After more than 22 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, CWO Y.J.P. Lacasse, CD, will retire on 29 September 2025. A DwD reception will be held on 4 Sep at 12:30 at the Lone Star Texas Grill, 4048 Carling Ave, Kanata, ON. If attending, please RSVP to Benoit Gagnon: benoit.gagnon3@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes, photos, retirement wishes may be sent to the same person.

Chief Warrant Officer Yves Lacasse was born in Quebec City and enlisted as an infantry soldier in the Royal 22e Régiment in 1991 for a period of three years before returning to civilian life. In 2003, he rejoined the Canadian Armed Forces as a firefighter and in 2004, he was posted to 3 Wing Bagotville where he completed several
operations in Canada's North: particularly in Inuvik, Iqaluit and Yellowknife. In 2007, he was posted to 17 Wing Winnipeg. In 2008, he participated in Exercise Silver Flag at Tyndall Air Force Base in the state of Florida. In 2009, he formed the first firefighter team to represent the CAF at the World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver where he set a new world record in rescue.
Promoted to master corporal in 2010, he was then posted to the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School as a Section Officer Commander. In 2011, he transferred to the Royal Military College St-Jean as Master corporal of Operations and Chief Fire Inspector.
In 2012, he participated in Operation BOXTOP at CFS Alert. In 2013, after a short period on the HMCS PROTECTEUR,he was posted to HMCS CALGARY with the Maritime Forces Pacific, CFB Esquimalt, British
Columbia.
He was promoted to sergeant in 2014 and in 2015, he was transferred to HMCS WINNIPEG as
senior firefighter to participate in Operation CARIBBE, which is an anti-drug operation in the
Caribbean Sea with the US Coast Guard. Following OP CARIBBE, he deployed on Operation
REASSURANCE in the Mediterranean Sea to strengthen NATO's collective defense. Upon his
return from his mission, he was posted to the Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific) as a
leadership instructor.
In 2016, he is once again posted, direction Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy at CFB
Borden as a course director. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and
assumed the Sergeant Major’s position. During this period, he participated in the creation of the
National Defense Fire Service Carcinogen Prevention Program, a National Program who was
adopted by several fire service across the country and in France. In 2018, he was part of the first
Canadian contingent to participate in the DoD Warrior Games in Colorado Springs and was
honoured to be the torchbearer during the opening ceremonies of the Games. In 2019, he is
posted to the Royal Canadian Air Force Academy as Squadron Commander.
Promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officer in 2020, he returned to 17 Wing Winnipeg as
Fire Chief. In 2021, he is again called upon to be posted and headed to Ottawa to assume the
career manager’s responsibilities.
Chief Warrant Officer Lacasse was promoted to his current rank in August 2022 and assigned to
the Canadian Forces Fire Marshall office as Senior Occupational Advisor for the 00149
Firefighter trade. During that time, CWO Lacasse participated in the creation and championed
the Inclusivity Program in the National Defense Fire Service. It is in March 2024 that CWO
Lacasse joined the Ottawa Transition Centre to complete his final posting. Chief Warrant Officer
Lacasse plans to enjoy his time off with his wife Melanie doing sightseeing on his motorcycle
and spending as much family time as possible with their three children: Megan, Justin and
Maverick.