aviation.”Created By
Zarina CarlevarisCreate Date
August 18, 2022Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
October 18, 2024
