We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel T.W. Kopan, OMM, MOM, CD, AdeC on 20 January 2019 in Holmberg Home in Abbotsford BC at age 57 after a long battle with cancer. Terry served his country in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Forces Reserves and the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
Terry was born and educated in Yorkton, SK. His involvement with the Canadian Cadet Organization began in 1974 when he joined No. 114 Orkney Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. He participated in summer training at Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Quadra and spent two months aboard HMCS Terra Nova - graduating from the Sea Cadet program as a Chief Petty Officer First Class. Terry enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1980 as an officer with the Reserves and a member of the Cadet Instructors List. He served with Sea and Army Cadet Corps in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Prior to joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1981 Terry was employed as a full-time fire fighter with the City of Yorkton, SK. While posted with the RCMP in a number of communities in British Columbia he continued his service with local cadet corps. Terry commanded No. 2276 Rocky Mountain Rangers in Fort St. John prior to his transfer to Langley. He then became a Training Officer, Deputy Commanding Officer and Commanding Officer with No.1922 The Royal Westminster Regiment Abbotsford and No. 1725 Canadian Military Engineers Chilliwack Cadet Corps. During this time, he was twice selected for international exchanges as the Officer in Charge of the Canadian Contingent to the United Kingdom Land Forces Cadet Leadership Course held in England.
Upon promotion to Major in 1996 Terry was appointed the army Area Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) Officer for the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. In addition to his duties as Area CIC Officer, Terry successively commanded No. 72 and No. 2812 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Vancouver and Surrey. He also served as Liaison Officer to the Army Cadet League of Canada (BC Branch) and as a member of the CIC Regional Advisory Council for Pacific Region.
Terry also served at Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre as the Officer Commanding Foxtrot Company, Deputy Commanding Officer and as Commanding Officer for four years. On completion of his term as Commanding Officer he was appointed Region Advisor (Pacific), CIC National Branch Advisory Council and Chairman of the Pacific Region Advisory Council - positions he fulfilled until 2010. During this time he was also part of the planning and execution of the Branch’s Centennial celebrations nationally and within BC. This assignment was followed by his participation as a subject matter expert in the design and delivery for the Senior Officers’ Training Course and the Leadership and Command Program. In January 2013 he was appointed as the national Branch Advisor for the CIC.
Terry was commissioned in the RCMP as an Inspector in 2003 and was appointed Executive Officer to the Deputy Commissioner Pacific Region where he was responsible for the leadership of one third of the Force. Following commissioning, he completed the RCMP Officer Orientation and Development Course. In 2007, he was appointed Officer in Charge of “E” Division Crime Prevention & Program Support Services and, subsequently, for his last posting, was Officer in Charge of National Performance Programs at Pacific Region Training Centre in Chilliwack. Terry was the catalyst for influencing national policy changes within the RCMP and the Canadian Forces that resulted in RCMP members being permitted to serve concurrently as Canadian Forces Reserve Officers in the Cadet Instructors Cadre Branch.
Terry served as an Honorary Aide de Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. During his career he was highly decorated and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration, the RCMP Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2007 the Governor General invested him as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces and as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 2009. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #280 Chilliwack.
A Funeral Service will be held at Abbotsford Pentecostal Church, 3145 Gladwin Road, Abbotsford, BC at 2:00 pm on Friday, 1 February 2019. Interment will be in Regina RCMP Cemetery on Tuesday, 5 February 2019 at 11:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Abbotsford Hospice Society – Holmberg Home in Memory of Terry Kopan at https://www.abbotsfordhospice.org . Messages of Condolence can be sent online to the funeral home.
