1. IT IS WITH A MIX OF PRIDE AND GRATITUDE THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE RETIREMENT OF SERGEANT (SGT) MATT POTWARKA ON 29 AUGUST 2025, AFTER NEARLY 18 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, INCLUDING HIS TIME WITH CFJSR, CFSCE, AND 77 LINE REGIMENT.

2. THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, MATT’S SERVICE HAS TAKEN HIM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. HE DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OP NEVUS, OP IMPACT, AND OP ARTEMIS, AND WAS AWARDED BOTH THE CANADIAN FORCES DECORATION AND THE GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL (EXPEDITION). MATT’S CAREER STARTED WITH A POSTING TO CFJSR 1 LINE, A YEAR AT SECOND LANGUAGE TRAINING, FOLLOWED BY POSTINGS TO 2 LINE SQN IN ST-JEAN, A STRETCH AT CFSCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR, AND FINALLY SERVING AS THE SERGEANT OF 4 LINE SQN IN KINGSTON. BUT FOR MATT, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS NEVER THE JOB DESCRIPTION — IT WAS THE PEOPLE. HE’LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT MADE IT WORTHWHILE WAS THE FRIENDSHIPS, THE CAMARADERIE, AND THE SHARED LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY.

3. REGARDLESS OF THE TASK OR LOCATION, MATT BROUGHT WITH HIM A STEADY HAND, A KEEN SENSE OF HUMOUR, AND A GENUINE CARE FOR THOSE AROUND HIM. HE WAS ALWAYS READY TO LEARN FROM AND SUPPORT HIS PEERS, SUPERIORS, AND JUNIORS ALIKE, MAKING AN IMPACT WHEREVER HE WENT.

4. MATT WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND HIS SINCERE THANKS TO ALL THOSE HE HAS SERVED WITH OVER THE YEARS. YOUR GUIDANCE, FRIENDSHIP, AND COUNTLESS SHARED MEMORIES HAVE HELPED SHAPE HIS CAREER — AND HE CARRIES THOSE MOMENTS WITH GRATITUDE.

5. MATT IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVE AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF HIS PARTNER, PATINA (TINA) BURNS, AND THEIR CHILDREN: SHELDON (17), MARIE (14), PRESTON (12), SAVANNAH (7), AND HUDSON (4). THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, THEY STOOD BY HIS SIDE WITH PATIENCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, EVEN DURING THE LONG DAYS, LATE NIGHTS, AND MISSED MILESTONES. NOW THAT HE’S RETIRING, YOU’LL FIND MATT OUT ON THE WATER — LIKELY ON HIS BOAT AT THE CFB KINGSTON YACHT CLUB ENJOYING A FEW WOBBLY POPS— OR PURSUING FURTHER STUDIES IN ACCOUNTING AT LOYALIST COLLEGE. HE ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO GROWING HIS SIDE HUSTLE, THE “ST. LAWRENCE COFFEE COMPANY,” WHILE ENJOYING MORE TIME WITH FAMILY.

6. PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN INFORMAL DEPART WITH DIGNITY (DWD) CEREMONY TO HONOUR MATT ON 21 AUGUST 2025 FROM 11:30 – 14:30 AT THE JUNIOR RANKS MESS IN KINGSTON.

7. ANECDOTES, PHOTOS, AND WELL-WISHES CAN BE SENT TO MCPL GOES AT [email protected]