CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Clair Wayne "Beaver" Atchison, MMM, CD (Ret'd) peacefully on 9 December 2024 at age of 81 years.

Born in Peterborough ON, Beaver served a full career as a Combat Engineer with postings that included 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (formerly 3 Field Squadron) in Chilliwack BC, 1 Airborne Field Squadron in Edmonton AB, 2 CER in Petawawa ON, and Training Sysyems Headquarters in Trenton ON. Wayne was one of the airborne Sappers from 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa who formed  Airborne Field Squadron in 1968 in Edmonton AB as part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. A career highlight was his appointment as 2 CER Regimental Sergeant Major (1986-87). Wayne was awarded the Member of Military Merit in 1987.

Visitation will be held at Weaver-Campbellford on Saturday, 14 December 2024, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM, followed by a Golden Rule #126 Lodge Service and a memorial service at 1:00 PM. Interment will be held at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. If desired, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the Bridge Hospice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Corporal Josephine Joanna Jacoba Ogaick (Ret’d), suddenly in London ON on 8 December 2024 at the age of 71 years. 

Josephine enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1976 and became a Firefighter; one of the very few female Firefighters at the time. Her postings included Canadian Forces Base North Bay.

Josephine will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery in London ON. A Celebration of Life  will he held on Sunday ,5 January 2025 at 1-3:00 PM at the Mount Brydges  Legion Br 251 {2500 Veterans Drive, Mount Brydges, ON}.  Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Mario Fournier, CD (Ret'd), peacefully at home in Shannon QC on 29 November 2024 at the age of 56 years.

Mario joined the Canadian Military Engineers in 1994 and served for 22 years before retiring. He served most of his career with 5^e Régiment du Génie de combat in Valcartier QC. During his career he deployed on operations with the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (1996-97) and on NATO missions to the Former Yugoslavia and the Balkans.

The family will welcome family and friends at the Complexe du Parc Commémoratif La Souvenance { 301, rang Ste-Anne, Québec} on Sunday, 22 December 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Liturgy of the Word will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel. For those who cannot be there, the family invites you to join them virtually, live or on-demand, by clicking on the "Ceremony" icon located on the obituary on the funeral home website . Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society {1040, avenue Belvédère, bureau 214, Québec}. www.cancer.ca . Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

Nous avons le regret de vous annoncer le décès du caporal Mario Fournier, CD (retraité), paisiblement à son domicile à Shannon QC le 29 novembre à l'âge de 56 ans.

Mario s'est joint au Génie militaire canadien en 1994 et a servi pendant 22 ans avant de prendre sa retraite. Il a servi la majeure partie de sa carrière au sein du 5e Régiment du Génie de combat à Valcartier QC. Au cours de sa carrière, il a participé à des opérations avec la Mission d'appui des Nations Unies en Haïti (1996-97) et à des missions de l'OTAN en ex-Yougoslavie et dans les Balkans.

La famille accueillera parents et amis au Complexe du Parc Commémoratif La Souvenance { 301, rang Ste-Anne, Québec} le dimanche 22 décembre 2024 de 13h00 à 15h00. La liturgie de la Parole suivra à 15h00 dans la chapelle. Pour ceux qui ne peuvent être présents, la famille vous invite à vous joindre à eux virtuellement, en direct ou sur demande, en cliquant sur l'icône « Cérémonie » située sur l'avis de décès sur le site Web de la maison funéraire. Des dons peuvent être faits à la Société canadienne du cancer {1040, avenue Belvédère, bureau 214, Québec}. www.cancer.ca . Les condoléances en ligne peuvent être envoyées à la maison funéraire.

We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Kent A. Miller, CD, PMP, on 25 November 2024. Kent was deployed with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium, on Operation UNIFIER.

Kent was born in Strathroy ON, and enrolled in the Canadian Forces in June 2000 as an Infantry private with the 4^th Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment. He subsequently transferred to the Regular Force as an Officer with the Canadian Military Engineers. Kent graduated from the Royal Military College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.  

Upon completing his engineer training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, Kent joined 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) in Edmonton AB in April 2008 as a Field Troop Commander. He soon deployed on Roto 8, Op ATHENA, with the 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. In June 2010, upon his return from theatre, Kent was posted to 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Headquarters as the Personal Assistant to the Commander of 1 CMBG. He deployed on Op LUSTRE, the domestic operation for the flood response in southern Manitoba in Spring 2011. 

Kent was then posted to 41 Combat Engineer Regiment (41 CER) as the Regular Support Staff Officer later in 2011. He returned to 1 CER in May 2013 as the Regimental Operations Officer, where he promptly deployed on Op LENTUS in response to the Southern Alberta floods. Kent was posted to 3 Canadian Division Support Group Engineering Services in 2014.  Kent then transferred from the Regular to Reserve Force In 2015 and became the Officer Commanding 25 Engineer Squadron, 41 CER. He took command of the regiment from 2020-2023. LCol Miller was serving with the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine in Brussels when he passed away due to non-operational medical complications.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on December 8, 2024, at JW Marriott {10344 102 St NW, Edmonton, AB}. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a fund or charity that was close to Kent, such as the Jasper Fire Caring Community Fund, Wounded Warriors, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Robert Black, on Monday, 18 November 2024.

Robert enrolled into the Canadian Armed Forces as a Combat Engineer in 2016. Upon completion of his training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, he was posted to 4 Engineer Support Regiment at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown NB.

A funeral service will be conducted at St Luke’s Chapel, 5^th Canadian Division Support Group, at 14h00 Atlantic Standard Time on 26 November 2024. Dress for serving members for those attending will be DEU1A. There is also an option to attend virtually.

Meeting ID: 214 941 719 963

Passcode: f4ma2xo3

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Dustin Gerry Lee Spurrell (Ret’d) of of Dunfield NL, unexpectedly on 17 November 2024, in Muskoka ON at the age of 41 years. 

Dustin was a former Combat Engineer who joined the Canadian Military Engineers in 2003 and served for a short period with 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa before being released from the Canadian Forces. He joined the Peel Regional Police in 2007 and later joined the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary .
Dustin lived his life to the fullest every day he could. Always on the go with phone and suitcase in hand seeking his next adventure. He kayaked the waters from Canada to Mexico and had the joy of experiencing the very best of Newfoundland's beautiful back-country. 

A memorial service to celebrate Dustin's life, will be held at the Grace United Church in Dunfield on Sunday 8 December 2024 at 1:00pm. His final resting place will be the United Cemetery in Trinity and a post memorial gathering with lunch will be held at the ACW Hall in Dunfield. The church will be open from 2-4:00 and 7-9:00 pm for visitation on Saturday December 7th, 2024. On line condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We  regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Sergeant James Gordon “Gord” Davis, CD (Ret’d) at North Bay Regional Health Centre on Saturday 9 November 2024 at the age of 83 years.

Gord’s military career postings with the Canadian Military Engineers spanned Canada including Canadian Forces Base North Bay,  CFB Summerside PE, CFB Trenton ON, CFB Cold Lake AB, and Canadian Forces Station Alert NU. He also served overseas in Germany at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Zweibrucken and CFB Baden.

Cremation has taken place. As per Gord's wishes, there will be no service in North Bay. Gord will be laid to rest at Assumption Cemetery in Mississauga ON with his late wife Bernice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Master Warrant Officer Jack Alexander, CD (Ret'd), peacefully at the age of 81, on 8 November 2024 after a brief illness.

Born in Stratford ON, Jack served 26 years as a Firefighter with the Canadian Military Engineers across Canada and in Europe. Jack's career postings included Royal Canadian Air Force Station Borden ON, RCAF Station Val-d'Or QC, CFB Summerside PE, Canadian Forces Station Dana SK, Firefighting Training Company at the Fire School at CFB Borden ON, CFB Shearwater NS and CFB Baden Germany. Jack retired from the Canadian Forces in 1988 as Deputy Fire Marshall for Training Systems Headquarters at Canadian Forces Base Trenton ON. Following his military service, he worked as a Fire Prevention Officer and in Property Management at the University of Toronto.

Jack retired early in 2003 to fulfill a lifelong dream of living "in the country." For the last 20 years, he enjoyed living on his rural property in Frontenac County, ON pursuing his hobbies, including woodworking, photography, tending to his many vegetable gardens and producing maple syrup.

Jack will be cremated, and a celebration of his life will occur on Saturday, 23 November 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack's memory can be made to the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton ON or the Lennox & Addington County General Hospital Foundation in Napanee. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of  Firefighter David "Pipi" Gorton (Ret'd) of Dartmouth NS, peacefully at home at age 72 on 31 October 2024 after a battle with cancer. 

Born in Leamington ON, Dave joined the Canadian Navy in 1969 and was posted to Halifax NS, where he served on the HMCS Margaree until 1975. He then began a firefighting career with the Department of National Defence Fire Service. He served in Nova Scotia at Canadian Forces Station Mill Cove, Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Bedford NS Magazine and CFB Halifax Dockyard, that included the Canadian Forces Auxilliary Vessel "Firebird." Dave retired from DND Public Service in 2008 as Platoon Chief.

Dave volunteered at the Hubbards District Fire Department for 10 years, ending his service as the Hubbards Fire Chief in 1997. He served as Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Society, including being the Executive Treasurer for 11 years before he stepped down in 2013 to enjoy his retirement. "Davey" was also a well-known and popular person at Camp Connect, the summer camp for survivors of burn injuries sponsored by the Society, that he helped organize and operate. 

Cremation has taken place. Dave will be laid to rest in the Spring of 2025. As per Dave's wishes, no funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nova Scotia Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Society or Charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.