CWO John L'Heureux, CD will be retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces on the 21st of June, 2016 after 43 years of dedicated service to the CAF and the CME Branch. See bio attached.
Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend his depart with dignity presentation function which will take place at the LCol Philip L. Debney Armoury, Combined Mess located at 8403 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB on the 7th of May 2016 at 1300hrs. Dress will be dress of the day or civilian casual. Congratulatory messages and anecdotes can be sent to Master Warrant Officer Lauren Skibinsky
CWO L’Heureux enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (Reserves) in September 1972 and completed his basic training in Victoria Park, Sydney, Nova Scotia. Upon completion of initial training he became a member of a field section in 45 Field Squadron. The following summer he completed his trade course in CFSME in Chilliwack. He also completed his JLC the following year in Aldershot N.S. and attended summer concentration in Aldershot the next two summers.
In the summer of 1974 he completed an occupational transfer to the regular force, and attended recruit training in CFB Cornwallis in August 1974. Upon completion of basic training he was posted to CFSME in Chilliwack to complete his TQ3 Field Engineer Course. Upon completion in early 1975 he was posted to 1 Fd. Sqn. Petawawa, Ontario. While in Petawawa, he participated in unit and Bde exercises and deployed with the Navy in CORK 75 in Kingston and deployed for the Summer Olympics in 1976 in Kingston as well with the Navy. After the Olympics he completed his Combat Divers Course in FDU (P). The following winter he completed his TQ5 in CFSME and was promoted to Cpl while on course. In 1978 he was posted to 4 CER Lahr W Germany.
While in Germany he participated in all the unit and Bde exercises and NATO Ex Autumn Forge Ex’s. While in 4 CER he served in 2 Tp as section member, section driver and section 2 i/c. and completed his driver track and APC Dozer courses as well as his Combat Leaders Course. After promoted to M/Cpl he became the unit’s Diving Section Storeman and 2 i/c of Water Supply Section. He also completed exchange tours with the German Pioneer Divers in Munich and with the French Navy divers in Toulon France. In 1981 he was posted back to Canada as 2 i/c of Range Maintenance and Demolitions Section in CFB Gagetown N.B. That fall he went back to CFSME to complete his TQ6A. With only Gagetown being a short stopover he was posted to CFSME in 1982. While in CFSME, he mentored and trained soldiers in RAWA, GMT and MWD Troops at the TQ3, 5 and 6A levels, as well as PH II, PH III Officer levels, Power Boat crses, Advanced water Supply crses, Basic EOD crses and finally Demolitions All Arms Crses. While in CFSME he was promoted to Sgt in 1985 and completed EOD Basic and EOD-IED, and Power Boat Op crse and Adv Water Supply Crse. In 1988 he remustered to Plumber Gas Fitter. Upon completion of his QL3 he was posted to CFB Edmonton CE Section.
While in CE he completed his normal scope of duties within CE with stints in recently closed CFS Beaverlodge, and the CF Survival School in Jarvis Lake outside of Hinton AB. He completed his PG Ftr QL5A in 1990 and in 1991 was posted to UNFICYP in Nicosia Cyprus, attached to separate infantry battalions first with 2 RCR and then with 2 R22R. While in Cyprus he was promoted to MCpl. The following two summers were spent attached to 1 CEU in CFS Alert. In the fall of 1992 he was a member of the CF Task Force deployed to Miami in response to Hurricane Andrew who was awarded the Air Command Commanders Commendation for their humanitarian efforts. In 1993 he returned to CFSME to complete his QL6A crse. In 1995 he was posted to Croatia/Bosnia part of UNPROFOR. The following year he was posted to northern Bosnia for the surge of IFOR . Upon return to Canada he acquired his Alberta Plumbing Ticket, and Interprovincial Plumber Red Seal and Alberta Class A Gas Ticket. With a force reduction being offered in 1996 MCpl L’Heureux took his release from the RegF and was convinced by an old mentor then LCol Dennis Dwyer that my knowledge would be beneficial if I would think of joining the Reserves. In the fall of 1996 now Sgt L’Heureux joined 8 FER. While in the Reserves he attended unit exercises, Bde exercises and progressed through the ranks after attending his QL6B and SLC to eventually becoming the RSM of 41 CER (Edmonton 25 Fd Sqn & Calgary 33 Fd Sqn) in 2009 till 2013. After his appointment as RSM he continued to stay on with 41 CER on loan from the PRL with 3 Cdn Div HQ till his upcoming retirement in June 2016 after completion of 43 yrs of service to the CAF and Engineer Branch.
While as a reservist CWO L’Heureux’s day time occupation upon release he was employed as a plumber gas fitter in the Edmonton area till 2002 when he was hired by DND and worked in CFB Edmonton Engr Svc’s Coy as a plumber gas fitter till 2014 when changed jobs and started working as a Plumber for Edmonton Regional Airport Authority where in intends on staying till his retirement, where then they plan on settling in Kelowna BC. In his spare time he and his wife Bozena are enjoying travelling the Caribbean and Europe.
CHIMO!