After more than 36 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, MWO Stéphane Proulx, CD, retired on 30 October 2021. Congratulatory messages and best wishes can be sent to MWO S.J.N. Blouin at Serge.Blouin@forces.gc.ca.
In 1985, MWO Stephane Proulx’s career in the CAF started through the Youth Training Education Plan (YTEP). Following the one year of YTEP in 1986, he joined the Artillery as a Regular Force member with the 5 RALC in Valcartier. As a Gunner 021, MWO Proulx deployed on a NATO mission to Norway and a UN mission to Cyprus.
Upon his return from Cyprus in 1988, MWO Proulx was posted to 1 RCHA “A” Bty in Germany until the closure of the Regiment in Germany in June 1992. MWO Proulx was sent to National Defence Fire Service (NDFS) on OJT until the beginning of QL3 FF in Borden in January 1993. Upon the successful completion of QL3, MWO Proulx was posted to CFB Ottawa (Uplands) where he started his new career as a Firefighter. Upon the closure of the base in 1995, he was transferred to 4 Wing Cold Lake. During his time in Cold Lake, MWO Proulx completed QL5 FF and was deployed to Bosnia (Roto 4) in 1999.
After 5 years in Cold Lake, MWO Proulx was posted to HMCS Ottawa on the West Coast until 2002. In December 2002, he arrived at Canadian Force Fire Academy (CFFA) as a reservist, where he remained until 2004. Upon his re-engagement in the Regular Force in November 2004, MWO Proulx instructed various courses at CFFA until 2006 when he was transferred to CFB North Bay as a platoon chief. After the closure of the underground complex in December 2006, MWO Proulx was promoted MCpl and transferred to CFFA for a second time. In 2007, MWO Proulx completed QL6A and was posted to CFLRS (Det Borden) in September 2007. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Sgt, staying with CFLRS (Det Borden) until its closure in 2011. In February 2011, MWO Proulx acted as a Det CO in Inuvik. Upon returning south, MWO Proulx was once again transfer to Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy (CFFCA) as the course director for hazmat training.
In June 2012, MWO Proulx was posted to JTFE HQ in Montreal. In 2013, he completed QL6B and was promoted to Warrant Officer. He remained in Montreal until 2016, when he was promoted to his current rank and posted back to CFFCA as the Squadron Warrant Officer (SWO) of the Fire Training Squadron. From 2017 to August 2018, MWO Proulx was posted to CFB Bagotville (3 Wing) as the Deputy Fire Chief (DFC). He started as a Technical Authority with North Warning System Office (NWSO) in September 2018 where he currently works.
MWO Proulx will retire from the CAF with his spouse, Mylene, at their home in Val-des-Monts. He started a new career with the Public Service in October 2021, working for NWSO in Gatineau. MWO Proulx has two adult children, Vanessa and Alexandra, and a stepdaughter Felicia, who are all in the military. He also has two grandchildren, Mila and Thea.