Tetsuo "Ted" Itani, CM (June 23, 1939 – March 22, 2021) was a Canadian military officer and humanitarian, who was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2016.[1]

Biography

Born on Vancouver Island to immigrant parents from Japan, his family was forcibly relocated as part of the Japanese internment in Canada during World War II.[2] After their release from the internment camp, the family settled in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.[2] He served in the Canadian military for over three decades, reaching the rank of major by the time of his retirement in the early 1990s.[2]

While in the military, he married writer Frances (Hill) Itani in 1967.[3] They resided in Ottawa, Ontario.[2]

Following his retirement, he undertook humanitarian work with the International Red Cross,[2] and worked as a peacekeeping educator for the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre.[1]

In early January 2021, he was hospitalized with serious brain and lung injuries after being struck by the mirror of an OC Transpo bus while out for a run. He died in hospital on March 22, 2021, at the age of 81.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Seven capital-area residents on latest Order of Canada list". Ottawa Citizen, February 11, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Once shunned by Canada, Ted Itani now among country's honoured elite". Kelowna Daily Courier, March 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Frances Itani". advancereadingcopy-jon.blogspot.com/. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ Andrew Duffy (April 10, 2021). "'A role model of service,' Ted Itani, 81, died months after being hit by OC Transpo bus". Ottawa Citizen.
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