After more than 29 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol Sarah House, CD, retired on 01 July 2024. A DwD will be held on 03 November 2024 in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, at “The Nineteen” in the hotel Prins Boudewijn at approximately 20:00 hrs once all are cleaned up from the 50th Canadian Liberation March, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the region and Operation SWITCHBACK. Personal notes, congratulation, and preferably funny stories can be sent to MWO McEachern at Troy.McEachern@forces.gc.ca.
Being born in a storm on a radar station and raised as a base-brat at all the Engineer haunts made me receptive to the brainwashing (e.g. our Christmas lights were blue, red, blue, blue, red, blue), so I naturally followed in Poppa Holdfast’s footsteps. To be fair, a news story about RRMC Pipe Band’s Disneyland performance made MilCol seem not all bad. My formative years began with a piece of fatherly advice: “Do NOT readily admit we’re related; you shouldn’t pay for my sins.” There couldn’t have been many…
Thankfully my career was full of not getting what I thought I wanted, starting in 1995 when a recruiter called to say: “You got your first choice, Combat Engineer!” Odd, I never asked for that; not the plan but I was off to RMC. As the first-born child of the Engineer Divorce of 1995, a summer in green at 2 CER was when I met Spr House. Suddenly, I found myself in Cold Lake, despite the promise of Comox, as a blue 2Lt lying to Mario Gagnon about ‘how excited I was to be there!’ He called out my lie and vowed to make my first posting well worth it. 41 AEF set the bar high and crossing paths with them still brings smiles and stories. Though, my first Flt MWO drove me nuts for at least six months. Bill McInnis was more hard-headed, so he eventually won, starting the most trusted command team of my 29 years! All told, I arrived single, had terribly Gucci goes in Hickam, Tyndall, and shopping with mom in Dubai, somehow convinced Rob to leave Petawawa for Northern Alberta, and headed to
Borden married to a fire fighter with baby #1 on the way.
Borden (I asked for Bagotville…two can play this game) brought two daughters, lifelong friends,
and finding my wheelhouse. Contrary to lore, significantly overspending a budget does not send
one to jail. Now, how to keep up that trend? 2010 brought our young family home to the local
headline “South Shore born soldier takes command”, when the 14 CES mandate of "Recruit, Train,
Deploy" was in full effect. Troops were telling me: “Why go Reg Force? I’d never deploy this
much!” There was one Capt in the unit who seemed to avoid me, so I cornered him over Sunday
dinner, Kabul tasking message in hand; mom was not pleased, dad was! I still sing 14’s praise to
NATO!
In 2013, I was unsure about the RAWC and was looking to shorten my stay. What did I do wrong
now? Sage advice from then CME of “Show up, work hard, add value” opened my eyes to a big
opportunity which drastically broadened my horizons, Thanks Ma’am! I wrote doctrine for eight
months then did cool stuff as SSO until March 2015 when I got a job that I actually requested…8
WCEO (+1st OC RP Ops Det Trenton). However, capital money dried up and all collective
agreements expired simultaneously. Through adversity, as they say. My great boss, Cathy Blue,
and I enjoyed working with a bunch of millennials. Say what you will but this cohort is open-
minded and dedicated. The future is bright!
JCSP filled my nights, as did MDS, during my next “posting prefs not included” job as RP Ops
J3. My spree of great bosses and dependable 2ICs endured. Perks of the job included a grumpy
civy named Moreau and the most impactful female professional relationship of my career. Now
they are dear friends. All coming together for the Wildly Important Goal – creating a budget
blowing trend! Some tense meetings ensued but I’ve never been prouder to be part of a team!
Thinking nothing could top that I set my eyes on civy street… and I would’ve got away with it too
if it weren’t for those great leaders. Three dynamic, French, Army Engineers changed everything.
The brainwashing had all paid off. I got to support the Branch, its history, future, and with Team
Awesome, hosted a four-day NSJEC during the pre-omicron pandemic with 21 nations uniting in
Quebec City. Career Highlight!
Thankfully, I ended my career with an OutCAN! While it began with reluctant young teens, they
quickly announced that finishing school in Europe would make them happiest. Making memories
with them before they’re off to make their own is what makes me happy. And so, I’m off to NATO
AIRCOM. (The 1996 AE Aide Memoire suddenly came in handy!) CADPAT will be replaced
with a pink jacket, E2R broach, and high heels. 1995-Sarah was shy, head down, feeling ill-
equipped for the physical challenges ahead. Thank you to incredible teams and leaders who shaped
this happier, light-hearted version! Full circle, with many more laugh lines and married to the best
teammate of them all! Olivia, Lauren, and especially Robbie: Thanks for your love. You’ll never
know how much I appreciate your support, sacrifices for the family, and your belief in me…