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June Madonna Paris was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was the daughter of D-Day veteran Gerald Parris and Yvonne Talbot. She has eleven siblings. June attended St Steven’s school in Halifax in her early childhood years and attended St Pat’s school in Halifax for high school.
June worked in the insurance industry for 7 years before enlisting in the Canadian forces in 1980.
June joined as an administration clerk and served in Halifax, Toronto, London and Hamilton from 1980 to 2015, retiring from the forces at the Rank of Sergeant.
June was awarded Chief of Defence Staff Commendation, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canada 125 Medal, Canadian Force Decoration with 2nd Clasp.
June is happily married to Manuel Downey and has 1 son Cory and two grandchildren.
June’s grandfather Seldon Thomas Parris served in Canada’s Segregated No.2 Construction Battalion and his image appears on the 2016 Canada Post’s 100th Anniversary of No 2 Construction Bn Commemorative Stamp. Three of her siblings also served in the Canadian Forces.