We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer Dimitrie John Smirnov (Ret'd) in Ottawa on 15 August 2015 after a valiant fight with cancer.

John Smirnov was born in 1948, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and spoke Russian, Serbian and German. He joined he Royal Canadian Artillery in 1968. Following his basic artillery training he served in succession at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, NB, then with 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Germany and then with 2 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery CFB Petawawa, ON. John started his career in survey in 1976 when he trained in Artillery Survey. He then transferred to the Canadian Military Engineers on an Occupational Transfer and joined Mapping and Charting Establishment in 1978.

During his 12 years with Mapping and Charting Establishment John touched most bases. He deployed with the flying crews on the Gravity Line surveys in British Columbia and Quebec as well as the Radar Line from Newfoundland to Ontario. He had three deployments to Canadian Forces Station Alert, NWT that included Operation ARCTIC and Operation HURRICANE. Twice John was a Survey Instructor at the School of Military Mapping, had a couple of prolonged stays in Compilation Division of Mapping and Charting Establishment and his last position was as Quality Control Inspector. John retired in 1990 to work for the National Capital Commission in Ottawa.

A Celebration of life for Dimitrie John Smirnov will be held on Monday, 24 August from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Road, Orleans^.{khMay2016}