On November 28, 2007, H.E. The Chevalier Stephen Lautens GCJ, B.A., LL.B., was elected Grand Master of The Equestrian, Secular and Chapterial Order of Saint Joachim by a vote of Grand Chapter. He previously served as Coadjutor Grand Master of the Order to the late Grand Master, His Excellency Col. Prof. Vis. The Chevalier Helmut Bräundle-Falkensee, GCJ, who died on October 14, 2007. H.E. The Chevalier Lautens is the first Grand Master of the Order from the New World.

Born in 1959, The Chevalier Lautens is a barrister and solicitor with an extensive background in communications and business. He is currently Vice President – Corporate Communications and General Counsel for Inter-Citic Minerals Inc., a Toronto Stock Exchange-listed gold exploration company with projects in the People’s Republic of China.

The Grand Master is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 1988. He had his own litigation practice in Toronto for ten years where he appeared at all levels of court including the then Supreme Court of Ontario, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal. In 1997 he served as president of The Lawyers Club. Prior to the practice of law, H.E. The Chevalier Lautens worked for two years as a Special Assistant to a federal Cabinet Minister in Ottawa, Canada, which included work with the Prime Minister's Office.

He also writes a weekly comment column for Canada's Sun Media Group. His articles have also appeared in numerous other publications, including the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, and as a regular feature in The National Post, The London Free Press and Toronto Sun. He served two terms as president of the Toronto Press Club and served for seven years as a Governor of The National Newspaper Awards.

His charitable work includes having served as a public member of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. He is also past Vice President of the East Toronto unit of Canadian Cancer Society. The Grand Master devoted a year to assisting the Greater Toronto Community Clearinghouse, a registered charity that acts as an umbrella organization for a number of charitable ventures, including training the unemployed in computer repair and refurbishment and redeploying the computers to schools, low-income families and charities, sponsoring community-based social programs such as KidsVote, as well as a number of innovative social projects, including Project: Warmth, which collected and distributed 200,000 sleeping bags to the homeless.

In 1998 Chevalier Lautens served as President of The Ontario Club, and served a second term as President again in 2003. He served two terms as Worshipful Master (2000-2002) of Harry L. Martyn Lodge (AF&AM G.R.C. No. 696). He was made an Honourary Colonel and Aide de Camp to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2006. He is also a Knight of The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem and a Commander 1st Class of The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. He was also awarded the Große Verdienstkreuz in silver of the Freundeskreis Hoch- und Deutschmeister. He is a member of the Officers' Mess of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louises'), and is listed in the Canadian edition of Who’s Who.

He earned an LL.B. degree from Queen’s University Kingston and a history B.A. degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto.

He lives in Toronto, Canada, and is married to Rhea, a lawyer for the Canadian federal government. They have one son, James, aged six.

The Order's Grand Prior is His Excellency the Right Reverend Douglas Lewins GCJ. On completion of his education, Archbishop Lewins began his career in the Home Civil Service of the United Kingdom, subsequently serving in many capacities in a number of departments. His current secular employment is with the Metropolitan Police Authority, where he exercises oversight of the equalities and diversity performance of the Metropolitan Police Service.

His Excellency the Right Reverend Douglas Lewins GCJ was ordained to the priesthood in the Old Roman Catholic Church in 1986 and to the episcopate in 1991. He succeeded Archbishop Dennis St Pierre as the seventh archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain.

Archbishop Lewins has served as the Grand Prior of the Order of St Joachim for nearly 15 years, since 1 May 1993, with the rank of Knight Grand Commander. He was honoured by the late Grand Master His Excellency Col. Prof. Vis. The Chevalier Helmut Bräundle-Falkensee, GCJ, FMA, MEASc on a number of occasions. Archbishop Lewins lives in London, England, and is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Imperial Ethiopian Order of St Mary of Zion.

The Grand Prior can be reached at: grandprior@stjoachimorder.org.

His Excellency Dr. The Chevalier Prince William Alexander Basztyk GCJ has an extensive background in business and education. He is a professor in the faculty of business at George Brown College and has served in that position for the past 24 years. He is also the Chairman/CEO of Interprohealth Corp., a health care facility operator and the Glam Group of companies, a retail and property development group operating in both Canada and the USA.

The Chevalier Prince Basztyk was appointed as Honorary Consul for Canada for the Republic of Suriname in 1996 and continues to serve in that position.

He is dedicated to lifelong learning and holds a Ph.D. in business as well as an MBA. He is the holder of many professional qualifications and designations including Chartered Secretary (FCIS), Chartered Builder (MCIOB) and Fellow, Chartered Insurance Professional (F.C.I.P.).

H.E. Dr. The Chevalier Prince Basztyk is descended from hereditary nobility and holds the title of Russian Prince (non-Royal) as well as French Duchy and Marquisette. He has been honoured with the appointment of Honorary Colonel and Aide de Camp to the Governor of Kentucky, and as Honorary Colonel in the Alabama State Militia, Army and Air National Guard. He is a Knight Grand Cross of the Knights Templar, Order of St. John the Baptist of America, and a Knight Commander of Justice of the Sovereign Order of St. John. He is listed in Canadian Who's Who.

He is a widower with one grown daughter and lives in Toronto, Canada. He can be reached at gc@stjoachimorder.org.

His Excellency The Chevalier Colin Lee KCJ was born in Salford, England in 1936, and after boarding at Whittingehame College in Brighton, he attended Manchester University where he attained an LLB (Hons) Degree in 1958. Chevalier Lee joined the solicitors’ firm of Amelan and Roth in 1958 as an articled clerk. On completion of his Articles, he obtained Honours in the Law Society’s Final Examinations in 1961 and progressed swiftly to partner within the firm. He has remained with the same firm for fifty years, which was renamed Latimer Lee in 1987 (now Latimer Lee LLP), and has four offices across the north of Manchester.

In addition to acting as senior partner of Latimer Lee LLP with areas of expertise in commercial litigation, clinical negligence and family proceedings, The Chevalier Lee’s passion for the law has led to several other positions of responsibility. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and in January 2007 was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustee Directors of the 150 year old Solicitors Benevolent Association whose patron is her Majesty the Queen and currently provides financial assistance to over 400 people with nearly £2 million in grants and loans paid out in 2006 with a similar amount likely again in 2007.

The Chevalier also assisted in the establishment of the former Manchester Office of Action for Victims of Medical Accidents, was a founding member of the Manchester Business Committee of Childline and is a committee member of the Manchester Branch of the Royal Society of St George. He is also a Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

His Excellency The Chevalier Lee married his wife Susan in 1976 and the couple have two daughters, Jane who is a solicitor and Vanessa who is a chartered surveyor. He can be reached at freedmanlee@yahoo.co.uk.

Colonel the Chevalier Maurice Janeczko KJ is a Colonel in the New York Guard – Army. He attended the US Army Civil Affairs School, the US Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His military assignments have included Commander of 402 Civil Affairs Battalion, US Army Reserve, Commander of 209th Civil Affairs Regiment, NY Guard, G-2 of 98th Division, US Army Reserve, and J-2 of NY Guard, State Command Headquarters. He was in the US Army Reserve for 32 years. Including his State Guard service, he served in the military for a total of 50 years within the State of New York.

Colonel the Chevalier Janeczko holds B.A. and Ed.M. degrees from the University of Buffalo (now the State University of New York at Buffalo). Before his retirement, he was a Buffalo Schools Parent Counselor for 32 years.

He has extensive involvement as a Freemason, being a 32 degree Mason, a member of the Shrine, a Royal Arch Mason, Cryptic Mason, a member of the Western New York Lodge of Research and Masonic War Veterans, and a Commandery Mason where he serves as Prelate. He acts as Chaplain in a number of these organizations.

Together with the Order’s US Commander, Lt. Colonel the Chevalier Tim Zack KCJ, and with the assistance of Scotland Yard, Colonel the Chevalier Janeczko organized the collection and delivery of over ten million dollars worth of charitable goods to Polish Orphanages. Colonel the Chevalier Janeczko has been a member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute for almost 30 years and is active in the American Legion, Kiwanis and Military Officer Association of America. He served on the board of The Polish Union of America, a national insurance company. He also is a Knight Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem.

As Grand Military Knight, Colonel the Chevalier Janeczko is responsible for the maintenance of the honourable standards of all members of the Order regardless of rank, including conduct, proper wear of insignia and general good order.

He is married to his wife Diana, and lives in Buffalo, USA. He can be reached at gmk@stjoachimorder.org.

Dame Dawn Schneider DCJ has a lifetime of volunteerism and public service. She attended Ontario Ladies College and on graduation went into Women’s College Hospital in Toronto for three years of training to become a Registered Nurse. After practicing locally for ten years, Dame Schneider qualified as both Real Estate Broker and Market Value Appraiser and began full-time work in real estate.

She was very active with both the Mississauga Toronto Real Estate Boards, and sat on many committees including By-Laws, Membership and Ethics. Dame Schneider was on the Ethics Committee and then Chair of the Mississauga Board for five years and served as President of the Real Estate Board in 2000-01. In 1996 she received their Volunteer of the Year award.

Dame Schneider was also active with the Mississauga Symphonies (3) during this time, and in 2000 became President of the Board, serving in this position for the next nine years. During that time she was responsible for a number of their significant fundraising events, including “Home Tours” as well as well as co-chairing "Wine Auctions", "A Taste of the Good Life”, golf tournaments and an annual Beat Beethoven Run. During her presidency, the Mississauga Symphony began a school program to introduce all Grade 7 students in Mississauga to classical music, which now has been adopted and fully integrated into the school programs in Peel.

As Grand Almoner Dame Schneider will oversee the Order’s charitable fundraising efforts internationally on behalf of Grand Chapter, as well as identify and coordinate the recipients of the Order’s charitable donations. Dame Schneider is also a MMLJ of the Order of St Lazarus, where she has also been an active fundraiser. She is married to The Chevalier M. Nugent Schneider KCJ

She can be reached at almoner@stjoachimorder.org.

The Chevalier Arjeh van der Sluis KJ is the Grand Registrar of the Order. Born in The Kingdom of the Netherlands, he immigrated to Canada with his family. The Chevalier Arjeh van der Sluis works for the Government of Canada and is an Officer in the Canadian Forces Reserves. He holds a BSc in Biology and has qualifications and certificates for continued education for his employment with both the Canadian Forces Reserves and the Government of Canada.

Chevalier van der Sluis has been honoured by being appointed to The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem as a Serving Member in recognition of his volunteer service to St. John Ambulance. He has been awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration and he has been invested into the Clan of the Gallant Canadian at the level of Henchman – a Regimental Honour of the Calgary Highlanders of Canada - in recognition of his hard work on Tradition on their behalf and the Canadian Forces in general. In 2007 his family was granted an armorial bearing which is an honour from the Canadian Crown. Chevalier Arjeh van der Sluis was responsible for the process of creating the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal which is an addition to the Canadian Honours system and recognizes peace officers who have served in an exemplary manner.

He has been honoured by with the highest honour awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, that of a Commission as a Kentucky Colonel. Arjeh’s Commission as a Kentucky Colonel was given by the Governor and the Secretary of State for his work in military/Law Enforcement relations between Canada and the United States of America. The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem invested him as a Companion of their National Order of Merit for the same work rendered. In addition, he is a Knight in the Order of St. George – Hungarian, which supports the charitable Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Military Families Fund. In addition, he has received other awards of recognition and achievement for his work both domestic and international. He is active with The Warriors' Day Parade Council, which participates at the Canadian National Exhibition, and is a Master Mason with the Grand Lodge of Canada in Ontario. In addition to other charitable events, is actively involved with his family, in matters of his faith and spirituality, and actively pursues the activities of genealogy, heraldry, ceremonial activities and other historical matters.

He is married to his bride Colleen. They have two children and they reside in the City of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The Chevalier van der Sluis can be reached at registrar@stjoachimorder.org.

The Grand Registrar will be assisted by The Chevalier Ralph Schoenig KJ and The Chevalier Edward Denbeigh KJ, who also both work for the Government of Canada and and have served in the Canadian Forces Reserves. Collectively they will be responsible for maintaining the active roll and membership records of the Order, and such other duties as required.

The Chevalier Schoenig can be reached at gr1@stjoachimorder.org. The Chevalier Denbeigh can reached at gr2@stjoachimorder.org.

The Commander of The United Kingdom Commandery "Edward the Confessor" is H.E. Dr Commander The Chevalier Bryan R. Olive GCJ.

H.E. Dr Commander The Chevalier Olive served as a career Officer for thirty-seven years in the Royal Navy, continuing a three hundred year family tradition of service in the Royal Navy. Whilst serving in the Royal Navy he was seconded to United Kingdom Universities and completed the degrees of BA, BA (Hons), MSc, and PhD, followed by post-Doctoral research in “Decision Making in Complex Systems” for which he received the prestigious award of Defence Fellow to the Armed Forces. His academic qualifications resulted in his appointment to the NATO Research Group and research at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, England. As a further challenge, he also earned his wings and the Private Pilot’s Licence for single engine aeroplanes. The combinations of the disciplines of life in the Royal Navy and the disciplines of the mind in academia were perhaps the catalyst to the decision to engage in Monastic life. After years of training he was accepted as a Benedictine Oblate as part of the Community of Monks in a Benedictine Monastery and lives his life according to the Rule of Benedict.

Some of his many honours include being made a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the ancient Worshipful Company of Carmen – founded by King Henry VIII in 1517. He is a member of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest Regiment in the British Army having been granted its Charter by King Henry VIII in 1537, with the Regiment’s Captain General being Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He is an armiger and bears Arms granted by the College of Arms of England.

H.E. Dr Commander The Chevalier Bryan R. Olive GCJ is a widower with children and grandchildren. He can be reached at olive@stjoachimorder.org.

Assisting the Commander is Dame Cherry Kirkwood-Martin DCJ, who serves as Secretary of the UK Commandery, and can be reached at uk@stjoachimorder.org.

The Commander of the United States Commandery of the Order of Saint Joachim is H.E. LCol The Chevalier Timothy Zack KCJ.

LCol The Chevalier Zack is a career officer with the U.S. Army. He returned to the US in 2006 after a tour of duty in Kuwait to take up his new duties at the Pentagon. He now serves in the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, as the CA/PSYOP Force Integrator, Army Reserve Force Programs. In Kuwait Major The Chevalier Zack served as Country Coalition Officer, Task Force Gator, 377th Theater Support Command, Multi-National Forces - Iraq. Major Zack assisted over 15,000 Soldiers from 28 Coalition Countries in preparation for, and support of, their Iraq combat mission.

During this time he served with distinction, was seriously wounded and received several honours and awards. While in Kuwait, LCol The Chevalier Zack was one of only 12 recipients to ever receive the Polish Army Multi-National Division Award. He also received the Korean Army Multi-National Division Award for his support of Korean operations in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Together with the Order’s Grand Military Knight, Colonel the Chevalier Janeczko KJ, and with the assistance of Scotland Yard, LCol the Chevalier Tim Zack KCJ organized the collection and delivery of over ten million dollars worth of charitable goods to Polish Orphanages.

Among his many military and civil honours, LCol The Chevalier Zack is also a Knight Commander of the Sovereign Military Knights of Jerusalem. He is married to Christina Zawierucha-Zack, a Fulbright Scholar and English teacher at Orchard Park School High School, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Buffalo State College.

H.E. LCol The Chevalier Zack can be reached by email at: zack@stjoachimorder.org.

The Commander of the Canadian Commandery of the Order of Saint Joachim is H.E. The Chevalier M. Nugent Schneider KCJ.

H.E. The Chevalier Schneider KCJ is a founder of Vestcap Investment Management Inc., a firm providing investment management services to individuals, trusts, and estates. H.E. The Chevalier Schneider has 50 years of investment experience and has held senior positions with several major brokerage and investment counselling firms for more than 35 years. He served as Vice Chairman of the investment subsidiary of a large Canadian trust company from 1985 to 1988. His career in the investment industry began in the brokerage business in 1958 and has included professional trading, all aspects of retail and institutional marketing and portfolio management.

H.E. The Chevalier Schneider has served twice as Chairman of The Ontario Club and is a member of the Toronto Club. He is Past President of the Oakville YMCA and a past member of the Rotary Club of Toronto and Mississauga. He is a sponsor of the Georgian Theatre Festival, season sponsor of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. As a lover of jazz music, particularly traditional mainstream jazz and big band swing, H.E. The Chevalier Schneider has acted as sponsor and producer of many concerts in Canada and U.S., which include artists such as Peter Appleyard, Dick Hyman, Walt Levinsky, Derek Smith, Dave Young, Ed Bickert, and many others.

His charitable work includes The Salvation Army, St. Michaels Hospital, Sick Children’s Hospital and “Polo for Palliative Care” through the Order of St. Lazarus, where he is an MMLJ.

H.E. The Chevalier Schneider KCJ succeeds H.E. The Chevalier Stephen Lautens GCJ following his election as Grand Master. He is married to Dame Dawn Schneider DCJ, and can be reached at schneider@stjoachimorder.org.