After more than 30 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MWO Don Fraser, CD, retired on 01 October 2021, during the pandemic. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to MWO D.R. Scott at Drew.Scott@forces.gc.ca.
MWO Don Fraser is from Stellarton, a small town in Nova Scotia. Born in 1962 into a coal mining family, he was regaled with tales of adventure of two generations of military service.
We all have different career paths and MWO Fraser’s is unique. MWO Fraser enrolled in the Canadian Forces in February 1984 as an Armoured Crewman, Lord Strathcona’s Horse RC, CFB Calgary, Currie Barracks Alberta. During his time as a crewman, he was constantly training in Wainwright, on exercise, on course training others, or advancing in the Corps. He achieved the rank of Sergeant by 1989 and released from the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
MWO Fraser rejoined the RCAC in CFB Gagetown from 1995 to 1998 and released yet again. He joined the Engineer reserve unit 144 AEF in Pictou, Nova Scotia, as a Cpl Structures Technician from 1998 to 2006. During his time in 144 AEF, he deployed regularly on Air National Guard taskings to New Orleans, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and multiple other deployments throughout Canada and the USA.
In 2006, he transferred components to the Royal Canadian Engineers with 1 CER in Edmonton. Subsequent postings were at RP Ops, CFB Esquimalt, 2010 to 2014; RP Ops, Det Dundurn, 2014 to 2019; and RP Ops, CFB Shilo, 2019 to 2021, completing his career as an SSM of the Detachment. During this time, Don was deployed multiple times to northern Canada, Afghanistan, Op PRESENCE in Mali, Africa, as the Camp SSM, and at CFSME Gagetown spending his share of time learning the craft of Engineering and properties.
In late October 2021, on a Friday during the Pandemic, MWO Fraser quietly retired from the Reg Force. After enjoying the weekend off, he was hired by RP Ops the following Monday and continues to work today as the Contracts Section supervisor. He intends to work a few more years to support his habits of travel and concerts.
MWO Fraser is living a quiet life in Esquimalt where he enjoys camping, fishing, and riding his motorcycles year-round. Don has four children spread across the country from CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick to CFB Comox on Vancouver Island. Being from a family that is presently completing four generations of military service, Don has had an excellent and entertaining career and is looking forward to Friday night scotch with well-earned peace and quiet.
Perseverance / Chimo