We regret to advise of the death of Captain Bernard “Bernie/Scotty” Connelly, CD (Ret’d) on 8 Feb 2023, peacefully after a short illness, at age 89. Bernie served as a Mapper with the Canadian Military Engineers for 31 years.
Bernie was born in Glasgow, Scotland and grew up in a wartime era that built a formidable resilience in him. Beginning an apprenticeship as a textile engraver with the British Silk and Dye Company when he was 15, he completed this training at age 21. He then went to work with Manchester and Spondon in Derbyshire, England until 1957, when he emigrated to Canada. Bernie soon found employment in Montreal as a lithographic pressman with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and with Farrell Advertising before he enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1958.
After he qualified as a Field Engineer at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, Bernie was posted to the Army Survey Establishment (ASE) in Ottawa as a Pressman. Over the years he took on roles of increasing responsibility within ASE (that later became the Mapping and Charting Establishment).
By 1964 Bernie was qualified as Group 4 Lithographer and had been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer. He had a five-month tour of duty with the Royal Australian Survey Corps in Bendigo in 1969 and, on his return to ASE, became the supervisor of the presses and plate-making. Bernie became an instructor in the Training Section in 1971. After five years in this section, he next became the Warrant Officer in Charge of Photolithography. Bernie then returned to the Training Section as the Assistant Training Officer until 1980. Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in that year, he became the Administration Officer. From 1981 to 1983, Bernie was the Officer in Charge of Photolithography.
In 1983, Bernie was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Mapping and Charting Establishment. Two years later, he returned to the School of Survey as the Chief Instructor. Bernie was commissioned at the rank of Captain in October 1986 and became the Chief Instructor until his retirement in 1989.
Bernard was an avid alpine and cross-country skier, runner and golfer. He was invited to try out for the National Biathlon Team in 1969. Active in both alpine and cross-country skiing, he was Chief Instructor at Forces Ottawa Ski Club.
Friends and colleagues may pay respects on Monday, 20 February 2023. Visitation begins at 12:00 pm with a service at 1:00 pm and a reception to follow at Beechwood Cemetery [ 280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa ]. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to the Ottawa YMCA. Online condolences can be sent to the Beechwood Cemetery.
