The Thunderbird is officially adopted as the insignia of the Security Branch (later renamed the Military Police Branch).

Read more about the history behind the selection of the Thunderbird here. 

​LCol William John McCullough and Sgt Larry Douglas Abbott are presented the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General for their actions while serving in Beirut, Lebanon from 1982-1984.  They were the first MP to ever be awarded this decoration.

​Their citations read as follows:

​"During the period 4 July 1982 to 5 August 1984, Lieutenant-Colonel W.J. McCullough was the Canadian Forces Attaché at the Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The period was marked by the complete collapse of law and order, and assaults on diplomats and diplomatic premises. Throughout his tour Lieutenant-Colonel McCullough undertook a number of significant military and diplomatic tasks. Notwithstanding considerable personal risk, including frequent exposure to both small arms and artillery fire, he travelled extensively to maintain essential contacts with Lebanese agencies. During the times when the Chancery was under threat of fire, his exceptional professionalism and calm competence were a constant source of reassurance to all members of the Embassy staff. Throughout his tour, Lieutenant-Colonel McCullough performed both military and related duties in an outstandingly professional manner, of such a rare high standard as to reflect great credit on himself and the Canadian Forces."  

"During the period 7 November 1983 to 11 August 1984, Sergeant L.D. Abbott was the non-commissioned officer in charge of military police security guards at the Canadian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The period was marked by the complete collapse of law and order, and assaults on diplomats and diplomatic premises. In the performance of protective and other duties, Sergeant Abbott frequently risked his life over an extended period to ensure the safety of both Canadian and locally employed staff members. When a drastic reduction in staff taxed resources to their fullest, he assumed the additional duties associated with two officer positions, performing them with a rare high standard of both flexibility and adaptability. His leadership, professional expertise and qualities of character made a deep impression on all members of the Embassy staff. Sergeant Abbott's outstandingly professional performance of military duties, tailored to the priority needs of the Canadian Government in Lebanon and frequently beyond those normal for his rank, have brought great credit to both himself and the Canadian Forces." 

​The CMPA Scholarship reflects one of our main purposes:  to support and benefit its members. The scholarship provides financial assistance to members of the CMPA whose family members are pursuing their first year of full or part-time post-secondary education.  ​Each year, one $1,000 scholarship will be presented for entry into a university program and one $1,000 scholarship will be presented for entry into a community college program.  To eligible, candidates must have been accepted at a post-secondary institution (university or college), and must submit:

​The 2016 Scholarship competition was announced on 24 Mar 16, and closed on 31 Jul 16.  A committee of three members, representing a cross section of the Association, was convened to review and grade the applications in order to determine the winners.  Among the criteria that were considered in assessing points are academic performance and potential; community involvement; financial need; and quality of the essay.  This year, the applications were reviewed by CWO Crystal Krammer (MP Branch Chief), Maj Todd Barnes (CMPA Treasurer), and Maj Tim Utton (CMPA Vice President & Director of Communications).

​The winner of the University Scholarship was Jared Hudson, son of CPO2 Roger Hudson.  Jared had extremely strong application.  The committee was impressed with his interest in pursuing a career in business, and the deliberate manner in which he’s set the conditions for his own future success by finding work that in a firm that allows him to gain experience in areas such as accounting and human resources.  ​In his essay, he described how attending the international school in Belgium while his father was employed at SHAPE HQ helped him to develop his interest, and it was clear to us that that this experience was key to him developing the right attributes to succeed.  He has been accepted into a Bachelor of Commerce program at Dalhousie University.  Jared was presented with a cheque for $1000 by Maj Melanie Rheaume, CO MPU Halifax, and WO(Ret'd) Frank Leblanc, CMPA Atlantic Region Director. 

​The winner of the College Scholarship was Eric Meilleur, son of Sgt Frank Meilleur.  The committee was extremely impressed with Eric's interest in pursuing a career in politics, demonstrated by his active participation in his school’s model UN.  In his essay, he described how attending school in both Turkey and Russia while his father was employed at different MPSS units helped him to develop his interest, and it was clear to us that that this experience was key to him developing the right attributes to succeed.  He will begin his post-secondary education with a 2-year University Studies program at North Island College, followed by a 2-year program at University of Victoria.  On behalf of the CMPA, Eric was presented with a cheque for $1000 by Lt Evan Foster, OC of 12 MP Flight Comox, BC.

​On behalf of the CMPA President, LCol (Ret’d) Sylvie Beaudry, we offer both Jared and Eric our most sincere congratulations and best wishes for his education and future endeavours.

​“There was a time when the animals led by Omat and Kwekwaxawe went to war with Thunderbird.  Now the four eldest children of Thunderbird were mighty fishermen and known from their prowess as One-Whale-Carrier, Two-Whale-Carrier, Three-Whale-Carrier, and Four-Whale-Carrier.  They were always fishing and the other animals sought to catch them by guile.  So they built an artificial whale in which they went to Thunderbird’s village, Kunwaas.  One by one the eldest children of Thunderbird were lured to the artificial whale and drowned.  Only the nine-month old infant son survived to carry on his family and this is why it does not thunder very often nowadays, only when Thunderbird moves from the winter to the summer side of his house or as an omen when someone who has the Thunderbird crest is about to die.  Because the infant Thunderbird was painted with ochre and wore a strap around his neck, these are now put on infants when they are nine months old”.

​(As published in The Thunderbird Journal, Spring 1983)