After more than 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MWO J.A. Chagnon, CD, (00307) will retire on 22 April 2025. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to MWO G. Cornfield: gordon.cornfield@forces.gc.ca
MWO André Chagnon, CD was born in Montreal, Québec. His military journey began in April 1991 with the Army Reserve, Regiment des Fusiliers du Mont-Royal. During that time, he was deploying to Operation Cavalier in Bosnia in 1993 with the 2 Battalion of 22e Regiment Royal in Valcartier.
While training with 3 Battalion of 22e Regiment Royal for a deployment to Haiti (1997), he received his transfer to the regular forces, 2 Battalion of 22e Regiment Royal where he was to deploy to Haiti (1997) and he did 2 inside relief efforts for the Ice Storm in the Montreal region and the Red River flood in Winnipeg.
In 2001, MWO Chagnon asked for a to be transfer to the Plumbing and Heating trade, he began is DP1 at CFSME in April 2001. Posted back to Valcartier, 5 Regiment of Combat Engineer, promoted to the rank of MCpl (2006) and deployed to Afghanistan (2007).
After he returned from deployment, he was posted to 4 ESR where he was promoted to Sgt. He also deployed to Operation Hestia in Haiti for the relief earthquake effort (2010). Reposted to 5 RGC in 2010 and again deployed, to Afghanistan (2010).
In 2012 he was posted to CFSME and assumed the role of a PH instructor, promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer in 2013, he filled the position of PH Cell WO and Standard Rep.
In 2015, he decided to follow his wife on Leave without pay to Geilenkirchen, Germany where he worked has a trade helper for the Construction Engineer cell in CFSU(E).
After 3 years of exploring many places in Europe, he was posted back to Gagetown, RP Ops detachment. But not even 2 months after he was back to Europe for a six-month deployment to Latvia has the Engineer SM. After spending 5 years in RP Ops Gagetown between the role of 2 I/C of the production Officer and the Utilities WO.
In May 2022 promoted to the rank of MWO and assuming the position of SM of RP Ops North where he was able to travel many times in the great Canadian North.
After a long career MWO Chagnon will remain in the Fredericton area with his wife, Marie- Claude and son, Alexis, where he will enjoy spending his time playing golf and travelling.