News
Dear C&E Family: Following the topic of female leadership in Canadian Armed Forces and International Women’s Day, we are happy to share that one of our distinguished members, Major Nisha Venkatesh, was recently featured in Skies Magazine. FEATURED PHOTO: Maj Venkatesh (right) at the 2021 NLAF Gala. Photo credit: Nisha Venkatesh Please read “Breaking the bias for women in aviation”, article by Natasha McKenty, Skies Magazine, last updated 08 March 2022.
Warrant Officer Sara Anvari, 34 Signal Regiment is awarded the prestigious Captain Nicola Goddard Award by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute. This award honours young Canadians who are innovators and trailblazers and who have made an inspiring early or mid-career contribution to Canadian security and defence. For the full story, see: https://cdainstitute.ca/captain-nichola-goddard-award-2022/
Funding announced to address wait times for Veterans On February 23, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced funding of $139.6 million over two years to extend temporary positions as part of action to address the backlog of disability benefit applications at Veterans Affairs Canada. Between 2015–16 and 2019–20, VAC experienced a 40 percent increase in disability benefit applications, including an increase of more than 75 percent in first applications. In June 2020, the Department released its strategy to address the long-standing issue of processing times for benefits, and hired more than 350 additional temporary employees dedicated to the issue. Combined with improvements to the decision-making process, the Department has reduced the backlog by 44 percent, from 23,000 to just under 13,000. By March 2022, we expect to have cut the number of applications waiting longer than our 16-week service standard by half (from about 23,000 to 11,500), based on current forecasts, and to about 5,000 by spring 2023. Read the news release. Commemoration International Women’s Day Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day, March 8, recognizing women’s contributions and achievements. It is also an opportunity to examine the progress made towards gender equality and […]
On 23 Feb 22, BGen Lambert, with the ADM(IM) Gp CWO, CWO Turcotte, presided over an ADM(IM) Honours and Awards ceremony to recognize the contributions and efforts of a few of CFIOG’s personnel. MCpl Tara Oliver is a recipient of the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation. FEATURED PHOTO: from left to right: CWO Turcotte, MCpl Oliver and BGen Lambert. MCpl Oliver demonstrated exceptional dedication by creating and implementing mental health peer support groups as well as developing virtual physical fitness training regimes for colleagues in distress during the pandemic. Additionally, she provided self-defence classes to women and girls in the local community who were victims of assault. Through her compassion, MCpl Oliver serves as a role model for other CAF members. Cpl Andrei Gheorghe is a recipient of the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation: Cpl Gheorghe provided exemplary support to a young woman requesting assistance during a tense situation. He remained calm and ensured the safety of a victim of assault while noting details of the offender which were then reported to the police which led to his arrest. His actions reflected the highest standards of CAF ethical conduct and strongly demonstrate exceptional dedication and values. Sgt Pierre Elhamoui is […]
In January 2017, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) created the Cyber Operator occupation, representing a new chapter for the CAF’s approach to the Cyber domain. Since then, the occupation has seen continuous growth, with eleven CAF members recently becoming the first official graduating class (accessible only on the National Defence network) of the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics’ (CFSCE) Cyber Operator training. The CFSCE is collaborating with Willis College and the Nova Scotia Community College to provide the educational foundation necessary to become a Cyber Operator. As the Cyber Operator Occupation reaches its four year milestone as a CAF trade, a new trade badge has been released. The trade badge signifies that the member has received the Cyber Operator qualification by completing the necessary training, and will be worn by qualified members in all three environmental uniforms (land, sea, and air). Creating a CAF trade badge first begins with a concept. In the design phase, the badge must be created to best represent the importance of the specified CAF trade’s duties. The design is then reviewed by CAF senior members and sent to the Directorate History and Heritage (DHH) for approval. Lastly, the design is presented to the […]
Dear C&E Family: With heavy heart we share the news of passing of Chief Warrant Officer Michel Boislard, CD (Retired) on 7 February 2022. CWO Boislard has served as the Communicator Research Operator Senior NCM Occupational Advisor, the CFIOG Formation CWO, the C&E Branch CWO and as the first ever Cyber Operator Senior NCM Occupational Advisor tasked to administratively stand-up the Cyber Op occupation. CWO Boislard was truly a gentleman and professional; at his DWD, it was indicated that that he truly cared about the wellbeing of others, the C&E Branch and the CAF Cyber Force. Rest In Peace, great leader, mentor, colleague and friend. Please read Notice of Death here: https://beechwoodottawa.ca/en/services/michel-boislard?fbclid=IwAR3vpYbNITtc-8U8t1AomrtnrQvd8dqSsiXgsqRX5lJ2i6B_-nYGlc8ggBU