CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer First Class Sylvio “Bert” Berthelette, CD, MiD (Ret’d), peacefully on 21 April 2024 in the Pine Falls MB Hospital at the age of 94 years. Bert was a naval veteran of the Second World War and a Sapper with the Reserve Force.

Bert was born and raised on the family farm in the small Manitoba communities of Aubigny and Broadlands. During the Second World War, starting at age 17, Bert served eight months in the Cameron Highlanders of Canada before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He served in the newly commissioned HMCS Meon from 1944 until 1945. Meon was a River Class frigate primarily assigned to convoy escort duty. She also took part Operation NEPTUNE, the sea component of the invasion of Normandy and was present on D-day. The ship was decommissioned and returned to the Royal Navy at the end of the war Bert was demobilized in 1946 with a Mentioned in Dispatches award on his War Medal.

After the war, Bert worked in the mines in British Columbia until he entered a trade school for his welding certificate. He then worked on the hydro dam project in Powerview MB, but he was scooped up by the Abitibi Paper Company in Pine Falls, where he worked for 36 years.

Bert joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1951. He served in 46^th Field Squadron in Pine Falls and held the appointment of Squadron Sergeant Major. In 1961 he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class I and appointed Regimental Sergent Major of the 6^th Field Engineer Regiment based in Winnipeg.

Bert was very active in his communities. He served as President of his Union for several years and worked his way onto Abitibi’s management team. He and his wife operated B n I Grocery Store. Bert served on the local school board, the Chamber of Commerce and as a volunteer firefighter. He was instrumental in developing Pineview Lodge, the town's seniors residence. He was an active member of the Pine Falls Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Some of Bert’s proudest achievements were as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served three 4-year terms as Grand Knight in Pine Falls and was District Deputy in Manitoba. His appointment to State Deputy followed which took him traveling throughout North America.

Bert and his wife enjoyed their retirement years as snowbirds in Arizona and living at their summer home at Albert Beach. After his wife’s passing in 2007, Bert returned to Pine Falls to be among friends and family.

Cremation has taken place, and a private celebration and interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Mike O’Connor, CD (Ret’d)  a resident of Valley Haven in Chilliwack on 20 April 2024 at the age of 77 years.

Mike proudly followed in the footsteps of his father's career with the Canadian Military Engineers. He served the Canadian Military Engineers in both the Regular force and the Reserves. Mike's postings included 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON, 1 Combat Enginer Regiment in Chilliwack BC (late late 70s), 4 Combat Enginer Regiment in Lahr, Germany, Canadian Forces School of Military Enginering in Chilliwack and Range Control with Base Operations Chilliwack. Mike also served a tour in Egypt with UNEF II.

Mike joined the Air Reserves after his release from the Regular  Force in 1998. He served with 192 Airfield Engineer Flight in Abbotsford BC as a driver/equipment operator until he retired from the Canadian Forces in 2006.

Online condolences can be sent HERE.  

Use this site to also check for detailsMike O'Connor's Poppy Service will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 295, { 5661 Vedder Rd, Chilliwack, BC} commencing at 12:30, Monday, 6 May 2024. Following the Legion Poppy Service, there will be a Celebration of Life. 

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Sergeant Frederick "Rick" Hayes CD (Ret'd) on 17 April 2024 at age 74  at Comox Valley Hospital.

Rick was born in Ottawa and started his military career in 1967 when he joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a young boy, seeking the thrill of the unknown. He wore several hats throughout his military career - from an Air Bos'n and Ships Diver in the Royal Canadian Navy to a Firefighter in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His career postings included Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Annapolis and Bonaventure, RCAF Station Val-d'Or QC, Canadian Forces Bases Summerside PE, Lahr Germany, Toronto ON  and Moose Jaw SK.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 11 May 2024 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50 – Fred Gies {524 Belmont Avenue W, Kitchener, ON} from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Captain Micheal Lawrance (Ret'd) at home in  Ottawa ON  on 16 April 2024 at age 79 after a long fight against cancer.

Born in British Columbia, Mike joined the Canadian Forces in 1964 at Royal Roads Military College in Esquimalt BC and graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston in the Class of 1969. Mike's first posting was with the Base Construction Engineering Section in Bagotville QC after which he moved to National Defence Headquarters with the Director General Materiel Administration and Programs. He was seconded to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in 1975 and soon took his release from the Canadian Forces to follow a second career with CIDA.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, 25 May 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery {3700 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa}. A celebration of life will follow from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM at the same location, followed by a reception.

Donations are invited to the Canadian Cancer Society, The Friends of Charleston Lake, or The Friends of Algonquin Park. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
 

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Edward Duda, CD (Ret’d), peacefully after a battle with cancer, on 11 April 2024 at Hospice Barrie in his 91st year.  Stan was a Canadian Provost Corps veteran of the Korean War.

Stan served a full career as a Field Engineer with the Canadian Military Engineers in our field units in Canada and Germany and with Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.  He was in 1 Field Squadron in the 50s and 60s and in 4 Field Squadron in the mid 70s. Upon returning to Canada from Germany, Stan was posted to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in CFB Borden. He next became the Regular Support Officer for 2^nd Field Engineer Regiment in Toronto in 1978. Stan was posted back to the EOD School, after completing his tour with RSS. He retired from the Regular Force after that posting . Stan then transferred to the Reserve Force when he re-joined 2 FER and held the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major from 1984 to 1988.

A celebration of life for Stanley will be held at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
 

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Alvin Milton “Scotty” Scott of Saint John NB, on 9 April 2024, at the Saint John Regional Hospital at age 79. 

Born in London, England, Alvin devoted 37 years in Public Service, spending ten years in the Canadian Armed Forces and 27 years as a firefighter at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. Scotty worked a second job between his firefighter shift work by driving his own taxicab in Oromocto. In his semi-retirement he worked part-time as a Commissionaire on the Saint John Harbour Bridge.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, 20 April 2024, from 1:00 pm to 2 pm, with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 pm in the Brenan’s Funeral Home Chapel {111 Paradise Row, Saint John}. Burial will take place at a later date. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #22, Grand Bay-Westfield. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Ronald John Gilchrist, CD (Ret’d) of Pembroke ON, peacefully on 31 March 2024 at the age of 81 years. Ronald served his country as a Field Engineer with the Canadian Military Engineers.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Westmeath and District Recreation Hall on Sunday, 21 April  2024 from 1:00 until 4:00 pm. As expressions of sympathy,  donations to the SPCA of Renfrew County or Ottawa Heart Institute would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Major Robert Morris Louis "Bob" Weisman, CD (Ret'd) on 26 March 2024 in Ottawa at the age 69 years.

Bob was born in Montreal QC where he grew up as an active and curious child who enjoyed scouting, cadets, and soccer. He was a lifelong student with a passion for military history, the arts, culture, and languages. Bob spoke three fluently (English, French and Dutch) alongside studies in German and Latin. 

Bob aspired to be a history student and teacher, but life's circumstances conspired otherwise and led him to pursue Civil Engineering studies. He joined the Canadian Forces as a Regular Officer Training Plan member in 1971 at the Collège Militaire Royale de St Jean. He finished his studies at the Royal Military College in Kingston ON with the Class of 1976. 

During his military career, Bob moved throughout Eastern Canada. His first posting after receiving his Commision was as a Troop Commander in 5e Régiment Génie de Combat (5 RGC) in Valcartier QC. Bob fell in love with the Canadian North during this posting when he was working on our Northern Airfields project in Spence Bay (Taloyoak, NU). 

Following his 5 RGC tour, Bob was posted to the Base Construction Engineering Section at Canadian Forces Base Chatham NB before moving to Force Mobile Command Headquarters in St Hubert QC. After FMC HQ, Bob returned to 5 RGC, where he served as the Regimental Operations Officer.

Bob completed a Master's degree in computer science at RMC in 1992. He found his passion for teaching when he next taught at RMC. He was then posted to National Defence Headquarters and worked in several directorates where he was a decision support researcher and a command and control portfolio manager responsible for the development of strategic direction and management of information technology and resources.

Bob retired from the Canadian Forces in 1999 with the rank of Major after 27 years of service to the Canadian Military Engineers and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Bob was a leader and innovator in the fields of planning, enterprise architecture, and knowledge management, with significant contributions to the TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework ) standard, an open methodology for enterprise architecture. After he retired from the military, Bob continued to work as a consultant, enterprise architecture lead, and chief information architect, and he launched his own company, "Build The Vision."

While in Ottawa, Bob continued his love of education, obtaining his PhD in digital transformation and innovation from the University of Ottawa in 2019. He subsequently taught at U of O as a part-time professor and an engineer-in-residence until his passing.

The family is making a memory book. If you would like to share, please send some of your memorable times with Bob in an email .
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, 19 May, 2024, at 3:00pm at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa [30 Cleary Avenue}. Please RSVP by 5 May  2024 with this LINK
 

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Thomas Kenneth "Ken" O'Connell, CD (Ret'd), peacefully in his sleep in Halifax NS on 20 March 2024 at the age of 74 years.

Ken was born in New Waterford NS. He left Cape Breton as a young man to join the Canadian Forces and soon found himself travelling by train to Calgary AB for his recruit training as an Infantryman with 1^st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). 

Ken deployed with the battalion on his first peacekeeping tour to Cyprus in 1968. The following year, he was posted to 3 Mech Commando in Souest, Germany and was with them until the base closed. He then moved to Canadian Forces Base Baden with the 3^rd battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). Ken left Germany in 1972 to join 2 RCR at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and had his second peacekeeping tour in Cyprus with the unit (Nov 1973 - Apr 1974). In 1978, Ken was posted back to Baden, Germany with 3 RCR.

Ken joined the Canadian Military Engineers in 1981 when he re-mustered to the Structures  Technician trade. He was posted to CFB Kingston with the Base Construction Engineering Section after completing his Trade Qualification Level 3 training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.

The following summer, Ken was attach-posted to 1  Construction  Engineering Unit (CEU)  in Canadian Forces Station Alert for Phase 1 of the Headquarters, Administration and Personal Services (HAPS) building. This was a great experience where he learned what it meant to be a Struct Tech. There was not much carpentry work but a lot of steel .. and much of the work involved jackhammering the permafrost for the building's footings. 

In 1987, Ken was posted to the Wing Construction Engineering Section at CFB Winnipeg. The following year, he moved to 1 CEU on CFB in Winnipeg. In 1991, he was posted to the Naval Construction Troop at CFB Halifax. 

Ken retired from the Canadian Forces after a lengthy illness in 1997 and remained in the Halifax area.   During his retirement, Ken loved to travel and enjoyed many cruises and trips south in the winter with friends and family. He loved to golf in the summer and spent time in the winter watching his grandkids play hockey. Ken was also a season ticket holder for the Halifax Mooseheads and would never miss a game. 

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, at J.A. Snow Funeral Home {339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS}. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home . In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the  Last Post Fund.