CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Qasem Mahmud on 26 June 2017 in Ottawa ON. Qasem was a Professional Engineer with decades of service in the Canadian public sector that included Engineering and Architectural staff in ADM (IE) at National Defence Headquarters. He was a visionary leader in the National Capital Region Muslim community.

Born in Haifa, Mandated Palestine, Qasem was an engineering graduate of Cairo University. He emigrated to Canada in 1963 and, within three years of arriving, he formed the Hamilton Muslim Association. Three years later he set up the first weekly Islamic school at McMaster University. This was soon followed by his creating Ahram Ahram Construction to provide housing for Hamilton's Muslim community. Qasem moved to Ottawa in 1972 and established the first Ottawa Islamic School. He also launched a book project with a series of children's books that were first published in 1981.

Qasem provided leadership within the Muslim community and held many offices. Before the formation of the Islamic Information Centre (now the Islam Care Centre) and other groups now representing Muslims in the media, Qasem was the voice and face of Ottawa Muslims in most of the city's civic forums.

​He was the President of the Association of Palestinian Arab-Canadians in 1981. He founded the Eman Summer Camp at Long Bay campsite, near Westpoint ON, to fill a void for Muslim youth activities. For more than 30 years the camp has attracted the region's school children with religious, cultural, and outdoor activities and provided leadership training.

Qasem became Chair of the Islamic School Federation of Ontario in 1985. In 1989 he was Chair of the Ottawa Board of Education's Multicultralism Advisory Committee and went on to become Chair of the Ethnocultural Alliance of the Capital Region. He co-founded the Muslim Community Council of Ottawa Gatineau in 1994, followed by the Council of Muslim Communities in 2001. Qasem became President of the Muslim Council of Ottawa-Gatineau in 2004.. He was Chair of the Joint Committee of the Ottawa Muslim Association in 2011 and was also president of The Arabic and Islamic Education Foundation of Ottawa.

The funeral janazah prayer will take place on 28 June 2020 at 1:30pm at the Ottawa Main Mosque at 251 Northwestern Ave. followed by the burial at the Pinecrest Cemetary. Condolences will be held at the SNMC Mosque 3020 Woodroffe Ave on 28 to 29 June from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.^{khAug2020}

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Peter John “Stan” Kurdziel, CD (Ret’d), peacefully, on 22 June 2017 in Ottawa, ON at age 92. He served his country in the Royal Canadian Engineers for 26 years and was the grandfather of Combat Engineer Sgt Dale Kurdziel, MB, who was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his actions in Afghanistan in 2010.

Stan was born in Pine River, MB and attended Portage la Prairie High School  before joining the Army and enrolling in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1947. After completing his Basic Sapper training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Camp Chilliwack BC,  Stan was transferred to Royal Canadian Air Force Station Rivers, MB with the Canadian Special Air Service Company, a Canadian Airborne Special Forces that was in operation between 1947 and 1949. In 1950 he was transferred to the Canadian Joint Air Training Center in Rivers as a Parachutist Instructor, Packer, and Rigger. While at Rivers, in 1951 he qualified as a Pilot for the Heavy Transport Glider.

Still remaining Airborne, Stan was transferred to 1 Airborne Troop, RCE in Edmonton, AB in 1953 as Chief Clerk. He was then posted to Germany where he served for two unit rotations (1957-60) as Chief Clerk with 4 Field Squadron and 2 Field Squadron.

Stan returned to Canada in 1960 and worked in the Postings and Career office in Army Headquarters. After a six-year tour there he was moved to 26 Works Company in Ottawa for a year as their Chief Administration and Finance Clerk. Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 1967, he then returned to Headquarters as the Administrative Clerk with the Directorate of Construction Engineering Management and Plans. In 1970 Stan moved to the Secretariat with Director General Works for a year before being transferred to his final position in the Engineer Equipment Co-ordination section of the Directorate of Military Engineering (1971-73).

Stan retired in 1973. He had been taking Professional Development courses since 1965 and had accumulated an impressive portfolio of diplomas in Accounting, Production, and Administration from Algonquin College, Loyalist College and University of Guelph.  He joined the Public Service at Public Archives and National Library in 1975 and followed a Second Career as a Financial Internal Auditor and a Systems and Procedures Project Officer.

Stan was a Member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, and the Financial Management Institute. He was a passionate volunteer in his community.
A celebration of Stan’s life will be held on Saturday, July 15, at 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 382 Centrepointe Dr, Ottawa. In his memory, donations can be made to Bethany Baptist Church or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent via the Funeral Home. 

We regret to advise of the death of Keith Wayne Russell on 18 June 2017 at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital in Vernon BC. Keith had proudly served as a Royal Canadian Engineer in the 6^th Field Squadron in North Vancouver, BC.

Keith was born in 1940 and grew up in West Vancouver, BC. He spent time working summers on the old Family farm and a year of school in Westlock, AB. He started his own family in North Vancouver and soon moved them to Prince George BC in 1966 to open a denturist practice. Keith moved to Vernon, BC in 1993 where he opened another denturist office. In retirement he joined the Commissionaires.

There will be no Funeral Service by Keith’s request. On-line condolences can be sent to Legacy.com. 

We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel M.E. “Ted” Hewett, CD (Retd) suddenly but peacefully on 14 June 2017 in Ottawa, ON.

Born in London, ON in 1941 and raised in Owen Sound, Ted joined the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers after he graduated from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. His long career in the Canadian military included postings from Canada's east coast to British Columbia , peacekeeping duty in the Middle East, and then to Brussels and Germany before settling in Ottawa in 1984. Ted spent the final phase of his career working to improve military housing across Canada.

To remember Ted, consider a memorial donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Condolences can be sent to Legacy.com.

We regret to advise of the death of William Hanlan “Willy” Armstrong of Enfield, NS on Sunday, 11 June 2017 at age 74 in the Palliative Care Unit, Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro NS.

Bill was born in 1942 in Brighton, ON and proudly served his country for 25 years as a Canadian Military Engineer. Bill served in Chilliwack, BC, with 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON,  4 Field Squadron in Lahr Germany, and in  Gagetown, NB and Halifax, NS. For his second career he served with the Public Service in Halifax operating Jetty Crane C with the Halifax Dockyard and retired with 43 years of loyal service to his country.

No visitation by request. Cremation has taken place. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Palliative Care Unit, Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation or the VON Colchester East Hants Branch.

Condolences, words of comfort and memories of Bill may be shared with the family at the funeral home. ^{{khJun 2017} [zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Major Ian Aubrey Hayward,  P. Eng. (Ret’d)  on 10 June 2017, peacefully after a lengthy illness, at Longwood, Nanaimo, BC at the age of 91 years.

Ian was born and raised on the farming country of the Cotswolds in England and received his education at Westwood's Grammar School in North Leach. At the outbreak of WW II the British Army needed more Engineers and enrolled students who excelled in Math and Science as cadets in a four-year Engineering Education Program.  Graduating from this program as an engineer, he and his fellow cadets then were trained as soldiers with the Black Watch in Scotland before he was posted to the Royal Engineers as an Officer. He was an undefeated middle-weight boxer and pistol shooting champion.

As the war ended, Ian was sent overseas to India, Malaya and then Singapore where he presided over the interned Japanese army soldiers during their restitution of Singapore.  Ian returned to England in 1950 and left the Army, joined the British Colonial Service and became the Senior Engineer in charge of Singapore.

In 1954 Ian decided to take a look at Canada. He settled in the Vancouver area and became a well respected electrical engineer. While working for BC Hydro, Ian’s survey of the Peace, Parsnip and Findlay rivers by canoe ultimately led to the location of the W. A.C. Bennett Dam.

At the same time, Ian joined 6^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers in North Vancouver and was their Commanding Officer 1963-64.  He started his own electrical engineering firm, Ian Hayward Assoc., designing and creating electrical systems for hospitals and large shopping malls in Vancouver. He was also responsible for the lighting on the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver. His specialty, however, soon became the design and construction of high power line projects across the rugged, mountainous terrain of BC. This soon led to the creation of his company Hayward International and the involvement in unique power line projects around the world such as the Andes of South America and the mountains of Papua, New Guinea.

In his mid-70s he spent time in the Yukon building a power line from a dam south of Mayo to bring electrical power to Dawson City. After this he enjoyed traveling around the world before finally settling for good to enjoy the beachfront home at Evening Cove.

Ian was a lifetime professional member APEG.BC  and a founding member of the BC Wildlife Federation.

At Ian's request, there will be no memorial service. At a later date, there will be just a simple gathering of his family to sprinkle his ashes in his favorite place. On-line condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home. ^(khOct17}

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Victor Roy (Ret’d) of Dalhousie, NB on 7 June 2017 at the Campbellton Regional Hospital at the age of 94 years.

Victor was born in Eel River Crossing, NB. He was a veteran of the Second World War and served in the Royal Canadian Engineers.  He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Dalhousie Branch # 17. 

A funeral mass will be held on 14 June at 4:00 PM in the Holy Trinity Church, Eel River Crossing.  Victor will rest at Savoie Funeral Home in Eel River Crossing with visitation from 2:00 PM until the time of the funeral.  All members of the Legion are requested to gather at the Savoie Funeral Home at 3:00 PM for a Legion service. ^{{dcNov2017gd} [zcc, zsd, zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Rolland Gregory "Rollie" Dussault, CD (Ret'd) on 4 June 2017 at the age of 71 in Ottawa, ON.

Rollie was born in Kingston, ON in 1946. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Field Engineer in 1965 and the next year he was taken on strength of Army Survey Establishment in Ottawa. For the next twenty years he was involved in diverse jobs and had more than his share of odd adventures. He began the initial Trade Selection Course in January 1967 and qualified as a Group 1 Topographic Surveyor ( Level 4) three months later. Two years later Rollie was promoted to Corporal.  In 1974 he was detached to the Department of Energy Mines and Resources for the first Arctic Doppler survey and was promoted to Sergeant in June 1975. He worked in the various sections of the unit until he was promoted to Warrant Officer in June 1982.

Rollie became interested in the computer end of the business after years of field survey, compilation and such mundane chores and he worked in this new area for a few years. Having attended University of New Brunswick in 1984 he believed that he could do better as a civilian. Accordingly, he took his release in January 1986 at the rank of Waster Warrant Officer and became a CS2 Programmer Analyst with Mapping and Charting Establishment. Five years later he took a position with the computer division of Energy Mines and Resources’ from which he retired in 2002.

Friends and family are invited to visit at the Kemptville Chapel of  Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 805 Prescott Street, Kemptville, on Monday 12 June 2017 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Tuesday at 11 a.m. followed by a reception. Donations to The Elisabeth Bruyere Palliative Care Ward would be appreciated. Condolences/Tributes/Donations can be made at Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Home. ^{khJun17}

We regret to advise of the death of Captain David Earl Reeves (Ret’d) on 30 May 2017 in Windsor, ON at the age of 82 years.

David was a Corporal with the Royal Canadian Engineers at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Camp Chilliwack, BC in the early 1950s. For a second career, he was a Special Education teacher with Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.  Dave also served in the Militia with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment and retired as a Captain. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 12

Donations to the Canadian Dachshund Rescue or Windsor Regional Cancer Centre would be appreciated by the family. Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Anglican Church, 1983 St. Mary's Gate, Walkerville on Friday, 9 June 2017 at 3:00 p.m.  Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home. ^{{khJun17} [zpp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Raymond Ashley "Ray" Davidson of Pembroke, ON in the Ottawa General Hospital on 29 May 2017 in his 93^rd year.

Ray was born in McGivney NB. He was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War and after the war, he served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps militia.He worked as an electrician for Neon Signs in Ottawa and Pembroke.  Ray was a member of the Pembroke Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the Neville Funeral Home in Pembroke on Thursday 1 June 2017. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Columbkille's Cathedral in Pembroke on Friday 2 June 10:30 AM. The interment will be at St. Columba's Cemetery in Pembroke. Royal Canadian Legion members are requested to meet at the funeral home for prayers on Thursday at 7:30 PM. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the St. Columbkille's Cathedral Memorial Fund would be appreciated.

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant William “Bud” Fairs, CD (Ret'd) on 22 May 2017 at the age of 82 years at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, SK.  Bud was born in St. Thomas, ON and served in the Canadian Army as a Field Engineer with the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Among other postings during his career, Bud was an Instructor in Recruit Training Squadron (RTS) in the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC, with the Field Squadron in Germany and with 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa, ON from which he retired in 1970. Bud was recruited for his second career by fellow RTS instructor, Richard Ahenakew, who had become a First Nations Chief (and later Grand Chief for Canada). Bud was hired to be his Saskatchewan First Nation assistant in a senior capacity.

At Bud’s request, there will be no service. Bud has requested that his ashes be cast to the wind over his favourite fishing hole in British Columbia.^{{khJun17} [zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper William Martin “Bill” MacSween (Ret’d) at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney NS on 20 May 2017 at the age of 82 years.

Bill served in the Royal Canadian Engineers and retired back to Cape Breton in 1961. He worked with the Bill Lynch Shows carnival, travelling throughout the Maritimes for many years. He was also an active member of the Sydney Branch #12 of the Royal Canadian Legion, serving as Sergeant-at-Arms.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held 24 May from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the SW Chant & Son Funeral Home in Sydney with a service to follow at 7:00 PM in the chapel. Online condolences may be sent to our webpage at www.chantfuneralhome.com. 
 

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Edwin Victor Woods (Ret’d) peacefully on 15 May 2017 in Victoria General Hospital, Victoria BC just short of his 97^th birthday.

Victor was born in Muskoka, Ontario and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers during WW II. As a Sapper with the 4^th  Field Company he saw action in both the Italian and Northwest Europe Campaigns. Following his military service, Victor worked as a carpenter and electrician for many years before becoming a shipwright at the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt naval dockyard for 19 years.

A memorial service followed by a reception will take place on Thursday, 25 May 2017 at the Pro Patria Legion Branch #292, 411 Gorge Road E, Victoria, at 2:00 pm (parking off of Dunedin Street). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Victor’s memory to the Victoria Legion Poppy Fund. ^{{khApr17}[zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer Robert Armand “Bob” Traversy at the General Hospital in Stratford, ON on 6 May 2017 at the age of 87 years.

Bob was born in Ottawa, ON and spent most of his childhood there. His family moved to Kingston, ON during the Second World War when his father and older brothers were serving overseas. His own military career began when he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1947 at the age of eighteen. He served in the 23^rd Field Squadron in Korea with the U.N. 25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade (May 1952 - March 1953).

Bob spent a total of twenty-five years in the Canadian Army with postings across Canada, including the world's most northerly inhabited location in CFS Alert, Nunavut where he assisted in building the first permanent station. He retired 1972 and subsequently worked for the Ottawa and Perth & Stratford Housing Authorities until his final retirement in 1993.

Bob was a talented builder, carpenter, cabinetmaker and handyman who was respected by all who knew him for his strong work ethic, ingenuity, resourcefulness, organizational skills and ability to solve any problem he was given. He had an endearing sense of humour.

A family gathering to celebrate Bob’s life will be held this summer in Stratford. Bob’s remains will be interred in at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford. As expressions of sympathy, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (www.cpff.ca) or the Alzheimer Society of Canada (www.alzheimer.ca) through the W. G. Young Funeral Home and would be sincerely appreciated by the family. ^{[dcDec18]{zsp}}

We regret to advise the death of Corporal Leonard Stanley "Henry" Ford (Ret'd) of the Chartwell North Shore Lodge in Kamloops BC on 5 May 2017 at the age of 96 years.

Henry was born in Vernon BC. He was a Royal Canadian Engineers veteran of the Second World War who served for five years Henry saw action in Normandy and the Low Countries and referred to these times as "working for George". Along with his campaign war service medals, Henry received the French Legion of Honour in 2016.

After returning home to Kamloops, Len worked as a mechanic for many years at Fisher Brothers and ,after many years of working, finally retired from J Walsh & Sons, an accomplished mechanic, carpenter and 'Mr Fix-It'.

A Service of Remembrance and Celebration was held in the Schoening Funeral Chapel on Wednesday 10 May 2017 at 1:00 PM. ^{{dcJan20wd} [zsd, zsp}}

We regret to advise of the death of John McKee of Edmonton AB on 27 April 2017 at the age of 99 years. John was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War.

A Memorial Service will be held on 3 May at 3:00 PM at St. David's Anglican Church in Edmonton.  Donations in John's memory may be made to the charity of one's choice. Cremation has taken place and John’s remains interred in the Claresholm Cemetery with his wife. 

We regret to advise of the death Major Lloyd Perkins Kenyon, MiD (Ret’d), P.Eng, B (Eng), BSc Mil, peacefully, on 27 April 2017 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Veterans Wing in Toronto, ON in his 96th year.^th year.

Lloyd grew up in Montreal and enrolled in the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, ON in 1938 just after his 17^th birthday. He was a noted athlete, playing rugby and hockey. When RMC closed for the war, Lloyd transferred to the engineering program at McGill University but then enlisted in the Canadian Army in May 1941. After completing his training as Royal Canadian Engineer officer, Lieutenant Kenyon spent some time in Canada as an instructor before being sent to England. In England he was assigned to the 16^th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, that was part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division that was then preparing for the invasion of France.

On D-Day, Lloyd and his 16^th Field Company sappers were among the first troops to land in Normandy. Their initial task was to clear mines and obstacles on the beach in order to allow the 8th Infantry Brigade to advance inland.  Because the tide was higher than expected when the sappers touched down, it was a particularly difficult task to quickly clear the beach obstacles under enemy fire. In following days their work included defusing or blowing up booby traps to help the 3^rd Division make the greatest inroads in the first few days after D-Day.

Following the Normandy landings, Lloyd and the 16^th  Field Company were involved in many of the ongoing key Canadian battles including Caen, Carpiquet Airport, Bourgebois Ridge, and Falaise Trun-Chambois. In the battles at Falaise, the 16^th Field Company was part of the "cork in the bottle" operation that helped avert a full-fledged escape by the remnants of the German V and VII Armies. This was the decisive battle in Normandy. Within days, the fight advanced to the Seine and the liberation of Paris in late August 1944. 

Following the liberation of France, newly promoted Captain Kenyon led as a front-line combat engineer officer through Belgium and Holland. Just after the end of the war he was promoted to Major and appointed Officer Commanding, 9^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers that was employed clearing demolished bridges from the canals in Holland.  He brought the unit home to Canada in January 1946.

Lloyd was awarded a Mention in Dispatches in October 1945.  He was further honoured by Government of France in April 2015 with the award of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his involvement in the liberation of France.

After leaving the army, Lloyd returned to McGill University and completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1948. He then started a 40-year career in the construction industry, holding various management positions with JLE Price and EGM Cape before retiring as Chairman of the Board of Dineen Construction. His projects included university, insurance and government buildings. In the early 1970s, Lloyd was the Project Manager responsible for the construction of K-Wing at the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he became a resident in 2011. Over his career, he served terms as President of the Toronto Construction Association and as Chairman of the Toronto Board of Trade. In addition, Lloyd was a member of Branch 165 Royal Canadian Legion for many years.

Cremation has taken place and a private family interment of ashes will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration of a donation be made to the Canadian Cancer Society , the Heart & Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice. All are welcomed to attend a celebration of Lloyd's life that will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 June at The Church of Our Saviour, 1 Laurentide Dr. in Don Mills, ON. Condolences may be sent through this link. ^{khMay2017}

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Ralph “Spur” Newell, CD (Ret'd) in Logan Lake, BC on 22 April 2017 in his 79^th year. Spur was a native of Newfoundland who served his career with the Canadian Military Engineers in Werl, Germany and as a Heavy Equipment Operator in Chilliwack, BC and Valcartier, QC.

After completing his Recruit Training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC, Spur's career started with a short tour with 2 Field Squadron in Camp Gagetown, NB in 1958 followed by a tour in Werl, GE starting in 1959. His early experience with heavy equipment started while he was next posted to 3 Field Squadron, Chilliwack, working as a trainee on heavy equipment on the Nehemiah Valley Road project (1966-67). His construction project work later included building an airstrip in Wainright, AB in 1967 and working on the road in the British Columbia Interior in 1969 from Williams Lake toward Bella Coola. After this Chilliwack tour, he was posted to 5ième Escadron du génie du Canada in Valcartier, QC in 1970 as a Heavy Equipment Operator where he helped many sappers learn their specialty, then returned to Chilliwack in 1975 as a tractor trailer driver with Base Transport. For his final tour, he was assigned to Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack as an instructor in Heavy Equipment. After retirement in 1979 Spur went to Fort McMurray, AB and worked for Syncrude - at one time operating the gigantic excavator. He worked as a truck driver at Highland Valley Copper Mine for twenty three years.

We regret to advise of the death of Colonel Richard Gerald Arthur "Art" Clare, OMM, CD (Ret’d) on 19 April 2017 just before his 84^th birthday after an extended illness. Art served a full career with the Royal Canadian Engineers across Canada and in Europe and attained the rank of Colonel.

Art was born in 1933 on his parents' farm in Needles, BC. He enrolled as an Officer Cadet in Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, QC in 1952 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, ON with the Class of 1957. After completing his Officer Training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC, he remained on staff as an instructor for a year before being posted to Toronto with the Army Works Company as Works Officer and Second-in-Command. From there Art transferred to Camp Gagetown for a short tour as Troop Commander with 2 Field Squadron before being posted to 31 Works Section in Soest, Germany in 1961 as Second-in-Command.

Art returned to Canada in 1963 to Headquarters, Quebec Command in Montreal, QC as Works Officer and was then posted to the Canadian Army Staff College in 1965 in Kingston, ON as a student. Upon completion of this course he was posted in 1966 to his first tour in Ottawa at Canadian Forces Headquarters in the Chief Technical Staff Branch, Deputy Chief Construction Engineering as Staff Officer, Systems and Procedures. Art then attended the U.S. Armed Forces Staff College, in Norfolk, Virginia after which he was appointed Commanding Officer of 4 Field Squadron in Werl, GE in 1969. In 1970 he was transferred to Canadian Forces Base Europe, Lahr, for a three-year appointment as Base Construction Engineering Officer. He was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in December 1972 for his work in relocating the 4^th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from Soest and Werl to Lahr, Germany.

In 1973, Art returned to Canada where he was assigned to Headquarters, Maritime Command, Halifax, as the Command Construction Engineering Officer. In 1976 he returned to Kingston as a student – this time at the National Defence College. Upon completion of this course, he was posted to National Defence Headquarters in the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Branch, Director General Military Plans and Operations, Director Continental Plans Coordination. During this tour, Art was appointed Project Officer of the Katimavik Project in 1978 and, subsequently, as Director Operational Program Control.

Art retired from active military service in 1985 and undertook a second career with the Public Service in the Department of National Defence Headquarters as Director General, Defence Program. He was appointed Chief of Program in 1990 and retired from the Public Service in 1991.Upon retirement, along with his loyal crew Nancy, he adopted a life afloat, navigating the lakes, rivers and canal systems of Ontario, Quebec and New York State in “Cocoon” - their 38-foot River Queen houseboat. An avid member of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, Art became Commander of the Britannia-Rideau Squadron in 2013.

Friends are welcome to attend a service at Knox United Church, 25 Gibbard Avenue, Nepean, on Friday, 19 May 2017 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Rideau (www.rideaufriends.com). ^{{khMay2017}[zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Sidney N Brewster (Ret’d) of Nanaimo BC on 15 April 2017 at the age of 84 years.

Sidney was born and raised in Pine Falls, MB. He served with The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry during the Korean War and later in the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was a longshoreman in civilian life. Sidney was a member of the Mount Benson Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Nanaimo.

There will be no service. Donations may be given to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

We regret to advise of the death of Joseph Vincent "Léo" Doucet of Fredericton NB at the Red Deer Regional Hospital in Red Deer AB on 13 April 2017 at the age of 90 years.

Leo was born in Dalhousie, NB. He was a veteran of the Second World War who enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1944 as a boy soldier. He later transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers and served a full career after the war. During this time, he was stationed in Fredericton, NB; Germany; Chilliwack, BC; Quebec, QC; Whitehorse, YK and London, ON. On retirement, Leo worked as the Secretary of the Public Service Labour Relations Board with the Provincial Government. . He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. 

We regret to advise of the death of Master Corporal Casabianca “Cas” King, CD peacefully at home in Kingston ON, on Tuesday, 11 April 2017 at the age of 79 years.

Cas was born in Morrisville, NL and grew up in Isle aux Morts, NL. He joined the Canadian Army at the age of 18 and served his career with the Canadian Military Engineers at many locations that included Germany. He transferred to the Traffic Technician occupation and his final posting and subsequent retirement was in Kingston. 

A Celebration of Life, followed by a reception will be held at Edith Rankin Memorial United Church, at 4080 Bath Road, Kingston on Thursday, 20 April 2017 at 11:00 a.m.  For those who wish, donations may be made to Hospice Kingston-Residential Hospice Fund or to Faith United Church. ^{{Apr2017kh} [zcd]}

We regret to advise of the death of Captain William "Bill" Czuboka, CD (cls) (Ret’d), peacefully, on 10 April 2017 in Ottawa, ON at age 82. Bill served a full career with the Canadian Military Engineers starting as a Sapper (Combat Engineer) and retiring from Mapping and Charting Establishment in Ottawa as a Captain.

Bill was born in Winnipeg, MB and joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1954 to start his military career as a Field Engineer.  After his basic training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering he was posted to 1 Field Squadron and he served with that unit in Chilliwack BC, Germany and Petawawa ON. He remustered into the Topographic Survey trade in 1958 and was posted to Mapping and Charting Establishment (MCE) in Ottawa. Field work with the unit included Exeter/Stratford survey in 1958 and Churchill, MB in 1959. Among Bills accomplishments is included that he received a commission as a Canada Lands Surveyor (cls) - a very hard commission to achieve.

Bill was selected for an exchange tour of duty with 42 Survey Engineer Regiment in the United Kingdom (1967-69) and was Commissioned from the Ranks from the rank of Master Warrant Officer to Captain in 1982.  He served in Mapping and Charting Establishment as a Captain until 1983 and then had a second exchange tour with 42 Survey Engineer Regiment (1983-1985 ). On return to Canada Bill was posted to National Defence Headquarters/Director of Cartography and then to Director Ceremonial and finally to the Director Automatic Data Processing Operations at Tunney’s Pasture from where he retired from the Canadian Forces. In his retirement Bill undertook a major project to compile and digitize the photographs of the personnel of ASE/MCE over the years.

Funeral service will be at St Maurice Parish in Ottawa on Friday 5 May at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in the hall, and interment at Hope Cemetery. In memoriam donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association would be appreciated. Condolences may be left with the Funeral Home. ^{khApr2017}

We regret to advise the death of Corporal Colin Francis Patrick Fleiger (Ret'd) of Miramichi NB on 6 April 2017 at the age of 91 years.

Colin was born in Chatham NB. At the age of 16, he enlisted with the 2^nd Battalion (Reserve), The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. He was called up to Active Service in 1944 and completed basic training in Fredericton NB, advanced training at Camp Utopia, NB and Battle Indoctrination Training at Camp Debert NS. Colin was assigned home defence duties until the war ended and was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers in Fredericton until his discharge in 1946.

Colin was employed as a civil servant for most of his life. He was a strong union man and served as CUPE Local president for many years. Colin was a member of the Chatham Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Miramichi and a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years. He was awarded the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal and collected an additional two bars.

Visitation was at Maher's Funeral Home in Miramichi on 8-9 April 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday 10 April from St Michael's Basilica. As an expression of sympathy, a donation made to the Branch #3 Legion Building Fund or the Miramichi Senior Citizens Home would be appreciated. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #3 was asked to meet for a Legion service.

See Cpl Flieiger's interview on The Memory Project website.

We regret to advise of the death of Ronald William "Ronnie" Gordon in Ottawa, ON on 6 April 2017 at the age of 81 years.

Ronnie was born and raised in Ottawa and, in later years, moved to Manotick, ON. He served a 35-year career Public Service career in Construction Engineering with the Department of National Defence. After retirement, he returned to live in Ottawa.

A visitation will be held at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Rd, Ottawa (at Bayshore Drive) on Sunday, 9 April from noon until the time of service in the chapel at 2:00 p.m.

Condolences tributes and donations may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com.  In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful if donations were made to Jonathan Pitre "Butterfly Boy" at debracanada.org. ^{{Apr2017kh} [zcd]}

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Joseph Roger Royal "Roy" Whelan in Ottawa, ON on 4 April 2017 at the Ottawa Hospital, General Campus at the age of 97 years.
Roy was a veteran of the Second World War who served in the 3^rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers during the Italian Campaign. He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the Gothic Line Battle. On 19 September 1944, Roy was a member of an engineer reconnaissance party seeking a possible crossing of the Ausa River near Rimini. They came under mortar and machine-gun fire from the enemy in a nearby house overlooking the site and preventing the party from moving forward. With complete disregard for his own safety, Roy successfully cleared the house and captured five prisoners.
After the war, Roy was a civil servant with the External Affairs Department who had postings to Rome, Italy, Beirut, Lebanon, and London, England. He was an avid golfer and played into his 90s.
A funeral service will be held at the Kelly Funeral Home, Walkley Chapel in Ottawa on 13 April at 2:00 PM. In memoriam donations to a charity of choice appreciated.Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home. ^{(dcSep17kh}[zpp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Edward Charles MacDonald, CD (Ret’d) on 1 April 2017 at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa, ON at the age of 86 years.

Edward was a Field Engineer who served in 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in the mid-1970s.

Friends and family are invited to visit at Beechwood Cemetery and Funeral Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa from 4:30 to 7:30 PM on 5 April.  Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret Mary Parish, 2571 Highway 174, Cumberland, ON 6 April at 1:00 PM with interment to follow at Beechwood Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Dementia Action Network or War Amps.  ^{{gdJun 2018dc} [zsd, zcc, zkjt]}

We regret to advise of the death of Frank P Manninger of Blenheim, and later Chatham ON, one day before his 95th birthday on 30 March 2017 at the Strathmere Lodge in Strathroy ON.

Frank was born in Zirc, Hungary. His family immigrated to  Wakaw Saskatchewan when he was still a young boy. During the Second World War, Frank served in the Royal Canadian Engineers, seeing action in Northwest Europe.  

After the war, Frank’s extended family settled in southern Ontario in and around London where Frank served in the Kent Regiment for a short time.  He was very active in community organizations - past President of the Blenheim Kiwanis Club, the Kent Regiment Association, the Royal Canadian Legion in both Blenheim and Chatham where he was vice-president. Frank was a charter member of the Chatham Builders Exchange and the chairman of the building committee on the board of management for Christ Church for many years. He was a member of the Bishops men’s diocese of Huron, and was a member of the accreditation team of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.  He was involved for over 20 years with the Orthopedic Study Team London Health Science Centre -University Campus London, and was inducted into the Canadian Orthopedic Foundation Hall of Fame in 1997.

Family and friends are invited to Christ Church, 80 Wellington St. West, Chatham, on 4 April with visiting from 12:00 to 1:45 PM.  A Legion Memorial Service will be conducted at 1:45 PM with the funeral service to follow at 2:00.  Private family interment will be in the Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham. Friends planning an expression of remembrance are asked to consider Christ Church. Online condolences may be left at www.alexanderfuneralhome.ca. 

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Marvin Charles Henry Johnston, CD (Ret’d) on 25 Mar 2017 in Chilliwack,BC. Marvin was a Korean War veteran who served the Canadian Military Engineers for almost 29 years.

Marvin enlisted in the Canadian Army in Kingston, ON in 1949 and was posted to 23 Field Squadron after completing his basic Sapper training at Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering (RCSME) at Camp Chilliwack, BC. One year later Sapper Johnston was posted to 57^th Independent Field Squadron - the Field Engineer component of the 25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group (CIBG) of the Canadian Army Special Force that had been authorized for the Korean Conflict. Training for the Korean deployment was initially conducted at Camp Chilliwack but the unit soon moved to Ft Lewis, in Washington, USA to undertake their collective training.

25^th CIBG departed for Korea directly from Ft Lewis in April 1951 and Marvin served in Korea until May 1952. He returned to Chilliwack with 57^th Field Squadron and was transferred to the Apprentice Training Squadron at RCSME to instruct recruits of the newly-instituted Sapper Apprentice Training Program. Two years later he was posted to 1 Field Squadron that was then located in Camp Chilliwack and moved with the squadron to Germany. He returned to Canada in 1958 to the unit’s new location in Camp Petawawa.

Back in Canada, Marvin had a career ‘change of pace’ as he served the next five years with the Alberta Area “I Staff” in Lethbridge, AB - assisting with the training and support of the Militia. After this tour he returned to RCSME for an extended six-year instructional tour in Field Defences, Water Supply, and Mine Warfare and Demolitions. Marvin then returned to 1 Field Squadron, Petawawa, where he held the Squadron Sergeant Major appointment for two years. He served his final year in Petawawa with 3 Engineer Stores Depot before returning to training duties – first for two years with Canadian Forces School of Instructional Techniques at CFB Borden and then returning to the  Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) for the next three years in Training Standards.

Remaining in Vedder Crossing after his CFSME tour, Marvin was posted ‘across the road’ in 1976 to 3 Field Squadron as Squadron Sergeant Major and stayed with the unit as Regimental Sergeant Major as it transitioned into 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. Marvin retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in 1977 after 28 years 9 months service with the Canadian Military Engineers.

After retirement Marvin continued to be a contributing member of the Canadian Military Engineer Family through the Retired Sappers Association and he was also very active with Korea Veterans Association (KVA) Fraser Valley Unit 24 that he had joined some 28 years previous. With the KVA he has served as Pacific Region Membership Chairman, Unit Membership Chairman, Unit Sgt-at Arms and unit President 1992 and 2000.

In August 2012 CWO Marvin Johnston, CD (Ret’d) was presented the Queen’s Jubilee Anniversary Medal by Senator Y. Martin for his work with the Korean Vets Association. This was the fourth of the Queen’s Anniversary medals that Marvin had received – an honour that the Governor General’s Office describes as ‘quite rare.’ He was previously also honoured by the award of the Queen's 50th Anniversary medal for his work with the Korea Veterans Association. These two awards followed his being awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal June 1953 and the Queen's 25th Anniversary Medal 1977.

The Service for Marvin will be held at the Legion Vedder Branch 280  at 5661 Vedder Road, Chilliwack on Saturday 1 April at 1300 hours.On-line condolences can be sent to Henderson's Funeral Home. ^{khMar2017}

We regret to advise of the death of William Roscoe “Bill” Morrison on Tuesday, 21 March 2017 in South Dundas, ON in his 96^th year. He was a Royal Canadian Engineers veteran of the Second World War.

Born in Lindsay, ON, Bill grew up in Wakefield, QC. Enlisting in the Canadian Army at the age of 21, he served overseas during the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was a member of the Railway Operating Group of the Canadian Railway Troops and served primarily in England, Belgium and Holland.

Following the war, Bill continued his work as a heavy equipment operator - joining his father, John, and his brother, Jack, in the J.T. Morrison and Sons Excavating business. He married in 1949 and raised his family in Ottawa, ON, working many years as an equipment operator and for 15 years he operated large conventional and tower cranes. His work contributed to the construction of some of Ottawa's notable mid-century buildings, including the National Arts Centre.  

Upon his retirement, Bill became an accomplished carpenter with a particular aptness for designing and fashioning clocks. He was a long-time and enthusiastic member of the congregation of St. David & St. Martin Presbyterian Church, even after his move to Morrisburg in recent years. He will be remembered and missed by his fellow congregants there and by the residents at the Hartford Retirement Residence.

In celebration of Bill's life, a memorial service will be held Thursday, 30 March at 11:00 AM at St. David & St. Martin Presbyterian Church at 444 St. Laurent Blvd., with a reception to follow in the church hall. Burial will be held at Beechwood Cemetery on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's name to St. David & St. Martin, The Salvation Army, or the charity of your choosing.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations can be sent to Hulse, Playfair & McGarry ^{{khMar2017}[zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Major Lisa Anne Hampson, CD, P.Eng., on 19 March 2017 at age 51 following a brief illness. Lisa served her country as a Military Engineering Officer, Intelligence Officer and Public Servant for over thirty years.

Lisa was among the earlier women to attend Royal Roads Military College and graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from the Royal Military College in 1988. She also earned her Master of Engineering degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1995 and Bachelor of Journalism degree from University of King’s College, Halifax in 1997.

Following her initial service as a Regular Force Military Engineer, Lisa served as an Intelligence Officer in the Reserve Force in the Chief of Defence intelligence (CDI). She left the CDI in late 2005 to join the Director General of Environment in the Infrastructure and Environment Group as a public servant. Here she managed the Federal Contaminated Site Action Program for DND and set up the cost-sharing agreement for the remediation of Mid-Canada Radar Line. Lisa was promoted into the Environmental Engineering group in Director General Military Engineering in 2008 where she managed and advanced many of the Department’s complex remediation and Unexploded Ordinance Disposal clearance files. She was attached to the US Army in Afghanistan in 2009/2010 working to defeat the enemy’s Improvised Explosive Devices.

Lisa took command of 7 Intelligence Company in Ottawa in June 2012 and her unit was given the Freedom of the City of Ottawa by Mayor Jim Watson in June 2016.

A visitation will be held at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean on Friday, 24 March 2017 from 17:00 – 19:00. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, 25 March 2017 at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 70 James St. (at Kent) at 10:30, followed by a reception at the Army Officers Mess (149 Somerset St. W). Lisa was proudly the Commanding Officer 7 Intelligence Company at the time of her death, so Saturday's service will have a military aspect to include a bearer party consisting of soldiers of her unit and a piper. Per Lisa's wishes, her final interment will be in Wales at some later date.

At the request of Lisa's husband Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Hampson, an independent bank account is being established in favour of the 7 Intelligence Company Non-public Fund to receive donations in lieu of flowers. In lieu of flowers a donation to 7 Intelligence Company Association, would be appreciated. Condolences or tributes may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com 

We regret to advise of the death Major Richard Kenneth “Rick” Thomas, CD (Ret’d) on 17 March 2017 in Kelowna, BC in his 66^th year.

Rick served the Canadian Military Engineers for 39 years as a Construction Engineer. His career began in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Draftsman/Surveyor and he was Commissioned from the Ranks to achieve the rank of Major.  His postings included Chilliwack, Esquimalt  and Holberg, BC; Edmonton and Cold Lake, AB; Winnipeg, MB; Quebec City, QC;  Gander NL and Lahr, Germany. During his career, Rick also had overseas deployments with the United Nations and NATO in the Golan Heights and Croatia. In his last position, he inspected Naval Reserve Units across Canada until his retirement in 2009.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rick's name may be made to Kelowna General Hospital or L'Hôpital Enfant Jésus, Quebec City.^{{khApr2017, zsp}}

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Edward Beavington "Ted" James, peacefully, at Rocky Mountain Village in Fernie, BC on 15 March 2017 at the age of 96 years.

Ted was born in Lavoy, AB and grew up on a nearby farm. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and served in the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Second World War. A heavy equipment operator, he worked on the reconstruction of roads and bridges in order to support the Allied advance through Europe.

Following the war, Ted settled in Edmonton, AB with his family where he took up carpentry and house building. He and his family moved to Surrey, BC in 1966 where he continued to practise carpentry and building houses. In 1976 he moved to Maple Ridge, BC where he was a supporting member of the Haney Old Time Fiddlers group for several years. In 2014 Ted moved to Rocky Mountain Village in Fernie BC. He was a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Online condolences may be sent to the Funeral Home. ^{{khMar2017} [zsd]}

We regret to announce the death of Sapper Harry Dacre “Dacker” Thicke, MM (Ret’d) on 11 March 2017 in the Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver BC at the age of 93 years.

Harry Dacre Thicke was born in New Liskeard ON, on the edge of Canada’s silver belt at the height of the 1920s silver rush. His family owned and operated a bakeshop and he moved to Kirkland Lake At an early age when gold was the new quarry. He grew up among miners and prospectors with an adventurous and wild spirit. He was known as ‘the bad boy of Kirkland Lake’ in his youth and did a short time in reform school, but was generally known as an honest and dependable boy. Harry left Kirkland Lake after reform school and ‘rode the rails’ for a while before coming home and taking a job as a labourer. 

Harry enlisted in the Canadian Army in March 1940. He was not yet 16 years old and, a week later with the rest of the boys recruited in Kirkland Lake, he was in Camp Borden ON as a member of No. 2 Employment Platoon. The sergeant read the roll call book and declared there were already too many Harrys in the platoon and he would henceforth be called Dacker - a misspelling of his middle name.

Within weeks, Dacker and the rest of the Kirkland Lake platoon, through a series of missteps and mischief, found themselves on a train heading east.  Most were still underage and none had had any training. They arrived in Halifax , were put on a ship headed for Bournemouth in England, and then arrived at the Canadian camp at Aldershot, southwest of London.  None of the boys had travel papers nor any unit affiliation. They lived for almost a month scrounging and savaging through the camp until their situation has finally discovered in the chaos and resolved.  Dacker was assigned to the 20^th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and started his training.

The Company arrived in France in July 1944 and worked on route clearance and bridging through the Battle of Normandy, the closing of the Falaise Gap, crossing the Seine and onward into Belgium and Holland.  In late September, they were assigned to Operation BERLIN (along with the 23^rd Field Company, RCE and two Royal Engineer field companies) to evacuate the encircled British airborne from Arnhem under the noses of defending German Forces.  For his role in the fight, Spr Thicke was awarded the Military Medal.  Dacker was withdrawn from action in April 1945 and sent to the UK on his way home to Canada.  He was 21 years old and had been in Europe for nearly five years.

After the war, like so many combat veterans, Dacker had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.  He worked hard but not always successfully.  There were a series of failed business ventures and bankruptcies over his life. He was a single father of two and, despite his misfortunes, he kept his small family together. He left Ontario in the early 70s and settled in Victoria BC where his children grew up and were educated. In his 60s, Dacker settled in a small fishing village south of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico where he stayed until his 87^th year when he returned to Vancouver. He had written a number of books and short story collections. 

    * An article, “Dacker Thicke: A Life”, by Dacker's daughter’ Lori Thicke, provides an entertaining and detailed account of Dacker’s life. 

We regret to advise of the death of Walter Leon Morasiewicz on 10 March 2017 at Wentworth Lodge, Dundas ON in his 96^th year.

Walter was born in Buczacz, Ternopil, Ukraine, arriving in Canada in July 1929, he grew up in Thorold South. He was trained as a machinist and electrician and was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War, serving from 1942 until 1944. Walter and his wife family lived for 60 years in Merritton and raised a family of three. He was an employee at the Beaver Wood Fibre Company for 42 years, retiring in 1986.

Walter is resting at the Bocchinfuso Funeral Home in Thorold. Visitation will be held Wednesday, 15 March from 12 until 1 PM followed by a Funeral Liturgy outside of Mass in the funeral home chapel at 1 PM. Following the service, burial will take place at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines. Instead flowers, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.
 

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Lawrence “Larry” Joseph Jollineau (Ret’d) on 10 March 2017 at the Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste Marie, ON at the age of 85 years.

Larry was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie and attended Holy Angels Separate School.  He showed interest in military life at an early age joining the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet movement. In 1951 he joined the Canadian Army Active Force as a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers and served in Korea with the 59^th Independent Field Squadron.  He was Honourably Discharged In 1957.  Larry spent 27 years working for the Public Utilities Commission of Sault Ste Marie retiring in 1993.

Larry was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #25 in Sault St Marie for over 60 years as well as a member of the Korea Veterans Association.   He served both these organizations in various functions including as their President.  Larry spent many years mentoring the youth of the Soo as a scout leader in the 60s and 70s.

Visitation with take place at the Arthur Funeral Home on 15 March from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Funeral Mass to be celebrated from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on 16 March at 11:00 AM. Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25, the Sault Area Hospital Foundation or a Charity of one’s choice. ^{{gdDec2017dc}} 

We regret to advise of the death of Lance Corporal Austin Richard “Nick” Baker (Ret'd) on 3 March 2017, peacefully, at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC at age 99 years.

A WW II veteran, Nick was born in Epworth, England but grew up spending much of his time in Canada on Lake Ontario. After attending Ryerson Technical School he began working in the mines in Northern Quebec. Nick joined the Canadian Army in 1941 at age 24 and trained at Camp Borden ON, and Toronto. He was soon sent to England and continued to train at Aldershot. Nick served in the 1^st Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers and was part of the Italian Campaign. He worked on the construction of crucial bridges and roads throughout Italy in support of the advance on Rome of the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division. While in Italy, Nick was wounded and later transferred to England where he convalesced.

Returning to civilian life after demobilization, the family moved from Dundas, ON to Ardmore, BC in 1967 and Nick became the Post Master in Brentwood Bay. He spent his retirement in North Saanich. He was a member of the Saanich Peninsula Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

A memorial service with be held Monday, 20 March at 2 pm, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 37, 1660 Mills Rd., North Saanich BC.^{khMar2017}

We regret to advise the death of Sergeant Allan L Kaukanen, CD (Ret'd) of Cobden ON at the Pembroke Regional Hospital on 28 February 2017 in his 74^th year.

Allan served in the Royal Canadian Engineers and was a member of the Cobden Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

A celebration of life was held in the Cobden Legion on Saturday 3 June. ^{{dcJan20wrd} [zcc, zsd]}

We regret to advise of the death of John Anderson Frederick James “Trapper John” Boyd of Chester NS on 27 February 2017 in the Halifax Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth II Wing at the age of 95 years. John was born in Upper Falmouth NS. He was a veteran of the Second World War and served in the Merchant Marine. After the war, he had a full career in the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was a member of the Hants County Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Windsor, NS. As requested by John, there will be no funeral service. A private interment will be held at a later date.

We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer André Roland Faguy, CD (Ret’d) at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Sunday, 26 February 2017 at the age of 71.

André was a Marine Engineer before he joined the Canadian Forces and served with the Canadian Military Engineers as a Stationary Engineer. His last posting before he retired from the Canadian Forces was in Ottawa.

Visitation will be held at the Pinecrest Visitation Centre, 2500 Baseline Road on Friday, 3 March from 2 to 5 pm and 6 to 9 pm.  For those wishing, donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion. Online condolences may be made at www.colefuneralservices.com  ^{{khFeb2017} [zsd]}

 
 -

We regret to advise of the death of Joseph Alphonse Basque at the Tracadie Hospital in Tracadie NB on  17 February  2017 at the age of 94 years.

Alphonse was the first born of what would become a large family in Tracadie.  He was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War.  He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #45 in Tracadie.

The family will receive visitors at the Robichaud et Fils Funeral Home in Tracadie on 21 February from 7:00 until 9:00 PM and 22 February from 12:00 PM until at the start for the funeral at 2:00 PM in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Joseph Church in Tracadie.   Donations in his memory to The Friends of Tracadie Hospital Inc. or to the New Brunswick Lung Association would be appreciated. ^{{dcJan20gd} [zsd, zcc, zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Jacques Gregoire, MMM, CD (Ret'd), peacefully, on 16 February 2017 in Ottawa, ON in his 81^st year.

Born in Sherbrooke, QC and raised in Montreal, Jack grew up to serve his country proudly as a member of the Canadian Military Engineers. Joining the Canadian Armed Forces at 18 years old, Jack served for 34 years. Originally a Stationary Engineer, he became a Mechanical Systems Technician whose career involved many postings. Highlights of his career include being the Career Manager for the Mechanical Trades and  his accomplishments culminated in his selection as the Canadian Military Engineers Chief Warrant Officer (1985-88). After retiring from this appointment Jack took on many roles including serving with Senate security, ice cream shop owner, school bus driver and, most fitting, 'Jack of all trades' at a family-owned produce market.

Memorial Mass will be held at Divine Infant Parish, 6658 Bilberry Dr., Orleans ON, on Thursday, 23 February at 11 am. Visitation from 10 to 11 am at Divine Infant prior to mass. Interment at the National Military Cemetery, located at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, on Monday, 27 February at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Campaign Life Coalition. Condolences can be left at Beechwood Funeral Services. ^{{khFeb2017} [zsd]}

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer John Mitges, MMM, CD (Ret’d) of South Surrey, BC on 14 February 2017 at age 95. John was a WW II Royal Canadian Engineer veteran who also served a full post-war career with the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE).

During WW II, as a young Troop Reconnaissance Sergeant in 18^th Field Company, John landed with the Nova Scotia Highlanders at Bernieres sur Mer before noon on D-Day, 6 June. Once the 9^th Brigade started pushing out of the beachhead, John’s platoon destroyed obstacles and clear mines along the route of advance. 18^th Field Company advanced across the Rhine and all the way up to the Baltic Coast where the unit became primarily involved in mine clearance. Wounded for the second time on the last day of the war, John was evacuated to hospital and later re-joined his unit before it returned to England.

John Mitges returned to Canada in December 1945. He was transferred to the small Permanent Force and posted to the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Chilliwack. In 1947, he was one of three RCE personnel seconded to the United Kingdom where he qualified as a Glider Pilot. With this new qualification under his belt, John was posted to the Canadian Joint Airborne Training Centre at Rivers, MB where he did a considerable amount of glider training and indoctrination flights for parachute training students.

John had a full post-war career with the Royal Canadian Engineers. During the Korean War, he was seconded to the British Army and had two trips to Korea to erect Nissan Huts. His career was marked by appointment as Sergeant Major of 1 Airborne Troop RCE and as Squadron Sergeant Major of 4 Field Squadron. He was selected for a two-year attachment with Plant Roads and Airfields at the Royal School of Military Engineering, UK. John's last appointment was as the senior RCE Chief Warrant Officer at Mobile Command Headquarters before taking his release in 1976.

In 2015, the Government of France awarded John Mitges the Rank of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour for his contributions to the Battle of the Liberation of France.

There will be no service by John’s request.^{khFeb2017}

We regret to advise of the death of Fernand Charles Maurice “Fern” Barre in North Vancouver, BC on 8 February 2017 just short of his 101^st birthday.

Fern was born in 1916 on the family farm between Duck Lake and Rosthern, SK. Moving with his parents and siblings to Chilliwack, BC in 1936, he worked there on farms, in North Vancouver as a finishing carpenter at Burrard Shipyards, then as an industrial arts instructor on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He volunteered for service in WWII as a Royal Canadian Engineer and served overseas in England before seeing action in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Upon his discharge from the army in 1945, Fern started his own business as a building contractor. He moved his family to Courtenay, then Ladysmith, later settling in Nanaimo where he lived for over 40 years before his final move back to North Vancouver in 2007.  

Interment with his recently-deceased wife, Mary, will be held on 19 May 2017, at 3:00 pm, at First Memorial Garden, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver, BC. Condolences may be left on-line. ^{{khMay2017}[zsd, zsp]}

We regret to advise of the death of John "Binky" Rose, suddenly but peacefully, on 8 February 2017 in Westmount, NS.

John began serving his country in 1968. He soon joined the Canadian Airborne Regiment and made over 300 jumps as a paratrooper. After his 14-year Airborne career, John remustered to Construction Engineering with the Canadian Military Engineers and later served with 1 Construction Engineering Unit. After this posting, John retired from the Canadian Forces and moved back "home". 

For his second career, John was a Park Supervisor at Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Nova Scotia. He was also heavily involved with the Westmount Volunteer Fire department for 20 years and served as their Training Officer. An active Legion Member, John was Vice President and Bar Chairman at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126 in Westmount.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.chantfuneralhome.ca.  John will be waked on Tuesday, 14 February from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the SW Chant & Son Funeral Home, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney, NS. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, 15 February at 11 a.m. in the Chants Funeral Home Chapel. Reception to follow at Westside Legion, Branch 126^{.{khFeb2017dc} [zsd]}

We regret to advise of the death of William Raymond Alexander "Bill" Maitland, suddenly and peacefully on Tuesday, 7 February 2017 at the age of 84 in Ottawa, ON.

Born in Rossland BC, Bill joined Army Survey Establishment (ASE) in 1953 to start what was to be a 41-year career as a Draftsman at the Army Survey Establishment (later re-named the Mapping and Charting Establishment). He was a competitive square dancer and played hockey up to his retirement in 1994.

A celebration of life will be held at Rothwell United Church, 42 Sumac Street, Friday, February 10 at 4 p.m. For those wishing, donations may be made to Rothwell United Church or a charity of your choice. Condolences/Tributes/Donations may be sent to Hulse, Playfair & McGarry  ^{{khFeb2017dc}}

We regret to advise of the death of Ralph Munro Clowater on 2 February 2017. 

Ralph was born in 1927 in McNamee, NB and served with the Royal Canadian Engineers and the Royal Canadian Air Force. His service included a tour with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt. Ralph worked for many years as a Plumbing Supervisor with the Base Construction and Engineering Section in Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.  He was known as 'Box Car the Clown' with the Victoria Gizeh Temple Shriners.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Ralph on Saturday, 11 February at 11:00 am at Sands Funeral Chapel, Colwood, BC.  Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children. ^{{khFeb2017dc} [zsd]}

We regret to advise of the death of Master Corporal John Lester Barrett, CD (Ret’d) on 31 January 2017 in Victoria, BC at age 80. John was a native of St John's, NL and served 30 years in the Canadian Armed Forces - first as a Combat Engineer and later he transferred into the Cook occupation. He was extremely proud of his service with the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home.

We regret to advise of the death of Colonel John Fitzgerald Preston, CD (Ret’d), peacefully at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC on 31 January 2017.

Born in Winnipeg, MB in 1928, John enrolled in the Officer Training Corps in 1947.  He joined the Royal Canadian Engineers while in his final year at the University of British Columbia (1950) from which he graduated with a BSc in Civil Engineering.  John attended Army Staff College in Kingston, ON in 1958 and attended the Royal Military College of Science staff course in the United Kingdom (1961 - 1962).  Upon completion of this course he joined 4 Field Squadron in Germany. 
John next served in Gaza and Palestine as Force Engineer, United Nations Emergency Force  (1965 -1966). He was then assigned  to Mobile Command Headquarters in St Hubert - first as the Senior Staff Officer (SSO) Force Requirements until 1969 followed by SSO Equipment and Standardization. He was then posted as Assistant Military Attaché to the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, DC. John returned to Canada in 1972 and was appointed Director of Land Requirements (Armour and Mobility) until 1974 when he became Director of Cartographic Operations - a position he held until his retirement in 1979.

John devoted his life to military service as an officer in the Royal Canadian Engineers with frequent postings across Canada, the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. He was a staunch supporter of the Royal Canadian Engineers and the Canadian Military Engineer Family and made many professional contributions to their success and to the Canadian Forces.

At John’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Condolences and remembrances may be sent by visiting www.earthsoption.com. 

We regret to advise of the death of Captain Stanley Arthur Charles “Stan” Franklin, CD (Ret'd) peacefully at Kincardine Hospital on 31 January 2017.

Stan was born in Picton, ON in 1936. He left home at the age of 16 and, in a strong effort to earn enough to finish high school and attend university, he worked as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Cooper, ON. Stan entered Royal Roads Military College in ­­­1956 and graduated from the Royal Military College with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1960. 

During his service with the Royal Canadian Engineers, Stan was seconded to the US Army Corps of Engineers where he worked as Project Manager for the design and construction of the Apollo Launch Pads 39A and 39B  (from whence all moon shots and shuttle shots have since launched) as well as the arming tower and crawler way at the Moonport at Cape Canaveral. For his work, Stan was nominated for the US Army Commendation Medal.

After leaving the Army in 1970, Stan and his family moved to Kincardine, ON where he worked for Ontario Hydro, retiring in 1993 having served in several operational roles ending as the Director of the Bruce Nuclear Power Development.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Kincardine Baptist Church on 4 February at 2:00 p.m. Stan’s final resting place will be Kincardine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice or Kincardine Baptist Church. ^{{dcFeb2017kh} [zri, zsd]}