1. CAPTAIN BLAIR MACKNIGHT RETIRED FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON THE 06 JULY 2020 WITH 35 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO CANADA, THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, THE ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS AND THE LINE TRADE.
2. CAPT MACKNIGHT ENROLLED IN THE PRIMARY RESERVES IN CAMPBELLTON NEW BRUNSWICK AS A RIFLEMAN WITH 2 ROYAL NEW BRUNSWICK REGIMENT (2 RNBR) AT AGE 18 AND TRANSFERRED TO THE REGULAR FORCE IN 1985. FOLLOWING BASIC TRAINING IN CORNWALLIS NS, HE ATTENDED LINEMAN APPRENTICE TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AT KINGSTON ON.
3. OVER THE NEXT 3 DECADES, CAPT MACKNIGHT SERVED AS A LINEMAN WITH 1ST CANADIAN SIGNALS REGIMENT, 1 LINE TROOP, NAVAL RADIO STATION NEWPORT CORNERS, 76 COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON, 2 CANADIAN MECHANIZED BRIGADE GROUP HEADQUARTERS & SIGNALS SQUADRON, 79 COMMUNICATIONS REGIMENT, CANADIAN FORCES JOINT SIGNAL REGIMENT, AND CANADIAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND HEADQUARTERS.
4. UPON PROMOTION TO CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER IN 2012, HE WAS POSTED TO CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AS THE LINE CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT (LCS). OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD HE CHAIRED A WORKING GROUP OF HIS PEERS RESPONSIBLE TO EVALUATE THE FUTURE OF THE LINE TRADE WITHIN THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES. THIS RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF THE FIRST LINE REGIMENT IN THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND HE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE FIRST REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR OF 77 LINE REGIMENT ON 31 MAY 2016.
5. IN 2018, HE COMMISSIONED TO CAPTAIN AND BECAME THE PLANS OFFICER AND EVENTUALLY THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF 77 LINE REGIMENT UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2020.
6. DURING HIS CAREER, CAPT MACKNIGHT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS, EXERCISES AND LINE PROJECTS COAST TO COAST TO COAST IN CANADA AND IN LOCATIONS SUCH AS SYRIA, ISRAEL, GERMANY, CROATIA, BOSNIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AFGHANISTAN AND KUWAIT.
7. CAPT MACKNIGHT IS A PARATROOPER, A PRIVATE PILOT AND A SCUBA DIVER WHO ALSO ENJOYS CARPENTRY, FISHING AND HUNTING. HE IS MARRIED TO HIS LOVELY WIFE KELLY AND THEY HAVE 4 SONS: DEREK, CONNOR, COREY AND DANNY.
8. UPON RETIREMENT, CAPT MACKNIGHT WILL BE ATTENDING ALGONQUIN COLLEGE IN PERTH ON FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS TO STUDY HERITAGE CARPENTRY AND JOINERY, FOLLOWED BY WINTERS IN MEXICO AND SUMMERS AT THE COTTAGE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
9. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, DWD FUNCTION WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, ANECDOTES, STORIES AND PHOTOS ARE WELCOME AND MAY BE SENT TO MWO RICK COOPER BY EMAIL ([email protected]).
Enjoy your well deserved retirement Blair. You earned it brother.
Congratulation on such a long and accomplished career Blair. I had no idea we had such accomplished Linemen in the CF. All the best to you and your family and i hope you enjoy a well deserved retirement.
Blair, all the best in your well deserved retirement. It was a pleasure working with you. You have been an inspiration to all other lineman and should be extremely proud of your accomplishments. Rising to the rank of CWO is no easy feat and is a testament to your ability.
God speed and happy retirement…VVV
All the best Blair in your Retirement years. 35 years is one major commitment. Thank you for your Service to Country and Corps. Never piss off a lineman they always have cold beer 🙂 Enjoy!! your next chapter in Carpentry and all the best to your family.