As Remembrance Day approaches, CBO will be paying tribute to our employees who are Veterans. We would like to honour them and acknowledge their integral contribution to CBO operations. Through a series Veteran Q&A Spotlights, CBO will introduce our Veterans on staff followed by their responses to the Q&A.
MCpl (retired) Allan (Al) Christensen, CD, CBO’s Inspector, Road and Vehicle Safety at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enlisted in 1987 and served 23 years.”
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “Suffield, Alberta.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “I was ready to settle down in one location.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “With my transportation/vehicle safety background, I used to be the customer which gives me a great understanding of what the client (DND) needs.”
Sergeant (retired) Arthur Rose, CBO’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter – Captain at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enlisted in 1989 and served 27 years and 3 months. I completed training as a Naval Electrical Technician and then re-mustered to the Air Force and became a firefighter.
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “My most interesting posting was West Coast Ships in CFB Esquimalt. During this time I circumnavigated the globe three times, and completed many Peace Keeping tours in places such as the Persian Gulf, Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, South China Sea, Afghanistan, Panama, and South America.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “I was already working at 15 Wing as a senior firefighter, so I applied and was offered the same position with CBO.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “As a Platoon Chief at 4 Wing Cold Lake and a Fire Chief on the Canadian Patrol Frigates, I had the opportunity to educate several firefighters and shipboard personnel in all aspects of fire fighting. In my current role within CBO, I am training new firefighters in all life safety duties and responsibilities they will perform while working at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.”
LCol (retired) Bryan Bedard, CBO’s Operations Manager.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enrolled in July 1991 in Vancouver, BC and served 25+ years as an Artillery officer.”
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “My most interesting posting was as the Commanding Officer of the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford, Ontario. I was able to plan and execute the individual training of thousands of Regular and Reserve Force soldiers. It was a very professionally rewarding experience.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “I was aware of CBO from my time spent at 4 CDTC Meaford. My transition was fairly straight- forward, based on my previous exposure to how many different military bases operated across Canada. I was able to join the CBO Team and start right away on the new contract transition in Suffield. Alberta.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “Throughout my career I gained many skills at different times of my military career. The skills that I have been able to bring across to CBO are Team Building, Operational and Strategic Planning, Collaborative Leadership, Business Planning, Time Appreciation, and Problem Solving.”
Master Warrant Officer (retired) Glenn Patey, CBO’s Supply Performance Monitor at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enlisted in 1989 and served 31 years.”
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “I was posted to 7 different bases throughout my career and my most interesting Base was my first one at CFB Petawawa since this was where I developed as a young soldier.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “I was the Supply MWO who monitored CBO from 2014-2020 and throughout this time I helped the CBO Supply managers and staff with inventory issues and warehouse improvements. It was a logical step for me to apply for the CBO Supply Manager position once I was getting medically released from the military.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “Warehouse management, HAZMAT control, DRMIS (supply management system), forklift, military driver’s license, personnel management, multi-tasking, budgeting, forward thinking to support the customer and planning in stages in advance +1/2 year, +1 year, +2 year to ensure inventory, staffing and facility support is available when needed. The biggest asset from being ex-military to CBO as a manager, was that the military had sent me on courses and developed my management skills throughout my military career.”
A Special Note:
“My co-worker, a MWO, was another monitor of the CBO contract while I was there. Regrettably he had a knee surgery and while recovering at home from surgery, he passed away in 2019. He was in his early 50’s when he passed. It was hard on everyone. He had his dream of retiring in a few years with his family in Quebec where he had purchased his retirement home. He is missed by all. Remembrance Day is a day for everyone to reflect and honour all soldiers who have passed, retired, and still serving. But to a soldier every day is Remembrance, always proud to have served our great country and remember our fallen comrades every day!!”
MCpl (retired) Michael (Mike) Wood, CBO’s Ammunition Supervisor at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enlisted at the CAF Recruiting Centre in Toronto, Ontario in 1985 and was medically released after 11 years of service.”
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “CFB Lahr, Germany: AES EOD Troop for 2 years / Ammo Depot for 2 years.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “CBO enabled me to continue to support the CAF out of uniform as a Civilian Ammo Tech. My father had served as an Aeroengine Technician in the RCAF. I am the fifth-generation military in my family.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “Leadership, organizational skills, and technical skills related to all aspects of ammunition and explosives.”
A Special Note: Every Remembrance Day I remember and am saddened by the loss of my former Training Sgt in AES EOD Troop at CFB Lahr. His life was lost in 1992 while deployed with Operation Harmony in Croatia during the civil war in former Yugoslavia. He had volunteered to move a truck on a United Nations patrol route that had been thought to be demilitarized driving over several mines. He was 32 years old a then Field Engineer, now called Combat Engineer.
Warrant Officer Class 2 – AQMS (retired) Peter Spoor, CBO’s Site Manager at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford.
Q: What year did you enlist and how many years did you serve?
A: “I enlisted in March 1984 and served 23 years as a Weapons Technician in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.”
Q: Where was your most interesting posting?
A: “I had a number of interesting postings that took me to many parts of the world; so if I had to choose one it would have to be The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery which is a ceremonial unit firing Royal Salutes and performing at numerous shows across the UK including the Royal Tournament, the Edinburgh Tattoo and the Berlin Military Tattoo. I certainly met more Royalty in my 2 years at that posting than I did with all the others combined.”
Q: What drew you to a career with CBO?
A: “During my immigration process I met with a couple of Ex British Forces members who were, at the time, working for Black and McDonald and they put me in touch with CBO back in 2008.”
Q: What skills did you gain through your military career that are applicable to your role within CBO?
A: “My engineering and military background has certainly helped with my current position at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford; in particular having a good understanding of how the military operates and in working within a multi-trade discipline environment.”
We would like to thank all the Veterans for their service and taking the time to share insights about themselves. We value the important skills they bring to CBO and appreciate their hard work and dedication.
Also view the Q&A Spotlight posts on CBO’s social media through LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.