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.
Learn More

November 10 in History

On this date in 1926, Lt-Col J.P. Fell was appointed honourary Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th District Engineers, the first such appointment in the Canadian Engineers.

News

Five Wanamaker Sappers from Saskatchewan

Every now and then, you come across an extraordinary story about a Canadian family's contribution to the Second World War effort. While it wasn't unusual for families to have more than one child serving overseas, having five sons and a daughter in uniform is truly remarkable! Such was the incredible service of the Wanamaker family from Nipawin, Saskatchewan. Five brothers—William, Frederick, John, George, and Robert—all enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers in Europe.…

Royal Canadian Legion Names Silver Cross Mother

Reprinted from Legion Magazine The Royal Canadian Legion is honoured to present Mrs. Virginia Hicks, from the community of Frankford, Ontario, as this year’s National Silver Cross Mother. On November 11, she will place a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.  “Her presence on behalf of all mothers is so incredibly meaningful,” says Sharon McKeown, Dominion President. “In sharing her daughter’s story, we are all reminded with deep gratitude, of the incredible…

Our Legacy - Operation GRANITE II Souvenir Booklet

The Operation GRANITE II Souvenir Booklet, along with a souvenir coin, was presented to guests and dignitaries who attended the event last July as a commemorative keepsake of their visit. To preserve the booklet and make its story available to a wider audience, the planning committee has now converted it into an online Flipbook. The booklet chronicles the history of the All Sappers Cenotaph, from its original conception and planning through its construction, dedication, and…

Heritage Moments

Canadian Tunnellers Tackle Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is the key to the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Thrusting 1300 feet above the Spanish plain on the Bay of Algeciras, the Rock of Gibraltar has been a great British fortress and an important defensive outpost since its acquisition in 1704. Through the years the Royal Engineers had excavated tunnels and galleries in the rock for defensive purposes.

During World War II Gibraltar was a major naval and air…

Engineers in the Land of Morning Calm

The Korean War presented a major challenge to military engineers because of the nature of the terrain. Korea was a land of mountains interlaced with rice patties in the valleys and there were few roads capable of carrying sustained heavy military traffic. The area was also subject to heavy monsoon rains that seemed to destroy roads and bridges annually. In 1950, 57th Independent Field Squadron was the first of the Royal Canadian Engineer units of the Canadian Army…

Fortress Louisburg Is Restored

The military engineers of France and England planned and constructed their vital fortifications in the New World.  At the end of Queen Anne’s War in 1713, France gave up her claim to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, except for the island of Cape Breton (Isle Royale) and planned a fortress at Louisbourg to control the sea approach to Quebec.

The original French settling party of 116 men included the French military engineer L’Hermitte from Newfoundland, as well as a militia and…

Retirements

Major Adam Beaver, CD

After more than 24 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Maj A.D. Beaver, CD will retire on 9 November 2026.

Departure with Dignity (DWD) 

A DWD ceremony has already been held. Those wishing to convey their congratulations, best wishes, or share anecdotes are invited to forward them to Meghan Vermette at Meghan.Vermette@forces.gc.ca.

Major Adam Beaver enrolled in the CAF in June 2002 in the Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) and attended Dalhousie University, graduating in 2007 with a BSc in Mathematics. On graduating, he spent one year in Gagetown, NB at CFSME before returning to Formation Construction Engineering(FCE) in CFB…

MWO Gareth Davey, CD

MWO Gareth Davey joined the Canadian Armed Forces on 29 OCT 1996 with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (WR), where he completed his Pres Infantry QL3, Machine gunner course and Assault Pioneer Course. In the Summer of 1998 Cpl Davey was tasked to 1 ESU to build the Direct Fire Target System in Petawawa specifically the range clearance for all the access roads and target locations. It was during that task he found out he particularly enjoyed poking about for UXO’s. Upon his return home that fall he applied for his component transfer. In the spring of 2000, he received his message to attend QL3 Combat Engineer in Gagetown, completing his course in Oct 2000. On 6 Oct 2000, Sapper Davey arrived at 2 CER, 23 Fd Sqn. completing driver tracked, LOSV, QL5a and AVGP course before deploying on OP PALADIUM roto 13, Bosnia and…

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…

Last Posts

CWO George Harris CD (Ret’d)

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer George Harris CD (Ret’d) on  2 November 2026 at age 95.

Born in Lethbridge NL, George was the second eldest of 16 children. After working in lumber camps doing various jobs and working on a dam construction project, George joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954. As a Mechanical and Electrical Systems Technician, George was posted twice to Germany, France, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Alberta, and to Saskatchewan and Manitoba. He also deployed to the Former Yugoslavia.  George retired in 1986 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.

Cremation has taken place. At George’s request, there will be no memorial service.  In his memory, donations may be made to the War Amps. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.  

Maj Thomas Higgins, CD (Ret’d)

We regret to advise of the death of Major Thomas “Tom” Higgins, CD (Ret’d) of Abbotsford BC, on 27 October 2026.  Tom served a full 35-year career with the Canadian Military Engineers as a Field Engineer and a Construction Engineer, and as a Non-Commissioned Member and a Commissioned Officer.

Tom joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1953 as a Sapper Apprentice in the Second Intake. Upon completing his training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, he was posted ‘across the road’ to 3 Field Squadron. Qualifying as a parachutist, Tom was posted to 1 Airborne Troop, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) in Edmonton, AB.

Tom deployed with 1 Middle East Detachment, RCE, as part of United Nations Emergency Force I. Returning to Canada, he joined 11 Works Company in Victoria, BC but was soon on the move again when he joined 4 Field Squadron in Werl Germany. Tom returned to Canada for successive tours in Construction Engineering, first with 7 Works Company in Camp Gagetown, followed by the Base Construction Engineering Section in Ottawa (Rockcliffe).

While stationed at Rockcliffe, in 1969 Sergeant Higgins was selected for Commissioning from the Ranks to Lieutenant.. After his Military Engineering Officer training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME), he was posted to the Construction Engineering Section at Cold Lake AB.  Following this tour, Tom returned to CFSME as the Mechanical Systems Troop Commander and, upon promotion, became BCEO at CFB Suffield in 1977. Following his Suffield tour, Tom returned to CFSME in 1981 for a four-year tour as Officer Commanding Construction Engineering Training Squadron. His final posting was as BCEO Chilliwack after which he retired from the Canadian Forces in 1988.

Following his military service, Tom worked with the cities of Matsqui, then Abbotsford, as their Manager of Inspection Services. 

Funeral arrangements will be advised when available. 

MWO Richard “Rick” Overton, CD (Ret'd)

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Richard “Rick” Overton, CD (Ret'd), at Parkwood Institute's Veterans Care Program in London, ON, on 13 October 2026.

Rick began his military career with the Canadian Military Engineers in 1968 as a Structures Technician, a trade later renamed Construction Technician. He served for 35 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Military Engineers, retiring as a Construction Engineer Superintendent at the rank of Master Warrant Officer.  

During his career, Rick was posted to Petawawa, Borden, the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, London, North Bay and Trenton. In addition to countless exercises and projects at home and abroad, his deployments took him to Egypt, Alert, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia. Rick’s final posting was to London where he took his retirement from the Canadian Forces and settled in Strathroy, ON.

In accordance with Rick's wishes, a private family interment was held on 26 October 2026 at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2001 Dundas Street, London, Ontario. If you are in the area, Rick would welcome a visit - simply look for the stone that says "Chimo."

Those wishing to make a donation in Rick's memory are asked to consider the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Society of Canada or Parkinson Canada.