After more than 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadiian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MWO K.G. MacDonald, CD, will retire on 1 October 2024. A DWD ceremony will be held at The Bunker, in Oromocto,NB on October 4th, 2024, beginning at 1300. Please contact MWO Harty at: Michael.Harty@forces.gc.ca if you wish to share anecdotes, photos, or any other congratulatory messages or to notify of your planned attendance.

MWO MacDonald enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces on May 17, 1990. After completing his basic training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, he was assigned to 1 ESU in Winnipeg, where he undertook his soils course prior to his QL3 training. In 1991, he was transferred to 1 CER.in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Following the closure of the base in 1996, he was reassigned to Edmonton, Alberta, and in 1997, he moved to Comox, British Columbia, serving as a trade helper in carpentry. In 1999, he returned to Edmonton with 1 CER. His subsequent postings included 5 CDSB Gagetown, CFSME in 2003 and 4 ESR in 2008. In 2012, he returned to Winnipeg to assist with establishing 38CER a Reserve Engineer regiment. Following this in 2016, he was again posted to CFSME. He moved to 4 ESR in 2018 and returned to CFSME in 2020, where he has remained for the past four years.

MWO MacDonald has successfully completed all essential engineer career courses, including ILP, ALP, and SLP, as well as several additional qualifications such as Unit Embarkation Officer, QS/TP Manager, Army Lessons Learned Manager, Safety Management, Casualty Assistant, and Harassment Advisory, among others.

Throughout his career, MWO MacDonald has held numerous positions, including Section Member, Gunner, Driver, Stores Rep, Carpenter Helper, Section Commander, Assistant SQ, Regimental Maintenance NCO, CMD Instructor, Demolition Instructor, DP1 Course NCO, FETS Training Coordinator, Recce Sergeant, Troop Warrant Officer, SQ, Squadron Operations, Regimental Operations, CFSME HQ/Ops SSM, 48 Squadron Sergeant Major, 4 ESR QMSI, and CFSME Standards SSM.

In addition to his postings and training, he has deployed overseas four times: twice to Croatia from October 1992 to April 1993 and again from April 1994 to October 1994, to Bosnia from October 2000 to March 2001, and to Afghanistan from October 2009 to May 2010.

MWO MacDonald looks forward to spending quality time with his spouse, Chantale, with whom he has shared 29 years, and their 25-year-old son, Dylan while he continues to find his passion in life.