We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Captain Gary Oliver, CD (Ret’d) on 15 July 2022. Gary’s career in the Reserve and the Regular Force as an Infantryman and Firefighter spanned 36 years.
Gary enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1970 as a Field Engineer with 56th Field Engineer Squadron in St. Johns NL and transferred to the Regular Force the next year as an Infantryman with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). His seven-year infantry career started at 3 RCR in Petawawa ON followed by the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Edmonton AB. That posting included a six-month United Nations Peacekeeping tour to Cyprus in 1974. In 1977, Gary was posted from 2 Commando (2 CDO) in Edmonton to 2 RCR in Gagetown NB.
Gary remustered to the Firefighter trade in 1978 and upon completing the Basic Firefighting Course at Canadian Forces Base Borden, he was posted to CFB Comox BC. Gary took his release from the Canadian Forces after three years but re-enrolled before the end of that same year. He was then posted to CFB Ottawa South after which he took up instructional duties at the Canadian Forces Firefighting Academy. Subsequently, he had a two-year sea posting to HMCS Margaree in 1986 after which he returned to Ottawa and a three-year sea tour on HMCS Fraser. In 1994, Gary was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood followed by a posting back to CFFA at Borden in 1999 as Standards Master Warrant Officer.
Gary was commissioned in the rank of Captain in 2001 under the Special Requirements Commissioning Plan and assumed the position of Chief Instructor for CFFA. After this assignment, he received his long sought-after posting to “The Rock” when he was appointed Officer Commanding 91 Airfield Engineer Flight Gander in 2004.
In accordance with Gary’s wishes, there will be no public funeral. Gary’s ‘Final Jump’will take place on 5 December 2022 when his ashes will be scattered from a RCAF Hercules CC 130J aircraft over the Jump Zone at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
