Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan was conferred the rank of Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) in a ceremony presided by Knights of Rizal Canada's Sir Lapulapu Cana, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR) and Canada Region Commander Sir George R. Poblete, Knight Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR), on 2 December 2011 in Scarborough, Ontario.

Following his initiation to the Knights of Rizal in Brussels, Belgium and his elevation to KCR, Ambassador Gatan plans to reactivate the Knight of Rizal (KOR) Ottawa Chapter and help the Order of the KOR in civic and community projects.