CME Family Retirements

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.…

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…

 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 1^st Battalion Battle Group…

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…

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) 

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

MAJOR CHRIS CAMBRIDGE WILL RETIRE FROM THE CF ON 3 JULY 2007 AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CANADA, THE CF AND THE ENGR BRANCH.

MAJOR CAMBRIDGE ENROLLED IN 1977 AS A MILITARY MUSICIAN AND HAD TOURS IN ESQUIMALT, HALIFAX AND THEN ESQUIMALT AGAIN BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE AIR COMMAND BAND IN 1987 AS A CLARINETTIST, BACK-UP VOCALIST AND DRUM MAJOR. DURING ALL THAT TIME HE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS CANADIAN AND INTERNATIONAL FORUMS INCLUDING TATOOS, ROYAL VISITS…

1. Capt Chrétien will be retiring from the CF on 05 Nov 07 after 36 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the CF and the Engineer Branch.

2. Capt Chrétien joined the CF on the 03 February 1971 as a 612 STR Tech. He rose through the ranks from private to CWO, which he received in 1990. The 03 June 2000, Capt Chrétien joined the Officer’s rank as a captain.

3. He has served at 3 Wing Bagotville x 3, CFB St-Jean, CFB Montréal x 2, Ottawa (DG IRP), CFB…

1. AFTER 27 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN FORCES, THE ARMY, AND THE ENGINEER BRANCH, MAJOR AL JENSEN WILL RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY ON 5 NOV 07.

2. MAJOR AL JENSEN WAS BORN IN BADEN-SOELLINGEN, GERMANY ON 09 JUNE 1962. HE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA (KINGSTON, ONTARIO) IN 1985 WITH A DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (APPLIED). UPON GRADUATION FROM ENGINEER OFFICER TRAINING FROM CFSME IN 1985, HE THEN EMBARKED ON A CAREER…

MWO Arsenault has decided to leave the Military after 29 plus years of service to Queen and Country. He joined the Canadian Forces in Toronto on the 15 Feb 1978 and on the 24 Feb he was off to CFB Cornwallis. Once basic training was completed he proceeded to Chilliwack for Electrician Trades training. Upon graduation he was posted to 4 ESR Gagetown to start his apprentice training as an Electrician. In 1980 he was posted to CFB Borden and in 1985 he was posted to CFB…

WO Mathieu signed up in Quebec city, joining the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist in 1979 and then the Regular Force in Aug 1984 as an Infantryman. After 4 years with the infantry back from Cyprus, WO Mathieu came in realisation that it was time for a change. In 1988, he graduated from the Fire Academy as an Apprentice and was transferred to CFB Shearwater from 1988 – 1992.

In 1992, he was posted to CFB Borden until 1994 from there back to the salty air to HMCS…

MCpl Ward will be retiring after 23 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Forces and Canada.

MCpl Ward joined the Canadian Forces on 01 Feb 1983. He then went of to Cornwallis, NS for his recruit training. Thereafter, he was off to CFB Borden to become a Supply Technician. His Supply Technician training and knowledge provided postings to; Edmonton, Holdberg, Gander and Calgary.

Changing trades in September 2001, he entered the halls of…

On 31 October 2007, after 21 + years of loyal and dedicated service to the CF, the Engineer Branch and Country, Warrant Officer Alan Burden will retire from the CF.

WO Burden joined the Canadian Forces in October 1983 as a YTEP Safety Systems Technician. Following his Safety System training and being forced to remuster to MSE OP or Supply he decided to return to Newfoundland to seek greater opportunities. After a two year stint working at a GM garage he decided to…