Sailor 1st Class Daniel “Dan” Labelle, CD

Passed away unexpectedly at his Gatineau home on Sunday, 3 January 2021 at the age of 52. Beloved husband of Annie Bourbonnais and cherished father to Yanick and Noémie. He is survived by his mother Jeannette (née Tremblay) and predeceased by his father Raymond Labelle. He is also mourned by his 2 sisters.

Dan first joined the CAF in 1990 in Montreal as a Naval Communicator and was posted in Halifax and completed his 3-year contract. He re-enrolled in 1998 during the ice storm. He changed trades to Signals Intelligence Specialist in 2005. Throughout his career he spent 734 days at sea and was posted to HMCS PRESERVER, HMCS FREDERICTON, and CFS Leitrim.

He deployed on board HMCS WINNIPEG from June 2015 – February 2016 in support of OP REASSURANCE and OP ARTEMIS. He was presented with the following Decorations and Medals: Special Service Medal-NATO (SSM-NATO) / NATO Art5 – OP ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR / Canadian Forces Decoration – 1st Clasp (CD 1 st Clasp) / South-West Asia Service Medal and Afghan Bar (SWASM + Afghan Bar). His time spent at sea earned him a bronze Sea Service Insigna.

Dan was a passionate chess player with a great strategic mind, on quiet workdays he would always be trying to recruit new chess players or discussing finer points of the game while playing with interested co-workers. Passionate about his trade, Dan was appreciated by his fellow colleagues for his mentorship, sense of humour and professionalism.

His spare time was mostly devoted to his family, the centre of his universe. He was the perfect fatherly example; gentle, funny, protective, considerate and an affectionate, attentive and loving husband.

Funeral Service will be held in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Thursday, 14 January at 13:00 followed by interment with military honours at the National Military Cemetery. Given the capacity attendance limits imposed during the pandemic, those wishing to attend the service virtually can register for the livestream service with the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pB2uGOzRR-CGpLhuZzvoPg

In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice will be appreciated.