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.

September 13 in History

On this date in 1954, the Army Survey Establishment became involved with the RCAF in the survey of the Mid-Canada Radar Line.

Class B Employment Opportunity

Version française ci-dessous Members of the CME, The Canadian Military Engineers Branch is seeking applicants for the Branch Adjutant position, which has been advertised as a 3-year Class B opportunity open to both Option 1 and Option 2 annuitants. The Branch Adjutant serves as the primary communications focal point for the CME, ensuring information is communicated effectively across the Branch while supporting the Branch Advisor and Colonel Commandant, serving as Secretary…

MWO John Dugas, CD (Ret'd) Receives the CMEA Commendation

On 7 August 2026, the Canadian Military Engineer Colonel Commandant, Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, CMM, MSM, CD, presented Master Warrant Officer John Dugas, CD (Ret'd) with a CMEA Commendation.  MWO Dugas earned this recognition for his remarkable devotion to serving his fellow disabled veterans, including many retired Combat Engineers, in receiving Service Dogs. John has demonstrated his expertise in raising awareness and funding for PTSD Service Dogs…

LCol Ralph Gienow, OMM, CD, (Ret'd) Receives the CMEA Commendation

On 7 August 2026, the Canadian Military Engineer Colonel Commandant, Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, CMM, MSM, CD presented Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Gienow, OMM, CD, (Retired) with a CMEA Commendation.    LCol Gienow joined the CF in 1960 and retired in 1983 after serving across Canada, the United States, Egypt, The Golan Heights, and Germany.    Ralph has been an active member of the Military Engineer Association…

Double Trouble on the Rouge River

On 15 October 1954, Hurricane HAZEL drenched the Toronto area with 21 cm of rain. There was widespread damage and many bridges were washed out - including two on the Rouge River in Scarborough. At that time, the access to the Municipality of Scarborough from the northeast was via Steeles and Finch Avenues over the Rouge. The steel superstructures of these bridges had been swept away by the torrent.

The Municipality requested the emergency replacement of…

CFSME Gains Trades Accreditation

In 2004, the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) reached a milestone in the long evolution of professionalism in the construction engineering trades. For many decades, CFSME has produced soldiers capable of building, repairing, and sustaining the infrastructure that Accreditation supports operations at home and abroad. Yet civilian recognition of this training remained uneven. 
On 6 December 2004, CFSME received national accreditation from the Ca s: Refrigeration…

Engineers Rescue Trapped Airborne Forces

A memorial at Driel in the Netherlands commemorates the British and Canadian sappers in a little-known Second World War operation called Operation BERLIN. That operation was the evacuation of the remnants of British and Polish airborne troops back across the Rhine River on the night of 25/26 September 1944 after the failure of Operation MARKET GARDEN.

One of the objectives of Operation MARKET GARDEN was to capture the Rhine bridges between Eindhoven and Arnhem with a combination of…

MCpl Alastaire Jon "AJ" McDonald

After more than 10 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MCpl A.J. McDonald, (00339) will retire on 7 October 2026. A Departure with Dignity (DWD) will be held on 3 September 26 at 13:00 tentatively at the Unarmed Combat Room, Base Gym, CFB Edmonton. Members wishing to be added to the fight roaster are encouraged to contact the DWD OPI Capt K.S.C. Ho at: Kyle.Ho@forces.gc.ca . Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.

CHIMO!


MCpl Alastaire Jon McDonald (A.K.A. AJ) was born in Ottawa, Ontario. Raised under the strong influence of his father and grandfather who both proud CAF members, he developed an early appreciation for service, discipline, and commitment. Motivated by a…

WO R.C. “Rollie” Winsor, CD

After more than 29 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, WO R.C. Winsor, CD, (00307) will retire on 2 October 2026. 

Departure with Dignity (DWD) 

A DwD reception will be held on 23 October at 14:00. at the “The Bunker” (Pizza Delight), in Oromocto, NB. If attending, please RSVP to WO W.G. Sutherland at: William.Sutherland@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well-wishes may also be sent to the same address.

CHIMO!


Warrant Officer “Rollie” Winsor joined the CAF in December 1996 as an Infantryman in the 2ND Battalion of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (RNR…

Capt L.K. "Karl" Fugère, CD

After more than 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Capt L.K. Fugère, CD, will retire on 23 September 2026. 

Departure with Dignity (DWD) 

A DWD reception will be held on 18 September at 1400 at the “Tir Nan Og”, in Kingston, ON. Those interested in attending may contact Capt A.E. Lebrun at: Andrew.Lebrun@forces.gc.ca. Those wishing to convey their congratulations, best wishes, or anecdotes are also invited to forward them to the same point of contact.

CHIMO!


Born in Quebec City, Quebec, on 1 February 1973, Karl Fugère joined the 10th Field Engineer Squadron in September 1992 and…

Ralph Edward Donaldson

We regret to advise of the death of Ralph Edward Donaldson at his home in Lantz, NS, on 10 September 2026, at age 92.

Born in Halifax, NS,  Ralph joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at 19 and served for 27 years with the RCAF and the Canadian Military Engineers. Over the years, Ralph was stationed at; Winnipeg MB, Grostenquin (France), Ottawa ON, Greenwood NS, Chibougamu PQ, Red Deer AB, and then back to Ottawa. Ralph also deployed on a six-month tour with the United Nations peacekeepers in Ismailia, Egypt. 

After his uniformed service, Ralph joined the Public Service and continued his engineering work at the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa. After a second retirement, Ralph returned to his family roots in Nova Scotia. 

Helping and volunteering were important to Ralph. He was a Mason and a Philae Shriner as a member of Elmsdale Masonic Temple (C.W. Saunders Lodge 125) and was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Some of the organizations he worked with were: Scouts Canada, the Anglican Church, Habitat for Humanity and the Royal Canadian Legion. 

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Monday, 14 September 2026, at Ettinger Funeral Home {2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie, NS} from where a funeral service will be held 2:00 pm ATL (1 pm EST) on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.

No flowers, please. Memorial donations can be made to the Colchester East-Hants Hospice Society {89 Queen St, Truro, NS B2N 2B2)} Habitat for Humanity, The Victorian Order of Nurses, The Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.  
A livestream of the funeral service can be viewed HERE

Sgt Erven Louie Cestnick, CD (Ret'd)

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Sergeant Erven Louie Cestnick, CD (Ret’d), on 7 September 2026 at the age of 82. 

Born in New Waterford, NS, Erven joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1961 and trained in electronics before remustering to Firefighter. His first posting was Chatham, NB, followed by RCAF Station Marville, France. From there, he served at Bagotville, QC; Greenwood, NS; Goose Bay, NL; and Moose Jaw, SK.  When Moose Jaw closed, Erven began a new phase of his firefighting career when he joined the Public Service Fire Service at CFS Dana, SK.

At CFS Dana, Erven served as the Station Fire Chief, Fire Inspector, and Safety Officer. When the radar stations closed, he transferred to CFB Cornwallis, NS. When CFB Cornwallis closed in 1994, he retired with 10 years of Public Service. 

During his service in Goose Bay, Erven received a Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation, and he received a Base Commander's Commendation while at CFB Cornwallis.

Funeral arrangements will be advised when known. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home

Spr Philip Emberson Weber (Ret’d)

We regret to advise of the sudden death of Sapper Philip Emberson Weber (Ret’d) on 21 August 2026 at his home in Edmonton, AB.

Phil was born in Halifax NS and moved with his parents to eventually live in Fort St. John, BC. Phil joined the Canadian Armed Forces and, after completing his basic Field Engineer training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, he served with a field squadron in Canada. Phil then served in Germany with 4 Field Squadron in the mid-1960s. 

Phil retired from the Canadian Armed Forces upon returning to Canada.  He initially lived in Edmonton but eventually settled in Fort Saskatchewan in 1978, where he worked as a paramedic for Dow Chemical until he retired. 

A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The ALS Society of Alberta.