CWO Pierre Blackburn will be retiring from the CF on the First of April 2011 after 31 + years of dedicated service.
Chief Warrant Officer Blackburn was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec. He joined the Canadian Forces in January 1980 as a Fire Fighter. After completion of his basic training in St-Jean and Apprentice course in Borden, he was posted to Chatham New-Brunswick.
During the posting in Chatham, CWO Blackburn responded on the Voodoo 101, T-Bird Silver Star “T-33” and helicopter twin huey. In 1982, he was posted on HMCS Huron, on the East coast, as a private. The two years at sea provided him the opportunity to visit European countries along with our own Canadian coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
In Dec 1984, he was posted to CFB Cold Lake, giving him the opportunity to intervene on the CF18, CF-5 and NATO aircrafts during the Maple Flag exercises that were occurring twice a year. At the rank of MCpl, he also work at the Air Weapon Range, Primrose. In 1992, he was transferred to NCSM Ville de Quebec, as the Senior Fire Fighter, as a Sergeant.
Back to his native land in 1995, CWO Blackburn was posted to the 3ième Escadre de Bagotville. During the 6 years, he was granted Chief Fire Inspector, and then was promoted to Warrant Officer. Newly promoted, he volunteered to be deployed with the 5ième RGC de Valcartier on Roto 5 in Bosnia.
In 2001, he was transferred to the Air Command Academy in Borden as a Flight Warrant Officer. After training the best Master Corporals for 3 years, he was reassigned to the Canadian Forces Fire Academy as the Standard’s Master Warrant Officer certifying top notch Fire Fighters including instructor cadre, and taking on the position as School MWO.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in November 2007, he was posted to the 1 Canadian Air Division as the Deputy Fire Marshal. In May 2009, CWO Blackburn returns to Borden as the Unit Chief for CFFA and now known CFFCA. “Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy”
Pierre met Lori Ann “retired USAF” his life partner, friend, and wife at the “ACPDTC School” in Borden thanks to the flower girl Gerri Chasse. Luckily for him, she has decided to stay in Canada. Pierre and Lori have 5 sons as well as 3 Boston Terriers.
Pierre, his wife Lori Ann and the youngest kid Samuel and 3 dogs will stay in the Angus area. For the foreseeable future, Pierre plans to work at the Academy as a FR4 Fire Instructor.
CFFCA will be having a retirement luncheon and DWD celebration for CWO P. Blackburn on 1 April 2011 at the WO & Sgt Mess Juno Beach at CFB Borden starting at 13:00.
Send your anecdotes, that you may have about Pierre to WO Dan Labarre (Labarre WO JGD@CFFCA@Borden). If you plan to attend CWO Blackburn’s DWD, please send your intentions and replies so we can all get together to raise a glass of Red wine in Pierre’s honour.