William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

The Willbond Family: Christmas Day, 2005
Born 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Billy joined the Canadian Army at age 17. In 1960, at the height of the Cold War, he was posted overseas and was on active service during the building of the Berlin Wall and during the Cuban Crisis. He also served with the United Nations on Cyprus in 1965.
Billy is married and with his wife Lynn, has four children and nine grand-children. He is a member of the life member of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association, a Life Member of the British Columbian Federation of Peace Officers, a member of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Association and WO’s & Senior NCO’s Club (Retired). He is the Secretary of the Mark Isfeld Memorial Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP), the National Chairman of the CAVUNP Honours and Awards Committee, the National President of the International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS CANADA) and an active contributor to the International War Veterans Poetry Archives.
In recognition of his selfless service to his country, Billy is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Special Service Medal with NATO Bar, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, United Nations Forces in Cyprus Medal, and the Canadian Forces Decoration. In 2012, Billy was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for hiscontribution to Canada.
Index of Club Writings
- A Bridge Too Far
- A Christmas Ode to a Herky Jerky Man
- A Clip and a Pun from the Ottawa Sun
- A Fall Day In Vancouver
- A Farewell to Frosty
- A Farewell to Janie
- A Farewell to the Chief
- A Farewell to the Stone House
- A Field in Saanichton
- A Freshly Stolen Loaf of Bread
- A Gorta Mor – The Great Hunger
- A Happy Birthday Poem For December
- A Miracle In The Loving Arms Of Mother T
- A New Governor General for Canada?
- A Newspaper For A Lower Sheet
- A Politically Correct Merry Festive Season
- A Satirical Canadian Ode to a Conman Blackheart
- A Valentine Poem for My Wife, Lynne
- A Visit from Poppa (James Mccaffrey: Farmer, Bushwhacker and Log Driver)
- A Wee Pome Pours Mon Petit Frere, Barree
- Above the Stairs
- Addicted or Afflicted?
- Addictions
- Advice to My Grandchildren
- Affectation
- Alberta’s Stolen Cars
- An Aging Mind is Not Too Kind
- An American Obscenity
- An Explanation to Mikie Comeau
- An Extended Care Geriatric Moment
- An Ode to a Poet Photographer
- An Ode to Cousin Rusty
- An Ode to John-Ward Leighton, Canadian Poet
- An Ode To Lizzy Dolan
- An Ode to My Li’l Brudder Brian
- An Ode to Saanichton Intellectuals
- Annual Leave
- Answering His Pocket
- Anthropomorphic
- Approaching Winter
- ARVs to STDs (Anti Retro Virus Medicines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
- Backyard Rink
- BC
- Be Happy That You Live In Canada
- Beauty – A Song – And a Useless Speech
- Beauty in The Early Spring Listening to those Robins Sing!
- Beauty on the Street
- Being a Yes Man Pays
- Best O’ the Season
- Better Safe than Sorry
- Billy Shot Dad’s Bullets
- Billy’s Back
- Biographical Sketch of William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD
- Blandishment
- Blossum and the Durham Bull
- Blues, Dogs, Cats and Snow
- BMW Watercone
- Bob’s Job in Retirement
- Bone Fish
- Bony Chances Mon Chums
- Boy It’s Hot!
- Break the News Gently
- Broom Blossom Time
- Buddy – A Missing Friend
- Budget Monies For Jets But Little For Vets
- Calgary Spring
- Can-age-jin… Eh? (A Language of Our Own)
- Canada Too, Aye?
- Canada vs. the Custers
- Canada’s Best MP
- Canadian Children of the Street
- Canadian Polar Bears
- Canadian Rhymes
- Canadian Visitor from Australia Murdered In Cold Blood
- Canadian Welcome
- Catch Twenty Two – And What Do We Do?
- Certainties Of Life
- Changes in Comcen Routines
- Childhood Thoughts En Patois Hinglish
- Chinese
- Christmas Eve, 1946
- Christmas In Saanichton, Circa 1979
- Cliffhanger
- Coffee Shop
- Columbia
- Concrete Pillow Near The Porno Shop
- Cop Shop Thoughts
- Corruption
- Dalton and Giles – At the End of September
- Dat’s Hokay – Dey’ll Make My Day
- De Anavets Stomp an De Carlton Place Romp
- De Duck Huntin’ Weenie Wagger
- De Good Ol’ ‘Ockey Game
- De New Laureate, She’s In De Budget
- De Paddy Whack!
- Death Of A Giant
- Dermod Owen-Flood
- Defrocked By the Flock Because Of His Cock
- Derek and Mollie’s Dilemma
- Des Weebone Freres
- Disestablishmentarianism
- Dithering With Dither
- Dither’s Dilemma
- Dither’s Leadership Choice – Un-researched?
- Dog Piss Stroll
- Dolphin Tale
- Doze Ol’ Guys Dere: Memories of a Canadian Childhood
- Dr. Henry Morgentaler, MD, CM
- Early Religious Experiences
- Editorial – Peninsula News
- Election Thoughts
- Empty Nest
- English
- Entries On The Conduct Sheet Means There Is No CD
- Errors
- Ethics Commissioner’s Ethics?
- Family Heroes
- Family Memories
- Farewell to Fawleesh
- Find
- Find A Penny Pick It Up
- Fishing with Grandpa
- Five Fried Flies – Some Small Irritations
- Flaws
- For Sale Soon (Racoon Dog and Pups)
- Four Feet For…?
- Four Up and Three Down (Bingo Bill from Somerset Hill)
- Four Up and Three Down
- Free Rent
- Garage Sale Sunday
- Gatineau Hill Christmas Throughts
- Getting Stoned
- Go Sens Go
- Got A Phone Call From Fed Ex
- Grizzly Attack
- Guilty and Awaiting Sentencing
- Hagar the Bold
- Hairy or Scary?
- Halloween
- Happy Birthday Mother Superior
- Happy Canada Day
- Happy Canada Day and RIP Aqsa Parvez
- Hard Times Blues Rhymes
- Has Somebody Got Your Goat?
- Heartbreak and Pain at Hastings and Main
- His Honour Lt Governor John Crosbie
- Holy Orders
- Holy Orders – Addendum
- Homelessness – Shame on Us!
- Horse Ball Road Hockey
- Horse Shit (By An Other Name Is Still A Road Apple)
- House Cats Still Hunt
- How Little Bo Peep Lost Her Sheep
- How the White Man Saved the World?
- Huntin’ and Stuff…
- Hymens Repaired – Virginity Declared
- I Get a Lot of Spam
- I Had a Dream
- I Live Four Blocks Away From This Heavenly Splendour
- ICROSS Canada Writings
- A Canvas Kit Bag Filled With Forty Pounds Of Jelly Beans, Izzy Dolls, Boomer Caps, And Love
- A Hole in One
- A Meeting With Mother Africa
- A Stich In Time
- Aches and Pains and Ankle Sprains
- After-Vacation Thoughts
- An Aids Orphanage In Kibera
- An Invitation To Other Small NGOs
- Anita’s Terrible Loss
- Anonymous Donors
- Australian Example
- Billy With the Bed Pans
- Billy’s 70th Birthday Poem by Mollie and Derek Colson
- Bob’s Deer – Gun Control – And Poverty
- Boredom
- Bringing Smiles at Both Ends
- Canada Supports the World Food Programme
- Canada’s Izzy African Comfort Dolls of Joy
- Children on the Street
- Comfort Dolls
- Compassionate Milestone
- Continent of Sadness
- Dell Marie Wergeland (Canadian Humanitarian)
- Desmond Went to Show and Tell
- Early Morning Thoughts
- Early Morning Thoughts
- Every Child Deserves a Seat at the Table
- Feed The Hungry Shamba
- Flight of Aid
- Grandmothers of Africa
- Happy Holidays, Canada
- Hauling Limbs
- Helping Mom to Test the Dolls
- ICROSS Canada Works
- ICROSS Canada’s Loss
- ICROSS Morning Thoughts
- Inspiration
- Izzy Doll Angels
- Lady Di And Mother T
- Loss of Joy
- Maasai – A Vanishing Culture
- Mark Left His Mark
- Mikie’s Poem Hanswered
- Ode to the Angel of Rural Bondo
- Ottawa Boosts Food Aid Funding
- Our “Feed The Hungry” Shamba
- Paul Ose Lasois (Maasai Elder)
- Perseverative Meetings
- Regret(s)
- Sadness and Joy
- Saints in Our Midst
- Some Do-Gooder Thoughts
- Suffer The Little Children To Come To Me
- Teresa of Calcutta
- The African Child
- The Boomer Cap
- The Canadian Healer of Ngodzi
- The Gift of Sight
- The Izzy Doll and Boomer Cap Charity
- The Izzy Doll Berets
- The Kibera Dolls Of Joy
- The Knitter, the Lieutenant Governor and the Bishop
- The Good Samaritan
- The Haunting Eyes of Hunger
- The Need for a Water Well
- The Orange and the Green
- The Price of Food Rises as Global Famine Rages
- The Shadow of Hunger
- The Shadow Of Hunger Is Spreading
- The Smiling Children Of Africa
- The Story of a Wheelchair and a Wooden Crutch
- The Works of Mercy
- Two Mothers Passing
- Trapper Paul Cane And The Canadian Army Veterans
- Veronica’s Green Shamba Of Kibeto (Kajiado)
- We Walked The Rough Paths
- What I See On My PC Screen
- Yearn
- Your Personal War on Poverty
- If Wishes Were Horses
- In Cold Blood
- Inadvertent
- Is The Order Of Canada Just For Canadian Citizens?
- Is There A Cross Harbour Bending Pending?
- Ize De Bye An I Can Buy
- Jamal Gets Paid – Canadian Taxpayers get Laid?
- Jane’s Farewell
- Job Security – Is There Really Any?
- Jobs Jobs Jobs
- John’s Alley
- John’s Art
- John’s Colours
- John’s Insight
- John’s Musings
- John’s Photograph – Beyond Any Words
- John’s Poetical Day
- John’s Routine
- John’s Seven Hours
- Jones and Pahl – The Best of Us All
- Juicy Cool Yee Hard an Maxie Barnyard
- Laird Jaysus Garge
- Like A Cap Badge or Belt Buckle Dipped
- Lilac Time in Saanichton
- Lines
- Living In The Dream Shadow Of The Stone House
- Load De Jet Ski Put Problem?
- Logging in Canada
- Love in Chinese
- Making Maple Syrup
- Male Subject Down
- Mal’s Favourite TV Show
- Man With A Cane Sitting Out In The Rain
- Maple Syrup and Porky Pig
- Mean Street Stroll
- Memories
- Memories of a Canadian Childhood
- Merv and Lois
- Michael – The Name
- Mikie and Carol’s Vacation
- Ming Note Roof
- Missing Mom
- Monica’s New Two-Holer
- Moose Mount
- Morning Glory amidst the Thorns
- Moslem Female Head-Dress (A Great To-Do About Nothing)
- My Grandpa McCaffrey Once Lived in Dunrobin
- My Grandson, Joel – A True Canadian
- My Grandson, Reg
- My Home – Quebec
- My Job
- My People
- Necessity
- Needle Exchange – Side Effects That Are Strange
- Nelson and Granville
- New Computer
- New Year’s Resolution, 2005
- Not Much of a Choice, But I’ll Give My Voice
- Now Out Of His Cold Dead Hands
- Now Was The Winter Of John’s Discontent
- Nucks and Sens – It All Depends?
- Observing the Passing of a Culture
- Ode to a Canadian Poet
- Ode to a Mended Heart
- Ode to and Prayer for a Career Criminal
- Oh Canada We Must Stand On Guard for Thee
- Oh Dear
- Ol’ Black Robed Nun
- Old Soldiers – Ya Don’t Try To Rob ‘Em
- Olympic Gold
- On a February Day in Brentwood Bay
- Only In Canada You Say? – Pity
- Only In Victoria You Say? – Pity
- Our Con Air Is a Plan That Is Fair
- Our Glorious Leader?
- Our Homeless and Insane
- Out of the Ashes (A Love Story)
- Park Staff Park Staff Spare Dat Tree!
- Parliamentarian Of The Year
- Pending the Final Truth
- Perseverative Geriatric Patients
- Pest Mess Control
- Pictures and Thoughts
- Pig Boy Bob’s Going On Trial
- Pipeline Blues Is In The News
- Poem By Anonymous
- Poem Things
- Poetry Thoughts
- Poets
- Police Amalgamation
- Police Amalgamation
- Police Amalgamation Is For Us A Damnation
- Police Department Thoughts
- Police Service – Municipal Police Medal
- Political Discussion
- Political Poetry
- Political Vitriol
- Politics, Current Affairs, Family, And Hockey
- Pooh Bear
- Possible Death By Papa Burgers And Fries
- Promise to Clean the PC Station
- Quebec Wants and Dingwell Taunts
- Question of the Kilt
- Questions
- Quiet Vancouver Easter Street
- Quintessence of Man
- Quote of the Day (Monday October 31, 2005)
- Quote of the Day (Saturday November 5, 2005)
- Rants for Grants
- Ratting Out Your Neighbour
- Reggie’s Smile
- Remember Me
- Remember What Mom Said: “Eat Your Vegetables”
- Reorganising
- Retirement
- R.I.P. Sean – From Your Pal John (JWT)
- Roses and Grain
- Ross
- Salary Listing for CEOs
- School and Summer Memories
- Sea of Red Serge
- Security – 2010 Olympics
- Separatist Poet Gets $33K
- Sicko
- Sirens
- Snow
- Snow In Saanichton?
- Snowy Thoughts about Connie’s Winter Wood
- Some Celts Wore Kilts (In Our Family Tree)
- Some Honourable Members Aren’t?
- Sperm Retrieval Activities for Artificial Insemination
- Spring Beauty Thoughts
- St Louie’s Bicycle Shop
- Stanley Park
- Sudden Death Report
- Sunday Morning Newspaper Articles
- Sunday Thoughts (On Seeing a John Ward Leighton Work of Art)
- Surreal Sleeping In The Rain
- Swa Cente Quarante Neuf (Six Hundred and Forty Nine)
- Sycophant
- Tahsis by the Sea
- The 2010 Olympic Gains
- The 2010 Winter Olympics Money Making Dolls
- The Americans
- The Artists
- The Aussie Spirit
- The Backstabber
- The Best Little Cat in the World
- The Birthday Party
- The Bride and Her Dad
- The Bum with the Knife
- The Canadian Irishman
- The Chair
- The Chalk River Rapp
- The Changing Times
- The Coalition Copulation
- The Compassionate Ministry Workers
- The Cover Up Vote
- The Creek
- The Cynical Poet
- The Dollar
- The False Penis Symbol
- The Family Doctor – Stephanie Willbond
- The Family Picture
- The Family’s Pride
- The First Forty Years
- The Four Seasons in Canada
- The Gang of Four – They Are No More
- The Ghan’s Fist Up-Country Journey
- The Gin and the Rat
- The Golden Curl for a Little Girl
- The Great One’s Dad
- The Horses Of Winter
- The Hospital
- The Irish
- The Jungle
- The Knee Operation
- The Ladies at Starbucks
- The Legend and Life of Paddy Mitchell
- The Liberals (Or is it Fiberals?)
- The Librano Way
- The Libranos an Dare Coo-Day-Taw
- The Libranos Are Innocent?
- The Lilacs And The Honey Bees
- The Lismore Door
- The McCaffrey Sisters
- The Meaning of Life
- The Monica McCaffrey Song
- The Mount Newton Centre – Awards Won
- The Musical Historian at the Yale
- The Outlaw, Murray Nolan
- The Passport Office Rant
- The Poet on the Bike
- The Prosser Road, Saanichton Owl
- The Rhymester
- The Right Honourable, The Lord Black Of Crossharbour, PC, OC, KCSG
- The Ruins
- The Sleeper Cell
- The Snake Man
- The Sod Buster and the Cattleman
- The Speeding Ticket
- The Stairs And Stares And Cares
- The Swollen Stomach
- The Tax Payers Lament
- The Tent City Park Solution
- The Thrill: Parasailing
- The Truth
- The Up Island Tour
- The Use and Abuse of Corn
- The Week Before Christmas
- The Window to the Street
- The Xwayxway Cup
- The Yawner Picks His Budman
- Thoughts and Questions about Oil
- Thoughts of Our Imminent Demise
- Thoughts On Dying And Living Into Our Golden Years
- Thoughts On Here – And Out There
- Three Blind Mice and a Rat
- Throw-Aways
- Tiger’s Farewell
- Time
- Times Colonist Daily News 11 July 2012
- To My Grandsons, Dez and Reg
- To My Lover at 60
- Tony and Maria’s Garden
- Trumped at the Pump
- Tuesday Morning Thoughts
- ‘Twas The Day After Christmas
- Undueness
- Unframed (John’s New Word)
- Unhappy in Victoria?
- Union Meeting
- Unwanted Junk Mail
- Up The Down Stair Case
- Vacation, 2008
- Valentines Day In The Rain
- Vancouver As Seen Through the Lens of John-Ward Leighton
- Vancouver Street Shadows at Sunset
- Vancouver’s First Day of Spring
- Vancouver’s Olympic Committee at Work in the City
- Vee Ha Vee Ha! – Zippity Doo Da Vee Ha Ha!
- Veronica
- Victoria in Winter
- Victoria’s Finest Fined
- Vote
- Wessie
- West Coast Rainy Weather
- Whacko Jacko Walks
- What I Wanted For Christmas, 1946
- What Poets Need
- When I Was God
- Where Have All the Tourists Gone?
- Where Have All the Tourists Gone?
- Which Reminds Me…
- Who Protects Canada’s Ownership of the Arctic?
- Why Can’t Canada Build Electric Cars?
- Why It Doesn’t Pay To Work Too Hard
- Wonderful Smells
- Working For The Thin Blue Line
- Writing About What We Know
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Teddy Roosevelt