Canadian Military Engineers Association

We regret to advise of the death of Colonel Earl Vincent Schaubel Jr., CD (Ret’d), peacefully, on 9 October 2026, at Bridlewood Trails Retirement Community in Kanata, ON at age 91.

Born in Chippawa ON, Earl later moved with his family to Ottawa, where he attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute. He began his military education under the Regular Officer Training Plan in 1953, attending Royal Roads Military College in British Columbia. Continuing to the  Royal Military College in Kingston, Earl earned an engineering diploma and subsequently completed a degree in civil engineering at McGill University.

Earl’s military career spanned nearly three decades and included field engineering, surveying and mapping, training and staff appointments. He was posted to the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack in 1958 and became Assistant Adjutant the next year. Earle next attended the Long Survey Course at the School of Military Survey in Hermitage, Newbury, United Kingdom (1961- 62). Following this course, he undertook survey work at Vimy Ridge for British authorities. Returning to Canada, Earl became the Field Survey Officer and Training Officer at the Army Survey Establishment.

In 1964, Earl was posted to 1 Field Squadron at Petawawa ON as a troop commander and, later, as the Second-in-Command. He was posted to 25 Works Company in Petawawa in October 1965, and became Base Construction Engineering Officer in October 1966. After completing  the Canadian Forces Staff College in Toronto (1967-68), Earl returned to the military mapping community as Officer Commanding Survey Division at the Mapping and Charting Establishment. The next year, he became Head of the Topographic Section in the Directorate of Mapping and Charting.

Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1972, Earl was appointed Commanding Officer of MCE. Two years later, he was posted to Headquarters Training Command in Winnipeg as Senior Staff Officer, Leadership Training. In 1978, Earl returned to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa as Head of the Topographic Section within the Directorate General Military Engineering Operations. For his final posting, he became Director of Cartographic Operations in 1979..

Earl retired from the Canadian Forces in August 1981 and joined the federal Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, eventually becoming Director of Topographic Mapping. He retired from the Public Service in 1995.

A celebration of Earl’s life will be held Saturday, 14 November 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., at Beechwood National Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada in memory of Earl Vincent Schaubel.  Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. 
 

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Alvin Norman “Al” Spruce, CD (Ret’d), of Cold Lake, AB, on 1 October 2026, at the age of 89. Al served the Canadian Military Engineers for more than 38 years as a Combat Engineer with Airborne specialty.

Born in Ingersoll ON, Al joined the Royal Canadian Engineers at the age of 16 in 1953 with the 2^nd Intake of the Sapper Apprentices. After completing his basic Sapper training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC in 1955, Al’s first posting was to 4 Field Squadron in Werl Germany - a unit he was eventually to serve as Regimental Sergeant Major.

Returning to Canada, Al served with 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON for 10 years before returning to Germany and serving for the second time with 4 Field Squadron. He returned to Canada in 1970, where he was first posted to 5 Régiment du génie de combat in Valcartier QC, followed by a Regular Support Staff posting with 3 Field Engineer Regiment in Montreal, QC.

Al was next posted to 1 Airborne Field Squadron in Edmonton AB, for a three-year tour, followed by a return to 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa (now named 2 Combat Engineer Regiment), where he became the Regimental Sergeant Major.  Returning to Germany for the third time, Al was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of 4 Combat Engineer Regiment (1982-84).

For his last posting, Al returned to Canada to Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake AB, where he served for 10 years at the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range. Retiring from the Regular Force and transferring to the Reserve Force, Al supported the Cold Lake Cadet Camp for the next ten years. 

In accordance with Al’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral service will be held. If desired, donations may be made to the Cold Lake Legion (1007 - 7 Ave, Cold Lake, AB T9M 0C4). Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Leading Aircraftman Gerry Lindsay Pickett of Wasaga Beach ON,  on 30 September 2026 at age 83.

Born on Fair Island NL, Gerry joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at a young age as a Crash Rescue Firefighter. His career took him across Canada including Chatham NB and Bagotville QC and led to his becoming the Fire Chief for the US Navy Base in Argentia and then Fire Marshal in Iqaluit NU, where he retired. He later moved to Wasaga Beach ON. Gerry gave many years of dedicated service to the Lions Club, including involvement at the provincial level. 

In keeping with Gerry’s wishes, cremation has taken place.  A Memorial Service was held in the chapel of the Henry Walser Funeral Home.  As expressions of sympathy, donations to Innisfree House would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.