Editor's note: Upon publication of this story, we received the sad news that Senator Johnstone passed away on Sunday. Our condolences to his family and friends. We dedicate this story to his memory and life's work.
As Remembrance Day nears, we take time to reflect and remember the men and women who have made and continue to make great sacrifices to safeguard the freedoms we enjoy as Canadians.
Faculty of Agriculture alumnus Senator Archie Johnstone (Agriculture Class of ’47), remembers this group of men and women daily — for more reasons than one.
Senator Johnstone can clearly recall arriving at the No. 76 RAF Squadron in Yorkshire, England, during the Second World War as a Royal Air Force tail gunner.
“Our pilot called the crew together — all seven of us — and he said, ‘I have something to tell you: Our chances of survival to the end of our tour are about 24 per cent,'” says Johnstone. “There was no use worrying; if orders were to go, you went.”
While serving, Flight Lieutenant Archibald Johnstone was involved in a serious bomber crash, but he was blessed. “I made it back to Canada. I was among the fortunate ones."
Back in the country, Johnstone moved-on with home life and his diverse career on Prince Edward Island. Over the course of his career, Johnstone was a businessman, heavily involved in the tourism industry. A substantial part of Johnstone’s career included the popular Island tourist attraction Woodleigh Replicas, which he built with his father shortly after returning from war. Johnstone also originated Rainbow Valley, Kensington Towers and Water Gardens. The three attractions combined hosted approximately seven million visitors during their periods of operation. Johnstone also served as president of the PEI Federation of Agriculture.
In support of veterans
Yet perhaps the most rewarding part of Johnstone’s career, one that would bring him back to his Air Force days, came in his 70s.
“I was summoned to the Senate by then Liberal Prime Minster Jean Chretien. I was one of four representing PEI.” Johnstone was appointed deputy chair of the Senate sub-committee of Veterans Affairs. To fulfill the role, Johnstone immediately set-out across Canada visiting veterans.
“I spent not days, not weeks, but months traveling. I visited more than 70 per cent of all the institutionalized veterans in all of Canada.”
His task wasn’t easy.
"When we got there we'd be seated around a big table and the wheelchairs would be circled around, occupied by veterans with (missing limbs) and the scars of war. Ever since the war ended they'd been there, for decades and decades, in these institutions, some dark and dreary.” Johnstone’s mission was to listen and note what could be done for these aging and arguably, neglected heroes. This was no easy task because the veterans refused to complain.
"They resisted at first. They thought I was just sent from Ottawa and what would I know about war and why do I care?” However, when introductions were made, the atmosphere changed. “They realized we were all over there together.”
With patience and persistence Johnstone finally discovered that scores of things were either wrong or missing from the fellow veterans' care.
"They were the greatest, most wonderful people you could have ever met. They had a right to be bitter. But if they were, they didn't reveal it."
After sharing stories and making friends among the veterans, Johnstone, along with the chairman of the Veterans Affairs committee, compiled a report entitled Raising the Bar: Creating a New Standard in Veterans' Health Care. The document included 68 recommendations on the care of veterans, focusing on key areas such as the inclusion of veterans' facilities under regional health boards, the necessity of guaranteeing the availability of priority beds for the then 250,000 veterans of the Second World War and Korean War and public misconceptions regarding veterans' pensions.
Pride and accomplishment
Johnstone is proud to report that approximately 95 per cent of the document’s recommendations were implemented within 10 years, dramatically changing the lives of institutionalized veterans.
Being a member of the Senate could easily be the highlight of one’s career. It was certainly an honour for Johnstone. “I was so privileged — not to be a senator, that was just the medium — but to get to know all of those veterans. Being a senator got me there.”
In June 2014, Johnstone celebrated his 90th birthday at home in Kensington, PEI and one week later his 65th wedding anniversary with wife, Phelicia.