Published May 31, 2025
After more than 30 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Capt K. Munro, CD, retired on 21 April 2025. Capt Munro has elected not to have a DWD but instead will celebrate his retirement amongst a small group of friends and family at a future date and location TBD. Messages and well wishes may be sent to Kevin.Stevens@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.
CHIMO!
Ken Munro joined the Canadian Forces in April 1990 in Victoria, BC as a 022 AD Artilleryman. After completion of boot camp in Cornwallis, NS, he was posted to RCA Battle School in Shilo, MB. He completed Battle School, and was subsequently posted to 119 AD Bty in CFB Chatham, NB. During this time, he deployed many, many times to Gagetown, and Tracadie for training exercises including Brigade and Airfield IOCs for the ADATS Wpn system. A draw to pull him West closer to family, meant a remuster to 411 vehicle technician in Jan 1995. After completing his QL3, he was posted to CFB Edmonton and attach posted to 1 Svc BN at CFB Calgary. Calgary was closed in the summer of 1996, and as a result Ken and his colleagues spent 9 wonderful weeks in Wainright while waiting for infrastructure to materialize so the BN could re-deploy to their new home at CFB Edmonton. Ken worked in Forward Repair Group (FRG) where he spent most of his time working on armoured vehicles, including 2nd line repairs on the Leopard C1A2 Main Battle Tank. During his seven yrs as a vehicle tech, Ken deployed on several exercises to Suffield and Wainright, and his first overseas deployment to Kosovo in 1999 on OP KINETIC. Always putting service before self, Ken applied for and joined the Namao Fire Dept just down the road from the base. He served in that fire hall from 1995-2002, where he transferred to the fire hall in Gibbons, AB after buying a home in that community. Well known throughout the County, Ken was quickly asked if he would accept nominations for leadership positions at his new fire hall. It wasn’t too long before he was promoted to Lt on a crew, and was subsequently nominated the following year, and in 2003, he was elected as the Deputy Fire Chief. He served in that capacity until 2006, due to a posting to Cold Lake. During this same time frame, Ken had applied for and was accepted to remuster into the fire trade in the CAF. On completion of his QL3, he was posted back to CFB Edmonton where he began his career as a firefighter in the CAF. In April 2006, he was promoted to MCpl and posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake, where he spent two years, and was posted back to CFB Edmonton in 2008. He attended his QL6 in April 2009, and was subsequently promoted to Sgt, and posted to HMCS VANCOUVER where he served as the Snr FF from 2009-2012. During those three years, he amassed 366 days at sea, deployed on RIMPAC, JIATF South, West Ploy, South Ploy, many local sails and finally an 8 month deployment to the Mediterranean on OP UNIFIED PROTECTOR. Ken was then posted to CFB Comox in July 2012. Seeking a new challenge, Ken retired from the CAF in Dec 2012 and went to work in the oil patch as the Site Emergency Services Coordinator at the Kearl Lake project. He worked there for two years until a change of scenery called him again, where he drove Vac truck in the Edmonton area again until his re-enrollment in the CAF. It didn’t take Ken long to get back in routine, and was appointed team lead to instruct the Army of the West wildland FF skills for deployment on OP LENTUS. Ken was promoted to WO in 2016, where he and his crew, were again tasked with wildland FF trg for 1 Brigade. Seeing this requirement grow, Ken was deployed with the IRU (1 CER and 3 VP) on OP LENTUS later that summer, where he was the J2 Int Fire for the IRU and LO between the BC Provincial Wildfire Authorities, RCMP, and the CAF. He remained in that role for 7 weeks until the IRU was stood down and RTU. He deployed again in the same role in 2018 for another 7 weeks, this time with 3 VP and the LDSH (RC). In 2019, Ken was on the move again… this time, he was promoted to MWO and posted to 19 Wing Comox as the Deputy Fire Chief. During his three years in Comox, he was the Comd Team partner to three fire chiefs, was the A/SCWO for a
combined time of 8 months. There were a few significant events that happened during his posting including a large grass fire in the airfield during a heat dome in 2020, and a barrack block explosion in Nov 2021. Significant efforts by his colleagues at the fire hall, helped minimize property loss and certainly saved the life of a Mbr who was trapped under rubble from the explosion. Apparently, his leadership and character were recognized, and Ken was promoted to CWO in 2022, where he was on the move again, this time to 1 CAD as the RCAF Deputy Fire Marshal. On arrival in Winnipeg, Ken was quickly notified he would be the A/RCAF Fire Marshal. He attended several career courses as a CWO and conducted several compliance review audits across the RCAF and was also brought to CFFCA as a guest lecturer on two QL7 courses. In Sep 2023, Ken was asked if he would fill in as the interim CFFM CWO. Never one to back down from a challenge, Ken accepted the request where he put significant efforts in to provide sound effective advice to the CFFM, while still conducting his other duties in 1 CAD. He managed three full time positions until a Mbr was promoted and posted into the CFFM CWO position. In late 2023, some personal events were taking place, and there was a significant requirement for Ken and his wife Lana to return to AB to help look after family. It was then, Ken applied for and was accepted for SRCP. Ken was commissioned in the summer of 2024, and was posted to the Fire Chief position at 4 Wg Cold Lake, however, he was to remain working for 1 CAD out of his home in Smoky Lake. Finally, his health became the priority, and it is for this reason Ken has decided to finally run his last call. Ken has served for over 30 yrs in the CAF and retired on 21 April 2025. He is grateful for the career the CAF provided him and is very humbled to have worked with so many talented and dedicated folks in the Artillery, RCEME, and NDFS. He is eternally grateful to his wife Lana and his family for all their support and sacrifices. Without them, he could not have accomplished all he has in his career. Ken and Lana have moved onto the farm in Smoky Lake, AB, where they hope to continue living life to the fullest and enjoying time hunting, fishing, attending family events, and cheering on grandsons in their sporting events.
Messages of well wishes and anecdotes may be sent to Kevin.Stevens@forces.gc.ca