After 38 years of dedicated service, Major-General Sirois will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces on 13 September, 2020.  During almost four decades, MGen Sirois has served in many command positions, from Tp Comd to CO of 5 CER, as a Formation Comd as Comd 5 Area Support Group and as the Chief Military Engineer.  In addition to Regular Force employment, he has also served as a Regular Support Staff Officer with 9 Field Engineer Squadron in Rouyn-Noranda (Québec).  In these capacities, he has positively influenced the development of many of the Senior Engineer Officers and Non-commissioned officers among us today.  Just as noteworthy, his numerous deployments in an Engineer role cover the full spectrum of operations: from domestic to expeditionary and humanitarian relief to full conflict.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small farewell ceremony will be held concurrent to the Chief Military Engineer Change of Appointment Ceremony on 25 August, 2020.  Attendees have already been identified but please send anecdotes and well wishes to the OPI by 28 August 2020. OPI: Maj Michael Godard, michael.godard@forces.gc.ca

___________________________________________________________________

Originally from Montreal, Major-General Sirois joined the Canadian Forces in June 1982 as an Officer Cadet at the Royal Military College in St-Jean (Québec). He graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston (Ontario) in 1987 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Upon completion of his training as an engineer officer at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack (British Columbia), he was posted in December 1987 to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa (Ontario). During his tour he was employed in various positions in the administrative squadron, support squadron, regimental headquarters and as a field troop commander. He deployed to the Caribbean in 1989 for two months after Hurricane HUGO. He was also involved with the Aboriginal crisis in 1990 in Akwasasne (Ontario).

He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1990 and posted as the Regular Support Staff Officer with 9e Escadron du génie de campagne in Rouyn-Noranda (Québec). In 1992 he returned to Petawawa, this time with the Base Construction Engineer Unit. In 1994, he was posted as Officer Commanding 51e Escadron de campagne with 5e Regiment du génie de combat in Valcartier (Québec). Six month later he was seconded to 5e Groupe-Brigade mécanisé du Canada headquarters in Valcartier.

Major General Sirois was promoted to the rank of Major in 1995 and posted as a staff officer in the Engineer Branch of the United Nations Peace Force in Zagreb (Croatia) and later in Sarajevo (Bosnia). He returned to Canada in February 1996, took command of 52e Escadron de campagne before redeploying to Bosnia for a six-month tour under OP ALLIANCE, the Canadian operation in support of IFOR. He comes back in Canada in February 1997. Winter 1998, he deploys with his squadron to the Montreal area, responding to the Quebec ice storm. Summer 1998, he becomes the Deputy Commanding Officer of the unit.

In July 2000, upon graduation from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and posted to Ottawa as J3 Engineer Operations and Plans. In June 2002, he was appointed Commanding Officer of 5e Régiment du génie de combat. During his command, he deployed to Operation ATHENA in Kabul as the National Command Element Chief of Staff. Upon his return in August 2004, he was posted to Ottawa as Director Land Infrastructure.

In June 2006, promoted Colonel, he was posted to Kingston as the Chief of Staff Land Force Doctrine and Training System and remained until his assignment to the National Securities Program, summer 2008 where he completed a Master's degree in Security and Defence Management Policy. In July 2009, Major-General Sirois returned to Ottawa as Director General Military Engineering. Concurrently to his formal assignments, from April 2006 to October 2009, Major-General Sirois also filled the duties of Director Engineers. From June 2011 to July 2013, he commanded 5 Area Support Group in Montreal (Québec). Returning to Ottawa in 2013, he became Director Capability Integration. In November 2013, he was promoted Brigadier-General and assigned as Project Leader for the Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation project until 14 January 2017. Promoted to his current rank in January 2017, he assumed his current role as the Chief of Staff – Infrastructure and Environment and Chief Military Engineer.

Upon retirement, MGen Sirois plans to remain in the National Capital Regions alongside his spouse, Marie Andrée Gaudreault.

A small farewell ceremony will be held concurrent to the Chief Military Engineer Change of Appointment Ceremony to be held 25 August, 2020. Anecdotes and will wishes can be sent to Major Michael Godard at michael.godard@forces.gc.ca by 28 August 2020.