CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Cameron Owen Hayward, CD (Ret'd), at home in Comox BC on 11 February 2025 at the age of 86 years.

Cam was born in Toronto ON, and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1956 when he was 17 years old. He served in the Navy for five years, three years of which (1958-1961) he served in Scotland and England, working on submarines with the British Royal Navy.

Cam transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1961 and served 19 more years as an Electrical Generating Systems Technician in the RCAF and the Canadian Military Engineers. His postings included  Canadian Forces Station Moosonee, CFB North Bay and CFB Toronto in Ontario, and work trips to CFS Holberg on  Vancouver Island. Cam's career also included two six-month postings at CFS Alert, NU  (1968 and 1975) and a six-month United Nations Emergency Force peace-keeping mission in Cairo, Egypt in 1979.

Cam's last posting was to CFB Comox in 1976. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1980 in Comox and then had an 18-year second career with the Public Service (1980-1998). He was active with Comox Legion.

Funeral arrangements were private. A small gathering will take place at a future date.

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Alvin Lawrence “Art” Kolhsmith, CD (Ret’d), a Korean War veteran, in Leduc AB on 6 February 2025 on his 92^nd birthday.

Born in Cobden ON, Art enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1948 at age 17 and completed his basic Field Engineer training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering (RCSME) in Chilliwack BC. In 1950, Art trained as a Heavy Equipment Operator and started his career with the Royal Canadian Engineers with a posting to Fort Churchill MB for one year followed by Shilo MB.

Art deployed to the Korean War with 59^th Field Squadron In March 1953. On his return from Korea, he served with 1 Airborne Troop, RCE in Calgary from 1954 to 1958  before returning to RCSME for training as a Mechanic Royal Canadian Engineers (Mech RCE). Art subsequently served in Dundurn  SK, 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON, Maritime Command Headquarters in Halifax NS, CFB Lahr, Germany, and National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa ON.

Art retired from the Canadian Forces in 1994 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer after almost 36 years of service to the Canadian Military Engineers. After his release, he worked with the Department of External Affairs as an Embassy and Consulate maintenance officer in the United States, Mexico City, and four embassies in South America. After  working with  the British High Commission in Ottawa, Art returned to DND where he worked on energy management in the Directorate of Environmental Stewardship,  

Art moved to Leduc AB in 1989 in his retirement to be closer to his family and worked for the local school board as a maintenance specialist.  He was a very active member of the Canadian Military Engineers Association and the Sappers Club. Art was also an active member of the Leduc branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Every November, before Remembrance Day, he was invited to talk to students in the various Black Gold School District schools. Art was a great storyteller; the students often found his military experiences riveting.

A celebration of life for Art was held on 21 February 2025, at 11:00 am at St. David’s United Church { 4614 48 Street in Leduc, AB}. If you would like to honour Alvin’s memory,  the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Leduc Royal Canadian Legion in lieu of flowers. E-transfers can be sent to rcl.leducoffice@gmail.com. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home..

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Captain William B. Benn, CD (Ret’d) of Duncan BC on 4 Feb 2025 at the age of 83 years.

Bill was born in Viceroy SK.  He joined the Royal Canadian Airforce as a Firefighter and had a full career, leading to his being commissioned as an officer. Bill's career postings included Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw SK, CFB Downsview ON, CFB Edmonton AB, the Canadian Forces Fire Academy at CFB Borden, CFB Chilliwack BC, Germany, as Fire Chief at CFB North Bay ON, at National Defence Headquarters, and at CFB Comox BC. Bill retired from the Canadian Forces in 1996.

Funeral Arrangements were private.

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Walter “Wally” Arthur Zillman, CD (Ret’d), on 26 January 2025 at age 95 at East Gate Lodge Personal Care Home in Beausejour MB.

Wally grew up with his siblings in Waterloo ON, where his work ethic was established at a young age, starting as a paperboy, doing errands, and working in a furniture factory in Waterloo. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1948 as a Firefighter, and his  23-year career took him to bases in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, plus four years in France. Wally retired from the Canadian Forces in 1971.

Wally chose Beausejour as the permanent residence to raise his family. He lived an active, busy life with this work and volunteering but also found the time for travelling, curling, darts, cribbage, woodworking, gardening, and camping. Many happy years were spent with family and friends at the cottage at Pinawa Bay.

Wally was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 132, Beausejour since 1984. His roles included Branch President, member of the Branch Executive serving in various positions - including Branch Chairman, Poppy Chairman, Remembrance Day Services, selling and supervising ticket sales at the Friday night suppers, handyman in the clubhouse, and clean-up after Thursday night Bingo. He also volunteered as a Dorm Dean at the Royal Canadian Legion Athletic Camp from 1997 to 2007. In 2010, he was honoured to receive his Lifetime Membership from Branch 132.

Wally took great pride in his skill as a dart player and cribbage player. Over the years he and his wife won several trophies playing in the Legion Cribbage Tournaments. In 2023, Branch 132 honoured Wally by naming the spring tournament “The Wally Zillman Spring Cribbage Tournament.”

In addition to the Legion, Wally was very active with volunteering in the community with numerous organizations: Beausejour Consumers Co-op Board of Directors, Sunrise School Board, Beausejour Curling Club, Director of the Beausejour Crime Stoppers and Instructor for the Manitoba Hunter Safety Course, driving patients to Winnipeg for treatment at CancerCare Manitoba. Many hours were also spent with friends at Beau-Head Senior Center in Beausejour, participating in bus tours, socializing, and playing cribbage.

A ‘Celebration of his Life’ will be held on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 132, 300 Veterans Lane, Beausejour. Wally will be laid to rest in the spring in Veteran’s Section Town Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 132, Beausejour, Diabetic Association or Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. 

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Mark Anthony Pollard, CD (Ret'd) on 21 January 2025 in Mississauga ON at the age of 61 years.

Mark was born in Toronto, ON and was raised and educated in Mississauga. He worked many jobs, including the Town of Milton, the City of Mississauga, St Lawrence Starch Company, Hydro Mississauga, and as a Commissionaire at Toronto Pearson Airport Security.

Mark enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. After completing his Recruit Training at Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis NS, he undertook his basic training as a Combat Engineer at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in CFB Chilliwack BC. Mark's first posting was to 5^e Régiment de génie de combat at CFB Valcartier QC. His first assignment was to help construct a suspension bridge in Aiguebelle National Park in Rouyn-Noranda QC followed by a deployment with 2^e R22^eR to Oka (Kanesatake) QC.

Mark was posted to 22 Field Squadron in CFB Gagetown in 1991. The following year he participated in RV92 with the Armoured Engineering Section and moved to 4 Engineer Support Regiment (4 ESR) when it formed late in 1992. In May 1993, Mark deployed on Operation CAVALIER as part of the  United Nations mission to the former Republic of Yugoslavia. After this deployment, he returned to 4 ESR and was promoted to Corporal in September 1993. 

Mark retired from the Canadian Forces in January 1994 and worked as a municipal employee with the City of Mississauga until his passing. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 82, where he volunteered his time painting, doing odd jobs, and marching in Remembrance Day Parades.

Mark's strong passion for the War of 1812 led him to re-enacting with the Crown Forces Artillery Gun Crew as Gunner with the HMS NANCY for the past 13 years and was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Apart from assisting other gun crews, he also volunteered for Heritage Mississauga's 2nd York Militia.

Mark's passing was acknowledged with a resolution by the Mayor and Council of Mississauga and his colleagues. Flags were lowered at half mast in his honour. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations may be sent to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 82 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Mark's family asks for support by attending any of the Crown Forces War of 1812 re-enactments.

We regret to advise of the death of Arie Van Den Berg on 21 January 2025 at the Kindersley & District Health Centre in Kindersley SK at the age of 83 years. 

Born in the Netherlands, Arie moved to Canada at a young age with his older sister and younger brother and settled in Canning ON. Once he was of age, he enlisted in the Canadian Forces and became a Royal Canadian Engineer. Following his career in the RCE and retirement from the Canadian Forces, Arie became a heavy-duty welder and worked for various companies in the Brantford, Hamilton and Cambridge areas. He retired from his welding career in 2000 after a serious industrial accident. In 2024, Arie relocated to Kindersley to live with his son.

A private family interment service took place in the Paris Cemetery. In Arie’s memory, the family would appreciate donations to the Ontario Humane Society or charity of your choice.  Online condolences and donations can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Military Firefighter Ronald Robert Boyd Pinsent, CD on 14 January 2025 at the age of 85 years.

Born in Dildo NL, Ron served as a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons for 15 years before remustering to Firefighter and serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force for five years. After retiring from the Canadian Forces, Ron transitioned to a new chapter in life as a firefighter in Churchill Falls, Labrador. He dedicated 21 years to protecting and serving the community, building strong bonds with his fellow firefighters, and earning the respect of all who knew him. Ron was also a dedicated leader in the Newfoundland and Labrador Minor Hockey community and a devoted member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Ron returned home to Dildo in 2000, where he enjoyed a quiet but active retirement that included learning how to play golf and electric guitar, painting landscapes and images of the many places he visited and lived, playing senior hockey and spending time with family and friends.

Cremation has taken place. A visitation to honour Ron’s life and legacy was held on 19 January 2025, at Warrens Funeral Home in Dildo, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Flowers and donations to the Dr. L.A. Miller Centre Palliative Care Unit are gratefully accepted in Ron’s memory. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
 

We regret to advise of the death of Second World War veteran Sapper Joseph Leopold Thibeault of Montreal QC on 10 January 2025, at the age of 105 years. Léopold Thibeault was 21 when he enlisted in 1941 in Rimouski QC 1941. He was not the only member in his family to serve: his brothers were members of Canada's military, and his uncle fought in the First World War. 

After training in Canada, Léopold left for England in April 1942 as part of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers. The next two years of training and employment in the United Kingdom saw his unit heavily involved in constructing infrastructure for the Canadian Army in England and building roads and airfields for the defence of the United Kingdom.  

The 3rd Battalion disembarked in France after D-Day as part of the Canadian Commander Royal Canadian Engineer Works group. In France, Léopold repaired roads, constructed bridges, cleared mines, and moved masses of engineer stores forward to support the Allied advance. His battalion then moved into Belgium, where it worked on building the Ostend-Ghent 50-mile pipeline until January 1945 before moving into Holland. Léopold recalled working with many Canadian and British engineers on the "Foulkes" and "Simonds" 1400-feet long Bailey Bridges over the Neder Rijn at Arnhem. After VE Day, Léopold returned to Canada and was demobilized. He became a railway engineer for the Canadian National Railway and worked until he retired in 1983.

Léopold's contributions to the Battle of France were recognized on 11 November 2022 when the Consul General of France in Montreal, Sophie Lagoutte, presented him the French Légion d'honneur for his service.
Léopold was an active member of his Royal Canadian Legion Branch. He attended the pilgrimage events in Europe for the 40th anniversary of D-Day and revisited Juno Beach with fellow allied soldiers. He also made it to Normandy for the pilgrimage on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing, where he met Prime Minister Trudeau and Prince Phillip and saw Juno Beach again. Léopold was hoping to return to Europe in 2025 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.

Visitation will be held at the Côte-des-Neiges Funeral Centre {4525 Chemin de Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal}. Visitation hours are 1 February 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and 2 February from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A service will be held at the chapel on 2 February 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral Home.
 

funeral Home.

Nous avons le regret de vous annoncer le décès du sapeur Joseph Léopold Thibeault, vétéran de la Seconde Guerre mondiale de Montréal, le 10 janvier 2025, à l'âge de 105 ans.
Léopold Thibeault avait 21 ans lorsqu'il s'est enrôlé en 1941 à Rimouski, QC. Il n'était pas le seul membre de sa famille à servir : ses frères étaient membres de l'armée canadienne et son oncle a combattu pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.

Après une formation au Canada, Léopold est parti pour l'Angleterre en avril 1942 au sein du 3^e Bataillon du Génie royal canadien. Les deux années suivantes d'entraînement et d'emploi au Royaume-Uni ont vu son unité fortement impliquée dans la construction d'infrastructures pour l'armée canadienne en Angleterre et dans la construction de routes et d'aérodromes pour la défense du Royaume-Uni.

Le 3e bataillon a débarqué en France après le jour J en tant que membre du groupe de travail du commandant canadien, le Royal Canadian Engineer Works. . En France, Léopold répare les routes, construit des ponts, démine et déplace des masses de matériel du génie pour soutenir l'avancée des Alliés. Son bataillon se rend ensuite en Belgique, où il travaille à la construction du pipeline Ostende-Gand de 50 milles jusqu'en janvier 1945 avant de se rendre en Hollande. Léopold se souvient avoir travaillé avec de nombreux sapeurs canadiens et britanniques sur les ponts Bailey « Foulkes » et « Simonds », longs de 1400 pieds, sur le Neder Rijn à Arnhem. Après le jour de la Victoire en Europe, Léopold retourne au Canada et est démobilisé. Il devient ingénieur ferroviaire pour le Canadien National et travaille jusqu'à sa retraite en 1983.

Les contributions de Léopold à la bataille de France ont été reconnues le 11 novembre 2022 lorsque la consule générale de France à Montréal, Sophie Lagoutte, lui remet la Légion d'honneur française pour son service.

Léopold était un membre actif de sa filiale de la Légion royale canadienne. Il a assisté aux pèlerinages en Europe pour le 40e anniversaire du jour J et a revisité Juno Beach avec d'autres soldats alliés. Il s'est également rendu en Normandie pour le pèlerinage du 80e anniversaire du débarquement du jour J, où il a rencontré le premier ministre Trudeau et le prince Phillip et a revu Juno Beach. Léopold espérait retourner en Europe en 2025 pour célébrer le 80e anniversaire du jour de la Victoire en Europe.
Les visites auront lieu au Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges {4525, chemin de Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal}. Les heures de visite sont le 1^er février 2025 de 13 h à 17 h et de 19 h à 21 h, et le 2 février de 9 h à 12 h. Une cérémonie aura lieu à la chapelle le 2 février 2025 à 12h00. Les condoléances peuvent être envoyées en ligne à la Maison funéraire.

funeral Home.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Giorgio "George" Carmelo Pignataro (Ret'd) 10janof Toronto on 10 January 2025 at the age of 68 years.  George served with the Canadian Military Engineers as a Field Engineer and a Combat Diver.

After a short military career, Giorgio pursued a career in electronics engineering in the battery design and digital measuring Industry. In retirement, George started his own company, Bay Ridges Handy Man Services Co. 

Details of a planned Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Toronto, will be provided when they are known. Online condolences can be sent HERE.