Rick J. Hillier (born June 30, 1955) is a retired
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
general
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
, who served as the
chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) from 4 February 2005 to 1 July 2008. He previously served as the
chief of the Land Staff from 30 May 2003 until his promotion to CDS.
From 23 November 2020 to 31 March 2021, Hillier oversaw the province of Ontario's vaccination task-force in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
The COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario was a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada w ...
.
Early life and education
Born in 1955 to Jack and Myrtle Hillier in
Campbellton,
Notre Dame Bay,
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...
, he was the fourth of six children, with him being the only boy. He attended Greenwood High School and graduated in June 1972.
Hillier intended to join the military early, at 16. After receiving his father's permission, Hillier submitted his application to join the Canadian Forces in Spring 1972. He initially wanted to be a fighter pilot, but failed the medical examination. He then applied to join the Canadian Forces as an officer cadet at the
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...
but was rejected. At a similar time, he applied to and was accepted by
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...
and the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...
. Hillier chose to attend Memorial University, studying biology. While at Memorial University, his application to become an officer cadet was accepted, but he chose to continue studying in Newfoundland as part of the Regular Officer Training Program.
While studying he met his wife, Joyce and they were married in
Lower Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland.
Early military career
In January 1998, as commander of 2 CMBG, he led
Operation Recuperation, the Canadian Forces' intervention in the
paralyzing ice storm in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. He went on to command the
Multi-National Division (South-West) in
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to the north a ...
.
He was named
chief of the land staff, commanding Land Force Command, on May 30, 2003. He is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. In 2003, when he was appointed chief of the land staff, he said, "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers should be
tarred and feathered
Tarring and feathering is a form of public torture where a victim is stripped naked, or stripped to the waist, while wood tar (sometimes hot) is either poured or painted onto the person. The victim then either has feathers thrown on them or is ...
and rode out of town on a rail."
After serving as chief of the land staff and before being appointed chief of the defence staff, he commanded the
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
ISAF
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was a multinational military mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. It was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386 according to the Bonn Agreement, which outlined t ...
in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
from February 9 to August 12, 2004.
Chief of the Defence Staff
On February 4, 2005, Hillier became chief of the defence staff. At the change-of-command ceremony he repeated his call, more broadly, for increased military funding. "In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938), also known as Paul Martin Jr., is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician who served as the 21st prime minister of Canada and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2003 to 2006.
Th ...
and
Minister of National Defence Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets." Upon his appointment, he became the highest-ranking military officer from
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
.
Uncle Rick
Hillier was a popular CDS. When speaking to troops on parade, he would frequently call them into a hollow circle around him rather than delivering a generic speech from a podium while they stood to attention. At briefings, Hillier asked every person what they thought about a situation at hand – regardless of their rank, language, or nationality.
Media criticism
Hillier was known for his plain-spoken language and focus on frontline capabilities. Early in his term as CDS, he drew criticism from the media when he called terrorists "detestable murderers and scumbags". He went further, saying "we're not the public service of Canada. We're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."
Resignation
On April 15, 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on July 1, 2008.
Hillier was subsequently appointed as chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, effective July 3, 2008.
Post-military
Public speaking
Upon retirement in 2008, Hillier joined the public speaking arena and developed his own speaking agency.
Working with a number of large corporate clients, Hillier's speaking detailed the experiences of troops under his command, emphasizing the theme of "leadership in tough times."
Project Hero
In 2009, Hillier co-founded Project Hero, a scholarship program for the children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while on active military duty. The Children of Deceased Veterans – Education Assistance Act verification is used to verify Project Hero eligibility. The process is administered by
Veterans Affairs Canada.
Academic
On August 14, 2008,
Telus Telus may refer to:
* Telus Corporation, a Canadian publicly traded holding company
** Telus Communications, a telecommunications company
** Telus Digital, a technology company
** Telus Health, a health technology provider
** Telus Mobility
T ...
announced that Hillier was appointed as chair of Telus Atlantic Canada Community Board. Hillier said, “Telus is a company that gets stuff done both in business and in the community – I like that. They are entrusting their philanthropic efforts in Atlantic Canada to people who live and work here. I'm excited about the opportunity to help Telus engage with the Atlantic Canada communities that are so very important to me.”
TD Bank
Hillier announced on September 3, 2008, he will be working at an
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...
office for the
TD Bank
Toronto-Dominion Bank (), doing business as TD Bank Group (), is a Canadian Multinational corporation, multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The bank was created on February 1, 1955, through ...
to support initiatives that enhance the client and customer experience and to assist the bank's ongoing leadership development and training activities.
Provincial Aerospace
On June 16, 2009, while attending the 48th International Paris Air Show, Provincial Aerospace announced that Hillier will join the company’s Advisory Board.
Politics
Since his retirement from the military Hillier's name has been mentioned as a leadership candidate for several political parties. Hillier's name was mentioned by political pundits as a possible successor to
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He is to date the only prime minister to have come from the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada, ser ...
, during Harper's minority
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
government. When Newfoundland and Labrador
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
Danny Williams retired from politics in 2010, Hillier's name was brought up as a possible successor to the
Progressive Conservative premier. In August 2011, his name was brought up once again as a potential
Liberal leader in his home province, when leader
Yvonne Jones
Yvonne Jean Jones (born March 15, 1968) is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, who served in the House of Commons of Canada from 2013 to 2025. She represented the district of Labrador as a member of the Liberal Party caucus. On ...
resigned. Hillier has stated on several occasions however that he has no interest in politics.
COVID-19 vaccine task-force for Ontario
In November 2020, Hillier was appointed as the chair of the
vaccine distribution taskforce for
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
by Premier
Doug Ford
Douglas Robert Ford Jr. (born November 20, 1964) is a Canadian politician and businessman who has served as the 26th and current premier of Ontario and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party since 2018. He represents the Toronto rid ...
in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
The COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario was a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada w ...
. Hillier leads the task-force in its rollout and distribution of
COVID-19 vaccine
A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID19).
Knowledge about the structure and fun ...
s approved by
Health Canada
Health Canada (HC; )Health Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of Health (). is the Structure of the Canadian federal government#Departments, with subsidiary units, department of the Gove ...
, distributed federally and administered by the province. After the
Christmas and holiday season
The Christmas season or the festive season, also known as the holiday season or the holidays, is an annual period generally spanning from November or December to early January. Incorporating Christmas Day and New Year's Day, the various celebrat ...
in December, 2020, Hillier formally apologized to Ontarians for halting vaccine administration for a number of days, calling the move a "mistake". Hillier left the position March 31, 2021.
[ He was replaced with Homer Tien as operation lead.
]
Honours
In 2011, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada
The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
"for his service to our nation, which has inspired pride in our Canadian Forces". In December 2013, it was announced that Hillier would be appointed to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian Award, honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell Hous ...
by Lieutenant Governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
Frank Fagan
Frank Frederick Fagan, (born c. 1944) is a Canadians, Canadian businessman and dignitary, who served as the 13th lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador from 2013 to 2018, thus serving as the List of viceregal representatives of Elizabet ...
during a ceremony in February 2014.
Scholastic
; University degrees
; Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships
;Honorary degrees
Awards
Works
*Hillier, Rick (2010) ''A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War''; hardcover, 552 pages; published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; .
*Hillier, Rick (2010) ''Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders''; hardcover, 272 pages; published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd; .
References
Sources
*
External links
GeneralHillier.com
his personal website
Interview with Rick Hillier
on The Hour
with Rick Hillier on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' (originally known as ''The Hour'') is a Canadian television talk show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos that aired on CBC Television from 2005 to 2014.
As ''The Hour'', the show was so named, as it was a dai ...
(starts at 9:45), recorded December 1, 2010
CBC News Indepth background
(CBC CBC may refer to:
Media
* Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico
* Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster
** CBC Television
** CBC Radio One
** CBC Music
** ...
)
"Hillier gets combat-ready for business world", Globe & Mail, July 6, 2008
Gowlings press release, July 7, 2008
Canada's 25 Most Renowned Military Leaders
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillier, Rick
1955 births
Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada)
Living people
Canadian generals
Chancellors by university and college in Canada
Officers of the Order of Canada
People from Newfoundland (island)
Members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni
Commanders of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)
Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration
Royal Military College of Canada people
Commanders of the Canadian Army
Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service