Honorary Colonels

Honorary Lieutenant Colonel John L. Remus, CD, MD, FRCS(C), FICS, CSME, AADEP

18 (Thunder Bay) Field Ambulance

Honorary Lieutenant Colonel John L. Remus was born in Fort William, Ontario, known today as Thunder Bay. He enrolled in the Canadian Forces in the Primary Reserve on 12 December 1963 as a Medical Officer in the rank of Captain with 26 (Toronto) Medical Company.

Prior to joining the Primary Reserves, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Remus graduated from Queen's University School of Medicine in Kingston in 1961 before moving to Toronto for post graduate training in Neurosurgery and General Surgery in 1963. While serving in the Primary Reserves he obtained Fellowships in Orthopaedic Surgery as well as General and Trauma Surgery in 1966.

Along his military career, he had some interesting assignments, including Honorary Physician to Her Highness, The Queen Mother during two Canadian visits. From 1982 - 1986, Major Remus was appointed Commanding Officer of 18 (Thunder Bay) Medical Company. In June, 1985 Major Remus was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his tenure as Commanding Officer, he assumed position as the Area Command Surgeon from 1986 to 1989. In 2002, Lieutenant Colonel Remus retired from the Canadian Forces.

In his civilian career, Dr Remus is a Physician and Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon. In addition to his civilian career he has been appointed the Orthopaedic Consultant to Abitibi-Bowater, The City of Thunder Bay and all departments, TBay Tele, Thunder Bay Hydro, Bombardier Mass Transit, Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, Thunder Bay Jail, Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, and various trucking firms. In additional, Dr. Remus is a Medical consultant for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He has an extensive involvement with a variety of organizations and associations. He is currently the President of the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society, on the Board of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a member of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, the Toronto Medical Legal Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon, and an active member of Occupational Environmental Association of Canada. In addition he is a member of Ontario Section of Occupational Medicine, a founding member and board member of Canadian Society of medical examiners, a member of membership committee of Ontario Medical Associations of Canada (OMAC), and a member of regional Narcotic Task Force for Thunder Bay and North-western Ontario.

Dr. Remus has two sons, and two daughters, and is married to Brenda a Registered Nurse, who is also on the Board of the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society and is a Member of the Lakehead University Animal Care Committee.

In 2000 Dr Remus was contracted by the Canadian Forces as the 23 Health Services Detachment Thunder Bay Medical Officer. In 2007, Dr. Remus gladly accepted his appointment as 18 (Thunder Bay) Field Ambulance's Honorary Lieutenant Colonel which was recently extended for another three years.