Cpl D.J. Whalley, CD

After more than 17 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Cpl D.J. Whalley, CD, will retire on 8 January 2026. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to WO D.A.S. Smith: dale.smith2@forces.gc.ca 

Corporal Whalley was born in Brampton, Ontario, in 1984 and subsequently relocated to Sherwood Park, Alberta, at the age of 13 years.

He later enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in February 2008, serving as an Infantry soldier with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. During his tenure with the LERs, he participated in numerous exercises across various locations in Canada.

Cpl Whalley was qualified as a Small Arms coach in 2010 and as a Heavy Machine gunner in 2011. Additionally, Corporal Whalley was selected based on merit to serve as a member of the bearer party for Thomas Lawless and for an unknown soldier on March 15, 2011, at the La Chaudière Military Cemetery in Vimy, France; both were veterans of the First World War. Furthermore, Corporal Whalley had the honor of participating in the National Sentry Program (NSP) in Ottawa for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in September 2018.

As of September 2019, he transferred to the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in Toronto as an Infantry soldier, where he was assigned to the 60th Rifle Company, designated for the Light Machine Gun position within the section. During this period, he attended various exercises in and around the Ontario region.

Cpl Whalley was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration in 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made the decision to join 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, arriving in Edmonton in March 2024, as a Red Seal plumber, Class B gas fitter, and a second- year steam fitter.