After more than 17 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, WO J.I. Lawrence, CD, (00339) retired on 12may 2025. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the Sgt S. Greenhalgh: scott.greenhalgh@forces.gc.ca
WO John Lawrence, CD retired from the Canadian Armed Forces on 12 May 2025 after 17 of service in Canada, Afghanistan, Iraq and Latvia.
Prior to joining the CAF, John lived in North Vancouver where he lived an active life participating in mountain climbing, triathlon and ultra-running. While living in North Vancouver, John was employed as a Safety Manager for a development company. John enlisted in the Canadian Military Engineers in Vancouver in 2007.
After completing his basic training in St-Jean, QC followed by Trades Training at CFSME, John was posted to 1 CER where he began training as a Badger operator. While deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, John received hands-on experience with the Badger, EROC and in a Field Sect. On promotion to Sgt in 2015, John was posted to COEFOR in Wainwright from 2015 to 2018. In 2018 John was posted back to 1 CER where he deployed to Iraq in 2020 and Latvia in 2022.
While deployed to Latvia as the eFP Signal’s Sqn Ops WO, John received the Task Force Latvia Commander’s Commendation for his drive to improve the operational readiness of the Sig Sqn.
John was active in the climbing community and mentored the Junior Rock Climbing Club through PSP, he was named “Athlete of the Year’ at 1 CER in 2012.
Upon release, John will be embarking on a motorcycle trip to all three oceans bordering Canada.