CME Family Retirements

The CMEA posts a notice of the retirement of all members of the CME family as soon as we are notified. If there is a function marking the retirement, we will need the time, date, place, cost and the name and contact details for the organizer.  It is expected units will initiate appropriate steps to ensure all members of the CME family are duly recognised on completing their service.

You can search our list of retired members by year or by name. Our current records go back to 2006. If you find any errors or omissions in your retirement details or those of another Engineer, let us know and we will fix them.  If you retired before 2006 and want your retirement details posted, send the details to us.  We need the full name, rank, decorations, date of retirement and if possible, a biography of all retiring or retired members. 

Writing a good retirement narrative is an important task and should not be taken lightly.  We owe our departing comrades an appropriate good-bye, thank you and best wishes for the future when they leave.  A narrative reflecting their service, sacrifices and achievements should be recorded and made available to friends and family. Click here for a short guideline that should prove useful if you are the person who has been assigned the honoured task of writing a comrade's retirement narrative.

Retirement Certificates are distributed by the CME Adjutant.  Members requesting these certificates are to complete, save and email the downloadable form below to the CME Adjt  at CMEAdjtGMC@forces.gc.ca.

If there are errors in any retirement notice or if you do not want your retirement details published on our site please contact the Webmaster

CWO D.R.J. Phaneuf, CD

Chief Warrant Officer Phaneuf joined the Canadian Armed Forces in February 1974. Completing Basic Recruit Training at CFB St-Jean he proceeded to CFB Chilliwack for technical training as an Electrical Generating Systems technician at Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.

Chief Warrant Officer Phaneuf deployed to Ismalia Egypt (1976) with UNEF 2 while serving at CFB North Bay (1975-1977), and CFB Bagotville (1977-1981) as a Power Plant Operator. He was…

Biography (12.69 KB)

Maj Jim Buell, CD

Maj Jim Buell will be retiring from the CF on 10 Apr 08 after 24 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the CF and the CME Branch. Jim has accepted an Eng 5 position within the Public Service/DND. He will continue to reside in the Ottawa area.

Congratulations msgs and anecdotes can be sent via e-mail to Mr. Jackson Jennings (Jennings.J@forces.gc.ca) ______________________________________________

Capt René Desaulniers, CD

Capt Desaulniers joined the military in North Bay, Ontario, 15 Aug 1973. After completing basic training, and language training in Dec 1973 at CFB St-Jean, Quebec, Capt Desaulniers moved on to CFS Val D’Or where he began his career as a Refrigeration & Mechanical Technician. After completing his QL 3 RM Tech trg in Chilliwack, British Columbia, he was posted to Penhold, Alberta, where he was promoted to the rank of Cpl in Feb 1978. In Jun 1978, Capt Desaulniers was…

Bilingual biography (251.34 KB)

Tony Thornhill, CD

Well it has come time for Major Tony Thornhill to get those ponies moving and to take his life in a new direction. As of 8 April 2008 after 33 years and 7 months, he will be releasing from the Regular Force and continuing his military adventure with the Air Reserves. He will be working for the Wing Logistics and Engineering Officer at 14 Wing Greenwood. Coincidentally, 14 Wing is the area of this country where Linda and Tony have selected to be their final home.

Biography (24.28 KB)

LCol J.G. Mansfield, CD

LCol J.G. Mansfield, Engineer (00181) will retire from the Canadian Forces on 06 April 2008 after more than 30 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers.

Jeremy Guy (aka "JoJo") Mansfield was born in Vancouver British Columbia on 25 August 1959 to newly arrived immigrants to Canada, Howard and Valerie Mansfield. After his father joined the Canadian Army in 1961, JoJo traveled extensively with his family…

Biography (8.69 KB)

MWO Bob Seebold, CD

1. MWO BOB SEEBOLD WILL RETIRE ON 6 APR 08 AFTER SERVING 31 YRS IN THE REG FORCE.

2. DURING HIS COLOURFUL CAREER, BOB HAS SEEN SERVICE IN CFB CHILLIWACK, CFS BARRINGTON, CFB TRENTON, CFB NORTHBAY,CFS DEBERT, 14 WG GREENWOOD, CFB HALIFAX, CFS GOOSEBAY, AND 143 AEF BRIDGEWATER. DURING HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, BOB ALSO SA SERVICE IN CFS ALERT (3 TIMES), CROATIA AND KANDAHAR.

3. MWO SEEBOLD PLANS TO REMAIN IN THE BRIDGEWATER AREA WITH HIS SPOUSE DONNA.

4.…

Biography (18.63 KB)

Sgt Peter G. Wallbridge, CD

Sgt Peter G. Wallbridge will be retiring after 23 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Sgt Wallbridge joined the CF in Ottawa Ontario, 10 May 1985 under the YTEP program. Upon completion of basic training and his QL3 Field Engineer course, he transferred to regular force at CFB Chilliwack and was posted to 1 CER at CFB Chilliwack.

Sgt Wallbridge was posted to Airfield Damage Repair Sqn at CFB Lahr West Germany, in 1987, where he…

Biography (24 KB)
CME Badge

MWO Bill Norman, CD

1.MWO BILL NORMAN IS RETIRING 28 MAR 08 AFTER 37 PLUS YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CF AND ENGINEER BRANCH. HE JOINED THE CF AS A PLUMBER GAS FITTER IN SEP 70 AND HIS CAREER POSTINGS INCLUDED MONTREAL, BORDEN, HOLBERG, WAINWRIGHT, AND GANDER WHERE HE HAS BEEN SINCE JUL 87. MWO NORMAN DID SEVERAL TOURS IN ALERT AS WELL AS UN TOURS IN CYPRUS AND EGYPT. HE TRANSFERRED FROM THE REGF TO THE PRES RES IN APR 98 WHERE HE HAS SERVED AS A KEY STAFF MEMBER WITH 91 AEF GANDER.…

Biography (6.64 KB)

Sgt Pierre Boivin, CD

Pierre was born in the Province of Quebec in Taschereau/Abitibi and joined the military at the age of 24, 4 years after completing his post graduate degree in Forestry in College of Saint-Foy, Quebec in 1982. He joined the Canadian Forces under the YTEP program and was sworn at the CFRC Victoria, BC as a regular force member in May 1987. Pierre was then sent to St-Jean sur Richelieu, for his recruit course. On completion, he was posted to Borden for his Qualification…

Biography (8.45 KB)

LCol Serge Duplain, CD

 Serge Duplain joined the military in September 1969. He studied at military colleges in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Kinston and graduated with a Baccalaureat in Civil Engineer in June 1975. He started his military career as Air Navigator and was posted to Bagotville with 425 Voodoo Sqn. In 1976, he reclassified as military engineer. Following completion of the CHIMO Course in Chilliwack, he was posted in 1977 to 5 RGC Valcartier. In 1980, he moved to Rouyn-Noranda as…

Biographie bilingue (37.57 KB)
LCol Serge Duplain, CD

MWO JVG "Gilles" St-Onge, CD

MWO Gilles St-Onge will be retiring from the CF on 17 March 08 after 35 plus yrs of dedicated and loyal service to the Canadian Military Engineers and the Canadian Forces.

MWO St-Onge joined the CF on 28 April 1972 as a member of the Royal Canadian Armour Corps. After finishing basic training in St Jean, he was posted to Valcartier for trades training followed by a posting to 12 RBC. In 1975 he was posted to Lahr, Germany with the RCD until 1979, when he returned…

Biography (10.9 KB) , Biographie (11.42 KB)

WO/Adj Simon Blanchet, CD

Warrant Officer Simon Blanchet joined the Canadian Armed Forces as an Infantryman on 04 February 1981 in Quebec City. He served in Valcartier with the 3rd Battalion R22R. He was promoted to caporal in February 1985. In November 1986, he saw the light and remustered to the Electrician trade. After completing his QL3 course he was posted to the CE Section in Valcartier. After completing his QL5 course, he moved in July 1990 to 5 Regiment Génie de Campagne (5 RGC) still in…

Biography (9.74 KB) , Biographie (9.6 KB)

Sgt Mike Pizzacalla, CD

Mike Pizzacalla was born in Welland, Ontario, located in the Niagara wine region. He was recruited into the Infantry YTEP program at CFRC St Catharines in Sep 83. Sgt Pizzacalla completed his Basic Training and Infantry TQ3 Training at CFB Petawawa on 29 Mar 84. As odd as this may sound Mike has never set foot on CFB Cornwallis grounds and likely never will.

Sgt Pizzacalla took his Oath of Allegiance on 25 Jul 84 at CFRC London and began serving as…

WO M.W. (Mark) Feltham, CD

Warrant Officer Mark Feltham is retiring after twenty plus years of dedicated and loyal service. He originally started his military career in the fall of 1985 with The Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. Due to injuries during his Basic Infantry training, he requested a voluntary release from the Canadian Forces. He rejoined the Canadian Forces on 10 Jan 1988 in Halifax and was sent the next day to CFSME in Chilliwack B.C. to start his TQ3 training as a WSPOL Tech…

Biography (24.49 KB)

LCol Miguel Pelletier, CD

LCol Miguel Pelletier will be retiring from the CF on 11 Feb 08 after completing 26 plus years of loyal and dedicated service, with the Canadian Military Engineers.

LCol Pelletier joined the Canadian Forces in 1981 in Toronto. He graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston twice for a Bachelor's and a Master's of Civil Engineering. He was posted to CFB Calgary as CE Utilities Officer and Production Officer; 4 CER as a Troop Commander and Regimental…

Biography (9.92 KB)

Cpl Barney-Patrick Hynes CD

Corporal Barney-Patrick Hynes left the Canadian Forces on 10 February 2008 after 18+ years of loyal and dedicated Service to the CF and the CME Branch as a Combat Engineer. 

Cpl Hynes was born in St. Eustache QC and joined the Canadian Forces on 22 October 1985 in Montreal Quebec.  He served in the following units during his career, CFLRS St Jean QC., CFFS(E), Base Operations CFS Shearwater, CFSATC, Base Operations CFB Ottawa (Uplands), CFSME,…

LCol Marc Desjardins, CD, P Eng, M Eng

Native of Quebec City, LCol Desjardins joined the Army Cadets and the Reserve before enrolling in the Canadian Forces in 1975. In 1980, he obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada in Kingston.

After completing his military engineering training at CFB Chilliwack in February 1981, LCol Desjardins was posted to 1 Construction Engineering Unit (1 CEU). As a project officer, he coordinated the implementation…

Biography (12.95 KB)
LCol Marc Desjardins, CD, P Eng, M Eng

WO Mark Gorman, CD

Mark Gorman joined the Canadian Forces in Sudbury Ontario Sept 1983 as an Artilleryman and completed his TQ2 and TQ3 training in Shilo, Manitoba. He then served with 3RCHA G Bty and was posted to Germany with 1 RCHA Z Bty for four years, achieving the rank of Sgt. On returning to Canada he was posted to 2 RCHA D Bty where he waited for his trade transfer to the Engineer Branch as a RM Tech. He completed his training in Chilliwack, BC and then was posted to Cold Lake AB…

Biography (11.67 KB)

WO Pat Norwood, CD

Warrant Officer Patrick Norwood is retiring after 24+ years of service. He originally started his Military Career with at the Battle School in CFB Shilo in Sept 83 being the first basic crse to be run there since WW2. Upon completion of his Basic Training, joined 1RCHA G Bty and seen sunny places like Suffield, Wainwright, Fort Sill Oklahoma, and Avalanche Control in Revelstoke B.C.

Posted 1985 – 1989 to 1 RCHA Z Bty Lahr Germany for his Bratwurst / Beer drinking…

Biography (17.6 KB)

Maj Mike McInnis, CD

MWO Mike McInnis joined the Canadian Armed Forces on 9 Sept 1983 in Sydney, NS, under the Youth Training Employment Program (YTEP). After successfully completing Basic Training at CFRS Cornwallis in Nov 1983, Mike was sent to 2 CER for OJT trg. In January of 1984, then Pte McInnis attended his QL3 training at CFB Chilliwack and on successful completion he was shipped off to 2 CER Petawawa and assigned to 2 Troop Para where he was quickly loaded on his Jump Course at CABC…

Biography (12.98 KB)

WO Steve Michaud, CD

Warrant Officer Steve Michaud, CD will be retiring from the Canadian Forces effective 3 Jan 08 after 22 years of loyal and dedicated service as a combat engineer.

Sapper Michaud joined the military in Oct 1985 and upon completion of his TQ3 was posted to 5 RGC where he stayed for a couple years before going to Germany for a 5-year posting with 4 CER. During that time, he deployed on OP HARMONY with the R22R 1st Battalion Battle Group…

Biography (11.32 KB)

Capt Gary Oliver, CD

1. CAPTAIN GARY OLIVER, AF ENGR (00189) (FORMER INFMN AND FIRE FTR), RETIRES FROM THE CF ON 02 JAN 08 AFTER MORE THAN 36 YEARS SERVICE TO CANADA, CF AND THE ENGR BRANCH. A FAREWELL RETIREMENT LUNCHEON WILL BE HELD AT THE 9 WING GANDER ALL RANKS MESS 18 DEC 07. HIS ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE FOR JUL WAS POSTPONED BUT HE DEFINITELY PLANS TO RETIRE ON 02 JAN. FOR THOSE WHO SENT CONGRATULATORY WISHES THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN A SCRAPBOOK FOR PRESENTATION. FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE…

Biography (7.41 KB)

Capt Stéphane Michaud

Le capt Stéphane Michaud a transféré dans la force de réserve le 2 jan 08 après plus de 11 années de service dans la force régulière et la Branche du GMC, afin de poursuivre des études académiques. Il y aura un dîner de départ la semaine prochaine afin de lui souhaiter au revoir. Veuillez, envoyer vos messages de félicitations et anecdotes au capt Susan Harris avant lundi le 11 fév 08. (Harris.sk@forces.gc.ca

Biographie (6.97 KB)

Corporal Kyle Scott, MSM (Ret'd)

Born and raised in Whitecourt, Alberta, Kyle joined the Canadian Forces as a Combat Engineer in 2001 and was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. During his career, he deployed on Op GRIZZLY 2002, Op HONOUR 2005, Op ATHENA Roto 2 Kabul 2004, and Op ARCHER Roto 1 Kandahar in 2006. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for actions in Helmand province on 22 July 2006. Kyle was medically released from the Canadian Forces in 2008.

Kyle has been active in veterans…

Cpl Kyle Scott, MiD (Ret'd)

MWO Ronald Martin, CD

1. MWO Ron Martin will retire after 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the C.F.

2. Ron joined the CF on 14 May 1973 as a Med A and changed trade to Struc (Const) Tech in July 1981. He was promoted to CE Supt in Jan 2002 and achieved the rank of MWO in Aug 2005. His never-ending list of postings include CFBs: Borden, Cold Lake, Chatham, Chilliwack, Dundurn, Winnipeg, Valcartier, North Bay, Gagetown, Trenton, and Esquimalt. His deployments include Egypt in…

Biography (7.68 KB)

MCpl Lindsay Sutton, CD

MCpl Lindsay Sutton will retire after 20 years of loyal and dedicated service to the C.F. Lindsay was born in Bay de Verde, NL in July 1964. After graduating high school he went to the Marine Institute of Memorial University of NL in St. John’s, receiving a Marine Diesel Mechanics Certificate in 1985.

In September 1987 Lindsay joined the Canadian Armed Forces at St. John’s, NL. Upon completion of Basic Training from CFRC Cornwallis in December 1987, Lindsay was…

Biography (9.16 KB)

Maj Éric Perrault, CD

Maj Perrault joined the Canadian Forces in June 1978 and entered the Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean that fall. While in college, he balanced his academic studies with summers spent learning English in Kingston, building and blowing up bridges in Chilliwack and trying his hand at Construction Engineering in CFB Valcartier. Upon completion of his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the Royal Military College in Kingston in 1984, 2Lt Perrault faced his first real…

Biography (12.88 KB) , Biographie (14.09 KB)

MWO DC Heath, CD

MWO Heath’s military career started in Newfoundland on 6 Aug 1981 where he enrolled as a 041 Field Engineer and in 1987 he remustered to Str Tech (Const Tech). He didn’t what the trouble of changing hat badges so he stayed within the Engineer family.

As a Sapper, he was posted to 22 Fd Sqn at CFB Gagetown where he was employed in a field section. There he took part in Ex Brave Lion in Norway and RV 83/85/87. After RV 87 he got his remuster to Str Tech. Upon…

Biography (8.28 KB)

Maj Uwe Spätling, CD

Major Uwe Spätling retired from the Regular Force on 26 November 2007. Maj Spätling has transferred to the Primary Reserve after more than 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers.

Major Spätling enrolled in the CF in August 1971 and studied at the Collège Militaire Royale (CMR) in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, graduating with a Baccalaureate in Engineering (Chemical…

Biography (7.88 KB)

Sgt S.J. Downer, CD

1. Sgt Downer will be retiring from the CF on 14 Nov 07 after 20 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the CF and the Engineer Branch;

2. Steve joined the CF on the 09 Oct 1987 as a Cbt Engr and climbed through the ranks to Sgt. He has served proudly in three different trades: 041 Field Engineer, 042 Field Engineer Equipment Operator and finally as a 142 Geomatic Technician. He has served at various bases and stations during his career, 2 CER, CFB Petawawa,…

Biography (8.17 KB)