HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, known affectionately as the Queen Mum, was a great force in the world. This was not because of her forcefulness, but because of her compassion and ability to be equally at ease in a pub or in a royal court.

The last time she was in Toronto, as she was driving past the CN Tower she said. 'What is that - it was not here the last time I was here - I want to go up'. Without security or previous arrangements, her escourt took her to the top and she had a quick view from 'The Top of Toronto'.

Each time she visited Toronto, she would review her regiment The Toronto Scottish Regiment, which on her 100th birthday, she accepted the gift that it be called The Queen Mother's Own. Augmenting the ranks of serving soldiers, would be WWII veterans. Remarkably, she remembered all those from the war years by their names and, on the occasion she encountered a WWII vetran in the Tor Scots ranks, who had not served in the Toronto Scottish she would say, 'you were not in the Tor Scots during WWII, who did you serve with?'

The Queen Mum presents a profound challenge for leaders to emulate.

God Save the Queen