Wayne joined the Canadian Army on 5 January 1968, a month before Unification, as a Gunner in 2 Field Regiment, RCA, Montreal, and was deployed as a Vital Point guard during the October 1970 Crisis. Following this, he enrolled in the Royal Military College Kingston, receiving a Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil engineering in 1975. Of all of his experiences during this period, the standing invitation to join the Drill Staff for coffee and the mentoring and guidance they provided are his most cherished memories.
Following graduation from RMC, Wayne served in numerous field, garrison and staff positions for the remainder of his 41 year career in uniform. Memorable experiences include the construction of airfields in the Arctic, service with the Reserves as Regular Support Staff and Commanding Officer, the closure of Bases and transfer of units in the 1990s, and service overseas on five missions (four in Bosnia and one in Haiti.) When he asked for a sixth tour, this time in Afghanistan in 2003, he was told, “You’ve had five missions – you have to give someone else a chance!” As a consolation prize, he was appointed Commanding Officer of 45 Field Engineer Squadron in his native Cape Breton.
On his release from the Canadian Forces, Wayne worked for Public Works and Government Services Canada on Parliament Hill for a year, restoring its historic buildings, before joining Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), as its Major Capital Program Manager, responsible for both construction and equipment projects worth in excess of $1.5B. He remained with DRDC until retirement, becoming the Director Science and Technology Technical Services in 2017.
In his spare time, Wayne is active in a number of charitable organizations and Veterans’ endeavours. He joined the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP) in 1998, becoming the President of the Colonel John Gardam Chapter (Ottawa) in 2010, and has helped organize the National Capital’s Peacekeepers’ Day ceremonies on 9 August ever since. In September 2014, he was elected National President of the Association, and is heavily involved in an advisory role to Veterans Affairs Canada.
A happily married man of many decades, Wayne has three grown children, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. On retirement, Wayne and his wife Deborah plan to remain in Ottawa, pursuing personal goals and selected volunteer activities.