The Intrepid Society, founded in November 1994, is dedicated to honouring and sustaining the memory of a great Canadian, born and raised in Winnipeg, who distinguished himself in the two Great World Wars. In particular, the free world today owes a huge debt of gratitude for his untiring efforts during World War II against formidable odds, in winning the battles of subversion, intrigue and secrecy.

In World War II, he undertook that which earned him a knighthood from Britain, America's highest award, the Presidential Medal of Merit, and the everlasting gratitude of the free world. Stephenson, otherwise immortalized as "The Man Called Intrepid", was the master spy.

He was Churchill's personal advisor for Allied intelligence and acted as his personal liaison with U.S. President Roosevelt, out of which emerged not only committed logistical support for embattled Britain, but also the embryonic organization initially headed by General William J. Donovan, which ultimately became the Central Intelligence Agency in 1947.

In recognition of his extraordinary achievements and contributions:

• Canada awarded Sir William with its highest honour - the Companion of the Order of Canada, 17 December 1979, with Investiture taking place 5 Feb 1980. The citation reads:

  This Quiet Canadian from Winnipeg earned early renown as a pilot in the First World War and became an inventor and industrialist before he was thirty. He played a key role in the Second World War when, amongst other notable achievements, he organized and directed so daring and successful an espionage network that it is credited with playing an important part in the Allied Victory. He was, indeed, A Man Called Intrepid. Subsequently, Sir William lent his formidable talents to extensive industrial enterprises in Canada and beyond. In recognition of his extraordinary achievements.

• Manitoba awarded Sir William with its highest honour - Order of the Buffalo Hunt, Chief Hunter - 21 September 1985.

• In December 1979, The University of Manitoba awarded Sir William Stephenson an Honorary PhD, in a unique special remote convocation ceremony in his home in Bermuda.

• Canada Post issued, within its 2000 Millenium Collection, a postage stamp in his honour.

• The Camp X Society erected a bronze plaque within its Camp X Memorial, near Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

• Tim Lawson, a musician and publisher of note, has issued a music CD, The Quiet Canadian, dedicated to Sir William's memory and achievements. Tim's publishing house also published a new book, The True Intrepid, by Bill Macdonald, debunks many of the books that have been written about Sir William and re-examines history telling the story of the unknown agents and the propaganda and espionage network that Sir William established.

• Tim Lawson, has issued a new CD, Lest We Forget, honouring Winnipeg's Sir William Stephenson on his Remembrance Day tribute. Proceeds from the compact disc will benefit the Royal Canadian Legion's Poppy Fund.

As a consequence of provisions of "Official Secrets" legislation in Britain, U.S.A. and Canada, very much of Sir William's extraordinary contributions has never been revealed. In awarding the Presidential Award of Merit, for the first time ever to a non-USA citizen, President Harry Truman wrote: "Some day the story must be told." Small portions of his amazing life are only now emerging from new research.

In 1945/46, Sir William loaded up 2 semi-trailers with the files and records of the British Security Coordination, and shipped them to Camp X, near Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Here he directed the preparation of "The BSC Papers", a very secret document intended to be the sole official record of the BSC's achievements during WW II. All BSC files and records were subsequently destroyed under Official Secrets legislation. The document itself was published in 40 copies only, with 24 later destroyed without ever being distributed. Sir William kept 2 copies for himself. The rest were distributed to the leaders of the USA, Britain, and Canada, all of whom immediately declared it to be Top Secret.

52 years went by with only fleeting reference to the document by a few researchers allowed supervised viewing. In 1998, Nigel West, a prolific author of "spy" related novels and historical documents about WW II, acquired a copy of The BSC Papers and published it without the approval of Her Majesty's Government. It emerged as British Security Coordination, The Secret History of British Intelligence in the Americas 1940-1945. This is a very important document, a "must read" by anyone interested in the activities and achievements of Sir William, and the enormous contributions he initiated leading to the successful conclusion of World War II.

The Intrepid Society

The Intrepid Society, in its brief life, has accumulated significant achievements towards furthering its goal of honouring and sustaining the memory of this remarkable Winnipeg hero.

• Proclamation of Sir William Stephenson Day in Winnipeg on 11 January 1996.

• A public plaque on the Cairn of Tears in old Fort Douglas, a historically significant area of Winnipeg near where Sir William spent his childhood.

• Dedications on the interior walls of the Sir Williams Stephenson Library in Winnipeg.

• Raised a bronze statue of Sir William, overlooking Manitoba's Legislative Building, on 24 July 1999, unveiled by The Princess Royal, H.R.H. Princess Anne.

• A bronze maquette in a place of honour within Buckingham Palace in London, UK.

• A bronze maquette in a place of honour within the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA, USA.

• Ensured his achievements and memory will be entered into the Manitoba history books.

• Stimulated international recognition of Sir William's achievements by means of a new Canada postage stamp in his likeness, initially offered within a commemorative issue celebrating the Millenium, into service January 2000.

• First recipient of the "Twice the Citizen Award", presented to Sir William Stephenson (posthumously) by the Royal Military Institute, in May 1999.

Upon Sir William's death Jan. 31, 1989, Time Magazine recognized his achievements in an obituary.

Encyclopedia Brittanica recognized Sir William's achievements in an entry.

Statue of Sir William Stephenson

A bronze statue of Sir William, larger than life, in the image of him in his aviator's military clothes, was erected 24 July 1999, with unveiling by The Princess Royal, H.R.H. Princess Anne, in the presence of the artist, world renowned sculptor Leo Mol.

Sir William also made a lasting contribution to education. In 1984 he established a $100,000 scholarship fund to benefit outstanding students at the University of Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Foundation administers this trust.

Some of the relevant books available are:

"A Man called Intrepid", 1982, by William Stevenson, Ballantyne Press ISBN, 0-345-31023-3.
"Intrepid's Last Case", 1983, William Stevenson.
"The Quiet Canadian" by H. Montgomery Hyde, Hamish Hamilton London.
"The True Intrepid", by Bill Macdonald, Timberholme Books Ltd, ISBN 1-894254-01-5, $34.95
"BRITISH SECURITY COORDINATION", The Secret History of British Intelligence in the Americas, 1940-45, 576 pages, ISBN 0-88064-236-X Firt International Edition 1999 St. Ermin's Press

Contact with The Intrepid Society:
President - Col Gary Solar,
1684 Loudoun Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3S 1A4 ,CANADA
Cel 204-880-8501, ph. 204-896-7688
xcofgh@yahoo.com

As an option, email can be sent through to
Intrepid Society Member Terry Smythe at:
smythe@shaw.ca