Maj.-Gen. MacKenzie receiving Order of Ontario from Lt.-Gov. Hillary Weston.

Major-General (ret.) Lewis W. MacKenzie served in Canada's armed forces for 33 years retiring in 1993. He is world-reknowned for his work as a peacekeeper, having served nine tours in Egypt, Cyprus, Vietnam, Central America and the former Yugoslavia. His role as Chief of Staff for the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia in 1992 brought him to international prominence.

That year in Sarajevo prompted the writing of his highly regarded 1993 book, Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo, a chronicle of his peacekeeping experiences from around the world. The book led to the 1994 CBC documentary entitled A Soldier's Peace.

Today, MacKenzie is a Research Fellow at the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, and remains a sought-after commentator and speaker on world affairs.