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The Colonel Commandant and Branch Adjutant represented the C&E Branch and her founding services during the D-Day commemorations in France. Thursday, 06 June 2019 Brigadier-General Kevin O’Keefe (Retired) and Major Blair Christie attended the D-Day commemoration on Juno Beach amongst the thousands of French and Canadian participants, and the Canadian veterans who landed on the beach 75 years ago on the 6th of June, 1944. We were honoured to meet Hugh Patterson; a signalman whose campaign to breach Fortress Europe and liberate France from the 1,000-year Reich commenced on Juno Beach. The Colonel Commandant conversed with as many veterans as he could, thanking them – on behalf of our C&E family – for their valour, bravery, and the courage they mustered in the face of overwhelming odds. BGen O’Keefe also found a monument engraved with his father’s name. John Francis O’Keefe was a Sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers who landed on Juno Beach and fought in the province of Normandy. We attended another three ceremonies the following day, including a poignant service at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. There, the remains of a 2nd World War soldier – found and identified some time ago […]
Wednesday, 05 June 2019 The Colonel Commandant – Brigadier-General Kevin O’Keefe, OMM, CD, Late RCCS and the Branch Adjutant – Major Blair Christie, MMM, CD, RCCS attended a private audience with our Colonel-in-Chief at St. James Palace in London, England. The palace – the oldest in London, dates back over 600 years and neighbors Buckingham Palace where it serves as the private residence for The Princess Royal amongst other members of the Windsor family. The convivial exchange covered the state of the RCCS and C&E Branch writ large. The Colonel Commandant spoke of historical milestones such as the anniversary of the D-Day, the role of signals throughout the global conflicts of the 20th century, and discussed contemporary operations in Iraq, Latvia, and Ukraine. Her Royal Highness was a gracious host; warm, approachable, witty, and well-read on the many challenges facing military communications and emerging technologies threatening global security. Concluding talks discussed opportunities for The Princess Royal to visit Canada in the coming years to partake in C&E Branch anniversaries and celebrations. She was very receptive, and future liaison with her staff will confirm details in due time.
Major Blair A. Christie, MMM, CD, RCCS was invested in the Order of Military Merit at the Rank of Member on Monday, 27 May 2019. The ceremony took place at Rideau Hall and was presided by Her Excellency, The Governor General of Canada and the Chief of Defence Staff. Major Christie wishes to express his profound appreciation to a great many professionals, superiors, and mentors at the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR) for endorsing his application into the Order. Thank you – with sincerity, loyalty, and respect – to Colonel Jason Walkling, Captain Jeff Munn (former RSM), Lieutenant-Colonel Stephane Roy, Major Brigitte Allaire, Barb Bajema, Terri Munro, and CWO Frederick Lavoie. Thank you to a litany of stalwart Warrant Officers and remarkable Regimental Officers including MWO Trevor McInnis, MWO Callum Campbell, and Captain Leighton Hardy (former MWO); Warrant Officers Doug Yeo, Gary Thomson, and Sebastien Hamel; and Captains Robert Holt, Brent Sakaki, Kyra Smith, Justin Urquhart, Shae Luhowy, and Ken Berube. Thank you the Regimental NCOs such as Sergeants Jay Wood, Todd Williams, Peter Hanson, and Mark Bee for making my job a success and for elevating the Regiment to its status as the finest unit in the service. […]
This picture was taken during the 5th anniversary celebration of the Osside Institute where the guest of honour was CWO (Ret’d) Kevin West. Pictured left to right : CWO SD Mailer, CWO JMS Levac, CWO MD Harris, CWO DL Martens, CWO L Dunn and CWO JPR Boucher. Osside Institute is the centre of excellence in leadership and was integrated to RMC St-Jean in 2014. Making it the only military institution in the world to offer education to non-commissioned members. The aim of the Senior Appointment Program is to prepare Chief Warrant Officer for higher institutional responsibilities. At Osside Institute Chief Warrant Officers with Senior Appointments study war theory and operations planning in the current security context; civilian-military governance, national security strategy and Canadian Defence policy; and organizational culture and change.