We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel John Corning Sinclair CD, P.Eng. (Ret'd) on 12 February 2013 in his 80th year at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Born in Sydney, NS, John Sinclair enrolled in the Canadian Army Reserve and undertook university training under the Canadian Officer Training Corps at Acadia University. In 1954 he transferred to the Regular Army with the Royal Canadian Engineers and pursued his university training under the Regular Officer Training Plan at Nova Scotia Technical College leading to a BSc in Civil Engineering. After graduating from Acadia University he went on to have careers as a land surveyor, mapper, civil engineer, soldier, teacher and as an Ontario Hydro Project Manager.
John was commissioned in 1958 and posted to the Army Survey Establishment in Ottawa as Engineer Officer. The next Spring he was sent to the School of Military Survey in the UK on the Intermediate Military and Civilian Long Survey Course. Upon successful completion of the course he returned to ASE in July 1960 as Project Engineer Officer and later became OC Field Division. In October 1964 he was posted to 42 Survey Regiment, Royal Engineers, on exchange duties with 19 Topographic Squadron and in February 1965, was appointed Officer Commanding. The following Fall he was sent to the Royal Military College of Science Shrivenham, on the Technical Staff Officer’s Course and returned to Canada in December 1966 with a posting to CFHQ with the Directorate of Mapping and Charting as Staff Officer, Mapping and Charting Land.
John attended the Staff College in Toronto 1969 – 1970 and was then posted to HQ Mobile Command as Staff Officer Field Engineering. In July 1972 he was appointed as Staff Officer Plans and Operations with the Deputy Chief of Staff Operation Branch and in July 1973 he was appointed Senior Staff Officer Plans and Operations.
John was appointed Commanding Officer of Mapping and Charting Establishment in April 1974 and held that appointment for four years. He was then posted to HQ Allied Forces Northern Europe, Plans and Policy Branch in Norway, as Staff Officer. In Jul 1981, he was posted to the staff of the CF Command and Staff College in Toronto from whence he took his release in 1981. He was subsequently employed with Ontario Hydro.
After retiring from the military John enjoyed 15 years at Ontario Hydro as a Project Engineer where he was affectionately known as the “the Colonel.” During this time he earned his P. Eng. designation. In full retirement he enjoyed gourmet cooking and was an active member of the Niagara Parkway Artist Guild where he has been credited with helping to make the Guild a success with his amazing people skills and his unique ability to mobilize people and execute a well thought out plan of action. He was a talented pen and ink artist who specialized in drawing historic houses and buildings. John was also the coordinator and the coordinating author of "One Hundred Years of Military Mapping 1903 - 2003 - An Illustrated History.”
Cremation has taken place. John’s family will receive friends at MORGAN FUNERAL HOME 415 Regent Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake on Sunday 17 February from 2:00-4:00 p.m. A private interment will be held at Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to Greater Niagara General Hospital Emergency Room or Red Cross Care Partners would be appreciated by the family.
