Obituaries

Col (ret’d) Murray Johnston

19 May 1933 – 20 October 2020

Tribute to our dear Col Cmdt 1991-2004

This book is a collection of stories and photos from members (past and present) of the RCEME
Corps whose lives, in one way or another, were influenced by Col (Ret’d) Murray Johnston.

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Lieutenant-Colonel James Bower

20 February 1966 – 11 June 2020

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Corporal Aaron Michael St James

Corporal Aaron St James was born 20 April 1995 in Vancouver, British Columbia. He began his 7 year service to Canada on 26 March 2014. Following Basic training, he was posted first to the RCEME School at Canadian Forces Base Borden, and then to 1 Service Battalion at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, to complete his Vehicle Technician training. Upon achieving his trade qualifications, Corporal St James was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Shilo, Manitoba in 2018. In June of 2019 he deployed to Latvia with the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group as part of Operation REASSURANCE, Rotation 19-02.

Throughout his career, Corporal St James proudly served the Army of the  West. His pride in the RCEME Corps and his personal pride of serving the  nation was evident to all who served with and knew him. The military and  especially the RCEME Corps were more than a career to Corporal St James;  his fellow soldiers were truly an extended family to him.

Corporal St James passed away on 27 April 2020 and is survived  by his wife Joanna St James, his mother Heather MacDonald, his  brother Special Constable Matthew St James, and his sisters  Samantha St James, Kierra Cardinal and Neo Cardinal.

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Sgt Kathryn Elisabeth Howard

After 29 years of loyal service in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Sgt Kathryn Elisabeth Howard passed away suddenly on 14 April 2020.

Sgt Kathryn Howard was born in Smith Falls, Ontario. She joined the CAF in August of 1991 as an EGS Technician and attended basic training at the CF Recruit School Cornwallis. Upon successful completion of her training she was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown, NB where she voluntarily transferred to the RCEME corps as a Vehicle Technician. She was posted to 1 Svc Bn, Edmonton in October of 1992 after passing her QL3 training and spent the next 4 years honing her skills as a technician.

Sgt Howard married her wife Jonna in August of 1995 and three short years later welcomed their beautiful son Dylan into the world in January of 1998. She completed her QL5 training in the early months of 1996 and was posted shortly after to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Petawawa, Ontario. While in Petawawa, Sgt Howard deployed on two separate tours of duty. One was with Task Force Golan on OP DENACA in 1997 and the other was with the Infantry Battle Group on OP PALLADIUM to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2003.

She was posted to CFB Cold Lake in December of 2004 and bounced between 4 Construction Engineering Squadron and 4 Air Combat Service Support. She attended the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver with OP PODIUM and was deployed to Afghanistan in the same year on ROTO 11.

In the summer of 2016, Sgt Howard was posted to 1 CER in Edmonton as the B-Veh Section commander. While on IR she spent countless hours on the road between Edmonton and Cold Lake visiting her family whenever she could. When a position opened up in the summer of 2017 in Cold Lake she jumped at the chance to get home and become the Maint IC for 4 CES.

Sgt Howard had several hobbies ranging from making chainmail to 3D printing various objects. She enjoyed tinkering with electronics and using her virtual reality which she brought in to the unit for some morale days. She was a very caring and empathetic person that would do anything she could to help someone in need and will be missed dearly by everyone who knew her.

“Arte et Marte”

 

Retirement messages

Blank template for retirement message available here.

For any retirement messages wished to be sent out to the RCEME family, please send to our mailbox: DND.RCEME-GEMRC.MDN@forces.gc.ca.

To receive a retirement certificate, please fill in this form and send it to the positional mailbox.

The guidelines and format can be seen in Communiqué 01/2018 here.

January 2021

  • 15 January: Cpl McNamara – After 6 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Cpl Stephanie McNamara will leave the Regular Force on 15 Jan 2021. If there are any messages or stories that you wish to pass on to Cpl McNamara, please send them to MCpl Meade at JOSH.MEADE@forces.gc.ca.
  • 5 January: WO Brostowski – After 33 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), WO Michael Brostowski will retire on January 5th 2021. A Departure with Dignity (DWD) Ceremony will be held on 04 Dec 2020 at “The Bunker” in Oromocto, NB. Please confirm your attendance and send your stories, messages and photos to WO Muzzy at jyson.muzzy@forces.gc.ca.

December 2020

  • 11 December: MWO Blanchette – After more than 35 years of good and loyal service in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the RCEME Corps, MWO Alain Blanchette will retire on December 11, 2020. Alain does not wish to have a departure with dignity, but simply a lunch with the staff he met during his last assignment. If you would like to provide special thanks and/or anecdotes, you can send them to Daniel.Beaulieu@forces.gc.ca.
  • 8 December: LCol Janelle – After 36+ years of service with the CAF and the Corps of RCEME, LCol Denis Janelle will retire on 8 December 2020. Retirement plans include spending more time with his family and friends in the Ottawa area and enjoying his hobbies. There will be no formal Departure with Dignity ceremony due to the COVID restrictions in place. Any stories, messages and photos may be sent to LCol Dan Fontaine at daniel.fontaine3@forces.gc.ca.
  • 1 December: MWO Paradis – After more than 25 years of good and loyal service, MWO Dom Paradis will be taking his retirement on December 1st 2020. Dom and his awesome wife Karine decided to retire and live a simple life on a homestead. With the support of their 3 boys, Sebastien, Alexandre (part of RCEME as a Veh Tech in becoming) and David, they will strive to live to the fullest and enjoy the rest of their life together amongst the farm animals and surrounding wild life.
  • 1 December: WO Gauthier – With just over 20 years of good and loyal service in the Canadian Armed Forces, WO Nicolas Gauthier will be retiring on December 1, 2020. A Departure with Dignity (DDD) ceremony will take place at a later date, when possible. An invitation will then be sent. You can send your anecdotes and photos to francois.vezina@forces.gc.ca.

November 2020

  • 30 November: MWO Hawkins – After 35 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), MWO Hawkins will retire on 30 Nov 2020. A Departure with Dignity (DWD) Ceremony will not be held at this time due to current COVID gathering restrictions. Please send any stories, messages and photos you may have to Forbes MWO DS@ADM(Mat) DSVPM@Ottawa-Hull Dany.FORBES@forces.gc.ca.
  • 27 November: CWO Thompson – After more than 35 years of dedicated and loyal service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and to the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), CWO David Thompson will retire on 27 November 2020. Although retiring, CWO Thompson will stay busy as he has decided to give back by transferring over to the COATS. He is also volunteering full time at the Borden Military Museum and continuing his involvement with the Flakpanzer restoration project. As well, he is currently enrolled in the Museum and Gallery Studies course at Georgian College in Barrie. A Depart with Dignity (DWD) ceremony will be held on Thursday, 19 Nov 20 at the Angus Legion from 11:30 – 1400hrs. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is a maximum of 50 people allowed to attend. If you wish to attend, please contact Andrew Gregory by email Andrew.gregory@forces.gc.ca or 17agregory@gmail.com or by phone at 1-795-424-1200 ext: 1334. Please feel free to send your anecdotes, stories, congratulations and well wishes to Andrew Gregory at the email provided above.

October 2020

  • 30 October: MWO L’Italien – After more than 31 years of good and loyal service, MWO Fred L’Italien will be taking his retirement on October 30th 2020. Fred will return to the source as a VHE10 Technician within the Public Service. DWD ceremony will take place on a future date, when possible. An invite shall be sent then. Send pictures and stories to MARCEL.GENDRON@forces.gc.ca .
  • 27 October: Cpl Fillion – After 12 years of loyal service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Cpl Danny Fillion will retire on October 27, 2020. You can send your wishes to Sgt Gallant at Nigel.Gallant@forces.gc.ca. Cpl Fillion has decided not to hold a departure ceremony.
  • 13 October: Sgt Rasmussen – After more than 23 years of loyal service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (RCEME) Corps, Sgt Ryan Rasmussen, is releasing on 13 Oct 2020. A Departure with Dignity (DWD) luncheon will take place on Wednesday, 14 Oct 2020, at the CFB Edmonton Curling club from 1400hrs to whenever anyone wants to leave. Due to COVID 19, seating is limited. Please send your R.S.V.P. to Sgt Sansterre (Roger.Sansterre@forces.gc.ca) by the end of day Monday Oct 12th in order to tally the number of guests that will be in attendance. Thank you in advance.
  • 5 October: Maj Lagrange – After more than 22 years of dedicated and loyal service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and to the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Major Jean- Sébastien Lagrange will retire on 5 October 2020. Jean-Sébastien’s Depart with Dignity (DWD) ceremony will be held at a later date (TBC) once COVID-19 conditions permit an appropriate in-person celebration. If you wish to be informed of the date and location of the DWD, once confirmed, please contact LCdr Blake Poirier by email at blake.poirier@forces.gc.ca or at by phone 1-514-589-4183. Please feel free to send your anecdotes, stories, congratulations and well wishes to LCdr Poirier at the email provided above.

September 2020

  • 30 September: LCol Turgeon – After 37 years of service, LCol Yves Turgeon, enrolled on 24 may 1983, will hit the compulsory retirement age on 30 September 2020 and retire on that date.
  • 13 September: MWO Radies – After 38+ years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps (RCEME), MWO Dan Radies will retire on 13 Sept 2020 after reaching CRA 60. Due in part to COVID and other unknowns, an official date for any DWD is still undecided. He says that if you want to drop by for a sociable feel free, door / acreage is always open and that there is plenty of room for parking. All correspondences can be directed to Lt Cameron / MWO Hughes / MWO Dacey. Arte et Marte
  • 12 September: Cpl Therrien – After 30 years of loyal and dedicated service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Cpl Éric Therrien will retire on 12 September 2020. Éric’s Departure with Dignity ceremony will be conducted on 21 August 2020, from 13h00 to 15h00 at Kingston’s Garrison Golf & Curling Club (GG&CC), located on Red Patch Ave on the McNaughton side of the Canadian Forces Base in Kingston. If you wish to attend, please contact MCpl Patrick Arsenault on his cellphone 1-418-952-1850 or by email at pat.arsenault@outlook.com . Please note that due to COVID-19 circumstances, the location and maximum number of guests could be subject to change. Guests will be advised if such happens.
    Anecdotes, stories and appreciation messages can be sent to MCpl Arsenault at patrick.arsenault@forces.gc.ca . Also, in recognition of 30 years of great service, donations will be collected to provide a gift for Éric. Donations can be done via e-transfer to DWD function coordinator at pat.arsenault@outlook.com. Contributions are on a volunteer base only and is greatly appreciated.

August 2020

  • 31 August: MWO Walton – After 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps, MWO Al Walton will retire on 31 August 2020. Congratulatory messages, anecdotes and photos can be sent by email to MWO Fieldsend Scott.Fieldsend@forces.gc.ca.
  • 31 August: MWO Dumas – Master Warrant Officer Dumas enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces on the April 4th, 1986, in Montreal and will retire on August 31st, 2020. MWO Dumas wishes the best to everyone he crossed paths with and a bright future to the RCEME Corps. He will be keeping fond memories of his very eventful 34-year career and the people he has met/become friends with during that time. MWO Dumas chose to retire without a Departure with Dignity.
  • 29 August: Cpl Johnston – After 11 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, Cpl Johnston has retire on 29 August 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will no Departure with Dignity Ceremony. He would like to thank all those he has served with, wishing everyone all the best.
  • 28 August: Cpl Michel – After 12 plus years, Cpl Jonathan Michel will retire on 28 August 2020. At this time a Depart with Dignity luncheon will be on hold for Cpl Michel. Please send congratulatory messages, anecdotes and best wishes to JOHN.BRENT@forces.gc.ca as all received correspondence will be presented to Cpl Michel.
  • 24 August: MWO Vandepol – After 32 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, MWO Vandepol will retire on 24 August 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will no Departure with Dignity Ceremony. He would like to thank all those he has served with, wishing everyone all the best.
  • 19 August: MWO Hickey – Master Warrant Officer Kevin Hickey will be retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces on August 19, 2020, after serving 35 plus years with the RCEME Corps. MWO Hickey would like to thanks his Wife Paula, for the numerous years of support throughout his career. Also, he wishes to thank his two daughters Renee and Erica for having patience and understanding through numerous postings.
  • 12 August: CWO McLeod – After 31+ years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), CWO McLeod will retire on 12 August 2020. A Departure with Dignity (DWD) Ceremony will not be held.
  • 10 August: Sgt Pelletier – After 14 years of dedicated and loyal services as a member of the CAF and RCEME corps, Sgt Nicolas Pelletier will be retiring on August 10th, 2020. Given the exceptional circumstances surrounding this year, there will not be no departure with dignity, nor farewell dinner scheduled.

July 2020

  • 31 July: Cpl Leblanc – After 5 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Cpl Joshua Leblanc will retire on 31 July 2020. The member has declined a Departure with Dignity (DWD) Ceremony with the current pandemic state. If you wish to contact Cpl Leblanc, please send your stories, messages and photos to WO Berkowski at Benjamin.Berkowski@forces.gc.ca, so best wishes can be passed on to Cpl Leblanc.
  • 31 July: Major Cogswell – After 33+ years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Major Cogswell will retire on 31 July 2020. A Departure with Dignity will occur once additional restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifted. Anecdotes and messages of congratulations can be sent to Captain Rodney Hollahan at Rodney.Hollahan@forces.gc.ca.
  • 30 July: WO Miller – After 35 plus years of loyal and dedicated service with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, WO Miller will retire on 30 July 2020. A Depart with Dignity (DWD) ceremony will be held on Thursday 13 August 2020 15:00hours at 1400 Lanzy Road, Detachment Aldershot, Nova Scotia, B4N 4H8, Building 26, Borden Hall Combined Mess. Please confirm your attendance, and send your stories, messages and photos to WO Brooks XQ at XAVIER.BROOKS@forces.gc.ca.
  • 28 July: Pte(T) McKinnon – After 5 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , Pte (T) McKinnon will release on 28 July 2020. The member has declined a Departure with Dignity Ceremony with the current pandemic state. If you wish to contact Pte (T) McKinnon, please send your stories, messages and photos to Sgt Menard at Nicolas.menard@forces.gc.ca, so best wishes can be passed on to Pte (T) McKinnon.
  • 15 July: Capt Fournier – After 14 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Capt Fournier will retire on 15 July 2020. Departure with Dignity (DWD) Ceremony is not planned at this time. We hope to celebrate his service and bid him farewell during an informal luncheon mid-June. Please send your congratulatory messages, photos, stories and anecdotes to Lt Kathryn Collins at kathryn.collins@forces.gc.ca.
  • 7  July: Capt MacDonald – After 12 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Capt MacDonald will retire on 07 Jul 2020. Capt MacDonald’s career highlights include two years spent as the Maintenance Officer with 2 RCR and three years as the Force Development Officer with CSOR. Post-retirement will see Capt MacDonald working with a private company in Ottawa. Due to the current limitations in public gatherings, a small gathering was held to celebrate Capt MacDonald’s career. Well wishes and anecdotes can be sent direct to Garrett at mackyd001.gm@gmail.com.
  • 3 July: MWO Gallant – After more than 23 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps (RCEME) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), MWO Patrick Gallant will retire on July 3, 2020. A departure with dignity event will take place when possible, an invitation will be sent. You can send your anecdotes, messages and photos to Sgt Labrecque at SIMON.LABRECQUE@forces.gc.ca

June 2020

May 2020

April 2020

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

July 2019

June 2019

May 2019

April 2019

March 2019

February 2019

January 2019

2018

2017