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]
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]
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]
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]