Honoraries

Honorary Colonel Farid Rohani

Farid Rohani is a successful entrepreneur, senior executive, and community leader. In addition to his extensive business interests and activities, Farid has volunteered for and led many significant organizations as an engaged and contributing citizen since he came to Canada from Iran as a young boy.

Farid has held several prominent leadership roles both locally and internationally. He served for many years as the Chair of the Laurier Institution and was appointed as Chair Emeritus of the organization for his involvement and significant contribution to the institute from its original inception in 1989. He was also a board member of the Nowruz Commission in Washington, D.C.  where he served for three years.

Farid is the treasurer and board member of Integrity Initiatives International, a US based organization focused on establishing an International Anti Corruption Court. Farid further served for three years as the Vancouver Chair of the Institute For Canadian Citizenship and he led the hosting of the first Citizenships Ceremony held at a First Nations Community.

Farid continues a significant contribution to the local community by serving on the foundation board of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, a Board member of The Global Reporting Center and an advisor to First Nations Golden Eagle Rising Society. He has established Khanjani scholarship at UBC and is a supporter of the artistic community in Vancouver.

Farid’s extensive contribution to Canada and his local community has led to him receiving several notable distinctions, including being appointed to serve as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in 2018 and Honorary Colonel in 2021 of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), a recipient of the Canadian Senate’s 150th Anniversary medal and recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. Farid was also awarded the Provincial Multicultural award in 2012 for his work around diversity and inclusiveness.

Honorary Colonel
Farid Rohani

Honorary Lieutenant Colonel William (Bill) Robert Diamond

Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Diamond was born in Kitchener, Ontario and is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University. He is the CFO for Keycafe Inc – a technology company based in Vancouver that has developed a unique and economical electronic key exchange system.

Prior to joining Keycafe full time, HLCol Diamond operated his own consulting business for 13 years. WR Diamond & Associates specialized in working with technology start ups within the areas of governance, finance and operations.  Key clients were ConnectionPoint Systems Inc.- an early online fundraising platform, Keycafe Inc and Picatic e-Tickets Inc – online event ticketing that was purchased by Eventbrite.

In 2015 the Minister of National Defense appointed Mr. Diamond as Honorary Colonel of 39 Combat Engineer Regiment for a 3-year term and in 2018 was reappointed for an additional 3 years. In 2017 he was elected as the Chair of the Honorary Officers’ Association of BC and is the 39 CBG representative on the National of Council of Honorary Colonels.  In 2020 HLCol Diamond was elected Chair of the National Council of Honorary Colonels and assumed this role in November of 2020. In 2021, the Minister of National Defense appointed him as HLCol of the BCR.

HLCol Diamond serves and has served on many charitable and volunteer boards and committees.  His current involvement includes The BCR CO’s Committee (Band Governor and Trustee) and The BCR (DCO) Association Charitable Trust (Trustee), the 39 Combat Engineer Regimental Association (founding Director and former Treasurer), Canadian Forces Liaison Council (B.C. Regional Director), BC Military Music Society (Chair), Canada Jaycee Foundation (Director & Finance Committee Chair. His previous volunteer involvement includes the Mainland BC Military Families Resource Centre (Chair and Vice-Chair), Junior Chamber International (Vancouver, British Columbia and Canadian President and Assistant to the World President for Area C), The BCR (DCO) Association (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer), City of North Vancouver Centennial Committee (Chair) and the North Vancouver City Library (Vice Chair and Treasurer).

In 2002, HLCol Diamond was presented the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of BC, Iona Campagnolo and in 2012 he was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal MP Andrew Saxton. In January 2018 HLCol Diamond was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, which was presented by the Lieutenant-Governor of BC, Judith Guichon at Government House.  In March 2019 the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, the Honorable Lawrence MacAulay awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation to HLCol Diamond. And in 2015 The BC Regiment awarded HLCol Diamond the “Honorary Colonel Cup” (donated by former Honorary Colonel Patrick Reid) for his many years of outstanding service to the Regiment.