After more than 31 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, Capt Dean Burgher, MMM, CD, will retire on 04 March 2022. A private Depart with Dignity ceremony will take place at a campsite at a later date yet to be determined. Congratulatory messages and best wishes can be sent to Maj A.J. Peddle at Andrew.peddle@forces.gc.ca.

Captain Dean Burgher joined the Canadian Armed Forces in January 1991 as a Crewman in the Armoured Corps. After seven well spent years as a tanker with the Strathconas and looking for a new challenge, he took an Occupation Transfer to Construction Technician with the Engineers.

Throughout his career, Captain Burgher has had eleven postings, taking him from one coast to the other, and most places in between. He deployed to Bosnia (UNPROFOR) in 1994, the Golan Heights (UNDOF) in 2002, Afghanistan (Op ATHENA) in 2008, and again for the mission close-out in 2011. He had the pleasure of completing the Njimegan March in 2000 and again in 2010 as the 2I/C.

Captain Burgher received the Task Force Commander’s Commendation in 2008 for his leadership in constructing FOB Frontenac in Afghanistan. In 2018, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Military Merit.

In 2013, Captain Burgher was posted to the Language School to take a year-long course. He swears that second language training was his hardest challenge ever. Following that year of hardship, he accepted a posting to a French unit in Bagotville as the Sgt-Maj, where he spoke like a Cro-Magnon man, but in French.

After spending a couple years as the Atlantic Regional UCWO for RP Ops, Captain Burgher was posted to Winnipeg as the Senior Occupational Advisor / A4 CE Directorate CWO. Without returning to French-Camp, the writing was on the wall - he would end up in Ottawa. Captain Burgher swallowed his pride and accepted SRCP to fill a position on the East Coast as a Captain.

Dean has been married for 30 years to Karan (although she would claim it seems more like 60), a patient, dedicated military member of 21 years. They are the proud parents of Tim (Edmonton) and Christina (Halifax). Although originally from the West Coast, Chief Warrant Officer Burgher sold his soul to land on the East Coast where he and Karan intend on spending their retirement years. You will find them tearing up the asphalt on his bike, ripping through trails on their quads, paddling oceans and lakes in their kayaks, or cooking over a fire at a campsite while enjoying a cold libation or two. All are welcome.