Canadian Military Engineers Association

The CMEA is a dynamic association open to all members of the Canadian Military Engineer family. Since its formation in 2000, it has grown to over 2500 members with more than 21 Chapters and six affiliated Reserve units spread across the country.
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June 5 in History

On this date in 1944, between 8 May and 5 June, the RCE in Italy had built 31 bridges totalling 2300 feet in length. The longest was 170-foot Triple-Single Load Class 9 Bailey bridge.

News

Sapper Story – Lt Jaeyoung Seo – The Man in the Arena

Article By: Capt Kyle Ho, RPOU(W) Operations Officer 2 During Asian Heritage Month (AHM), we recognize the proud contributions of Canadians of Asian origin whose service strengthens the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Among them is Lieutenant (Lt) Jaeyoung (Dave) Seo, a young officer whose determination, discipline, and pursuit of excellence reflect both his heritage and the core values of the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE). Born in 2002, Lt Seo enrolled in the CAF through the…

CME Retirements for May 2026

The CME would like to announce the release or retirement of the following members (no biographies submitted): After more than 25 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, WO C.J. Vance, CD, (00307) will retire on 1 December 2026. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to WO D.W. Drydak: derek.drydak@forces.gc.ca After more than 22 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the…

CMEA Bursary Program 2026 – Call for Applications

CMEA Members, Applications for the CMEA Bursary Program 2026 are open to CMEA members and their dependents. Applications must be received before 31 July 2026. See the CMEA website for additional information: CMEA Bursary Program | Canadian Military Engineers (cmea-agmc.ca) CHIMO!

Heritage Moments

All Saint’s Church, South Merstham after German Bombing

Engineers and the Reconstruction All Saints Church

The arrival of large numbers of troops in the United Kingdom, during the first years of the Second World War, created a crisis in accommodation and training facilities. The Royal Canadian Engineers soon found themselves involved in construction projects. Even the Divisional Engineers companies, whose primary activity was training for operations, were tasked with the construction of their own barracks and other facilities. Some of the construction tasks involving Royal Canadian Engineer…

Churchill AVRE with fascine mounted

An Engineer Solves a Dieppe Problem

An analysis of the Dieppe Raid in August 1941 identified the need for the protection of engineer demolition parties breaching obstacles. It was decided that the Engineers should have tanks and the problem was given to the Tank Design Division to resolve. Within eight days, Lieutenant John Denovan, RCE, a Canadian liaison officer with the Division, produced rough drawings and specifications for a vehicle to protect engineers based on a Churchill Tank. His concept was supported, but due to a…

The Order of the Pukka Sapper

Among the many customs that shape the identity of the Canadian Military Engineers, few are as distinctively Canadian - or as deeply rooted in Engineer culture - as the Order of the Pukka Sapper. This tradition is unique and stands apart as a uniquely Canadian expression of gratitude, fellowship, and engineer spirit.

The term pukka, drawn from Hindi and adopted into British military slang, conveys the idea of something “genuine, of good quality, reliable.” Canadian engineers embraced…

Retirements

MWO/Adjum M.D.A. Carter, CD

After more than 20 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MWO M.D.A. Carter, CD, (00307) will retire on 24 August 2026. 

Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to WO J.J.D. St-Louis at: johnatan.st-louis@forces.gc.ca

Master Warrant Officer Matthew D. A. Carter, CD has served in the Canadian Armed Forces since 19 January 2006 as a member of the Regular Force. He is a Canadian Military Engineer specializing as a Construction Engineering Superintendent (CE SUPT).

Originally from Kentville, Nova Scotia, MWO Carter began his military career in the Primary Reserve with The West Nova Scotia Regiment before transferring to the Regular Force and

joining…

Cpl B. Ouellette

After more than 9 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Cpl B. Ouellette, will be released on 3 June 2026. 

Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to Sgt J. Huard: joey.huard@forces.gc.ca

Corporal Bruno Ouellette enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces on 18 July 2008 at the Rimouski Detachment of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC Quebec). Corporal Ouellette was posted to the Naval Fleet School (Pacific) in Victoria, British Columbia, where he completed his basic occupational training in naval electrical systems. 

In 2009, he was transferred to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and posted to Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Québec, where he served as a Marine…

Cpl R.P. Bostad

After more than 6 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Cpl R.P. Bostad, (00301) will be released on 3 June 2026.

Departure with Dignity (DWD) 
A DwD reception will be held on 29 May at 1200 at Ken's Diner (Edmonton). If attending, please RSVP to MCpl G. Alger: Gustine.Alger@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.

After more than six years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, Corporal Robert “Rob” P. Bostad, will retire on 03 June 2026.

 Cpl Bostad was raised on a small hobby farm in central Ontario, where he developed foundational values of hard work, self-reliance, loyalty, and…

Last Posts

LAC Gerald Moulton (Ret’d)

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Leading Aircraftman Gerald Moulton (Ret’d) on 22 May  2026, peacefully at his home in Epworth NL, in his 80th year. 

Gerald was born in Burin NL and spent some early years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Firefighter. Following his retirement from the Canadian Forces, he worked as an auto mechanic in various garages on the Newfoundland peninsula, at  Fishery Products International,  the Marystown Shipyard, and in the Newfoundland offshore. 

In keeping with his wishes, Gerald has been cremated. A family gathering was held on 24 May 24 at Serenity Funeral Home in Salt Pond, Burin.

Gerald’s ashes will be scattered in Epworth at a later date, where family and friends can come together to celebrate his life. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

MCpl Richard “Rick” Cayley ( Ret’d)


We regret to advise of the death of  Master Corporal Richard “Rick” Cayley ( Ret’d) on 8 May 2026 at the age of 65.

Rick was Vice President of the Edmonton Airborne Social Club. His service with the Canadian Military Engineers covered the period 1980 - 1995 with 22 Field Squadron/4 Engineer Support Regiment and with the Airborne Grouping in 2 Combat Engineer Regiment.  He also deployed to Canadian Forces Station Alert in 1983.

A private family service will be held at a later date.  Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

 

MCpl Gregory Graeme Fairlie, CD (Ret’d)

We regret to advise of the death of Master Corporal  Gregory Graeme Fairlie, CD (Ret’d) of Fort Saskatchewan on 16 May 2026 at the age of 51. 

Greg was born in Fort Saskatchewan and served with 8 Field Engineer Regiment/41 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton from 1996 to 2024. His service included a deployment in 1999-2000 with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment on Op PALLADIUM Roto 6 as part of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia.

A celebration of life was held on 29 May 2026 at the Fort Saskatchewan Legion at 5:00 pm. 
In lieu of flowers, donations to a financial fund for the children would be greatly appreciated.