Major Fortin was born in Québec City in 1958. He joined Cadets in 1971 and subsequently joined the Reserves in 1975. He completed an Architectural Technologist Diploma in 1981 at Levis, Québec.

From 1975 to 1983 he was a member of the 55 Service Battalion in Québec City as a driver attaining the rank of Master Corporal. In 1983, he transferred to the Regular Force. After basic training, he attended English training for five months prior to his formal military training as a Military Engineer at CFB Chilliwack in 1984, part of CMEO course 8401 completing Phases 2, 3 and 4 in one year.

From there, in 1985, he proceeded to CFB Toronto where he was employed in the Construction Engineering section as Planning, Production and Engineering Officer. In 1988 he was posted to Mont-Apica as SCEO followed in 1989 with a posting to CFB Bagotville as Requirements Officer where he remained for four years.

Promoted to his current rank in 1993, he was posted to CFB Ottawa as Engineering Officer. In 1994 he was left for as tour in the Former republic of Yugoslavia with UNPROFOR as Engineer Plans for the SWHQ. On returning from Yugoslavia in 1995, he was posted to NDHQ in DGI as Project Manager.

In 1996, he was posted to RMC, Kingston under the UTPO program and completed a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1998. He was posted back to Ottawa, first to the CAS staff for a short period before being posted to the DCDS staff in J3 for the Y2K event, where he received the DCDS Commendation for his great contributions. After the Y2K event passed he was posted back to the CAS Staff in 2000.

In 2001, he was posted to ADM(IE)/DCPSD (now known as DCPEP and soon to be DCPD) as a Project Manager and for the last year he worked as Team Leader.

In June 2008 Major Fortin will retire from the Regular Force to accept a position in ADM(IE)/DGME/DCPD as a civilian Project Manager.

Denis resides in Gatineau, QC with his wonderful wife Sylvie and their two lovely daughters Émilie and Pascale.