CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER PIERRE PARADIS IS RETIRING FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AFTER 34+ YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO CANADA. 

HERE IS HIS RETIREMENT MESSAGE:

I ENROLLED IN THE ARMY RESERVE IN 1986 WITH LES FUSILLIERS DE SHERBROOKE.  IN 1990, I PROCEEDED WITH AN OCCUPATIONAL TRANSFER TO THE REGULAR FORCE IN THE RCAF.  THIS LED ME TO THE ELECTRONICS TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY APPRENTICE QUALIFICATION AS A NAVIGATIONAL AIDS RADAR TECHNICIAN, AT CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS, KINGSTON (CFSCE).  UPON GRADUATION IN 1992, I BEGAN MY CAREER WITH 8 AIR COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTROL SQUADRON AT 8 WING TRENTON. 

THE NEXT 8 YEARS ENABLED ME TO TRAVEL ON NUMEROUS DEPLOYMENTS AND OPERATIONS, SUCH AS BOXTOPS IN ALERT AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEFS.  AFTER THAT, I WENT TO THE AEROSPACE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING SUPPORT SQUADRON, AS A NAVAIDS INSTRUCTOR.  A POSTING TO 3 WING BAGOTVILLE IN 2003 HAD ME DISCOVER THE FAMOUS BOIVIN CHEESE AND THE WARMTH OF THE PEOPLE.  THE SAGUENAY FJORD IS A MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPE, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL REGION.  PROMOTED TO SGT, I RETURNED TO CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS, KINGSTON IN 2007, AS A STAFF WHICH IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN BEING A STUDENT.  IT WAS WHILE IN KINGSTON THAT I HAVE FOUND AN APPRECIATION FOR RUNNING.  IN 2010, THE CAREER MANAGER SENT ME TO THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE COMMAND AS AN INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRAINING ANALYST UNDER J35 AND LATER UNDER CJOC J7, IN OTTAWA.  DURING THIS TIME, I PARTICIPATED ON A NUMBER OF COMMUNICATION EXERCISES IN SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES.  IN 2013, I BECAME THE LEAD LIFE CYCLE MATERIAL MANAGER FOR THE AIR TRAFFIC NAVAIDS FLEET WITH ADM (MAT) DGAEPM RADAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.  THEN I ACCEPTED A POSTING TO 22 NORTH BAY WING TELECOMMUNICATION SQUADRON IN 2016, WHAT A GREAT JOURNEY THIS WAS.  PROMOTED TO CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER IN MAY 2017, I WAS APPOINTED AS THE 76 COMMUNICATION REGIMENT CWO.  IN JULY 2018, I WAS ACTING FORMATION CWO FOR 7 COMMUNICATION GROUP.  MY LAST CAREER STOP WAS AS DIRECTOR OF THE INTERMEDIATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME WITH THE CWO ROBERT-OSSIDE PROFESSION OF ARMS INSTITUTE AT RMC SAINT-JEAN SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2019.   

THIS GREAT ADVENTURE HAD ME DISCOVER SOME GREAT FRIENDSHIPS.  SOME OUTSTANDING LEADERS AROUND ME SHOWED ME THE MEANING OF TAKING CARE OF OTHERS.  THEY CONVEYED TO ME THIS CONTAGIOUS PASSION OF SERVICE TO OTHERS.  YOU STARTED A TRANSFORMATION WITHIN ME THAT I WILL HANG ON TO FOREVER.  I AM RETIRING FROM THE CAF AFTER 34 YEARS TO TRANSITION INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICE WITH ADM (MAT) IN OTTAWA.   I WISH TO THANK MY LOVELY WIFE ETHEL AND OUR 2 SONS, GUILLAUME AND ALEX FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE MUCH NEEDED COURAGE DURING THIS JOURNEY.  ALSO, I WISH TO THANK THOSE THAT I WALKED WITH CLOSELY OR FROM A DISTANCE.  I WISH YOU FLOURISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND DON’T EVER LOSE THE SENSE OF CONTRIBUTION.  LONG LIFE TO YOU ALL AND WE SHALL MEET AGAIN. 

“PEOPLE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNLESS THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE”
– THEODORE ROOSEVELT