AFTER 11 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO CANADA AND THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, MCPL SPARKS WILL BE RETIRING ON 20 AUGUST 2023.
MCPL SPARKS JOINED THE CAF ON 15 JANUARY 2013 AND PROCEEDED TO BASIC TRAINING IN SAINT-JEAN, QC. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, HE WAS SENT TO CFSCE TO COMPLETE SIG OP QL3 TRADES TRAINING. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRADES TRAINING AT CFSCE, HE WAS POSTED TO THE CANADIAN FORCES JOINT SIGNALS REGIMENT AND CANADIAN FORCES BASE KINGSTON. DURING HIS 7 + YEARS IN KINGSTON MCPL SPARKS TOOK PART IN OP IMPACT, OP ARTEMIS, OP REASSURANCE, OP RENAISSANCE, OP PRESENCE, EX ULCHI FREEDOM GUARDIAN AND EX COALITON WARRIOR INTEROPERABILITY EXERCISE, IN A VARIETY OF ROLES AND RANKS EARNING THE TASK FORCE LATVIA COMMANDER’S COMMENDATION, THE CANADIAN FORCES JOINT SIGNALS REGIMENTS COMMANDING OFFICER’S COMMENDATION AND THE CHIEF OF DEFENSE STAFF COMMENDATION. WHILE IN GARRISON MCPL SPARKS ENJOYED FITNESS, HOCKEY AND TEACHING NATIONAL COMMAND AND CONTROL INFORMATION SYSTEM COURSES AND SATELLITE COURSES. ULTIMATELY BEING PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT RANK OF MCPL IN JUNE 2018 AND POSTED TO 766 COMMUNICATION SQUADRON AND THE SATELLITE OPERATION CENTER IN OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER 2020 WHERE HE MOVED THROUGH THE VARIOUS ROLES OF OPERATOR, PLANNER, PLANS SECTION IC AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER IN HIS TENURE.
MCPL SPARKS, HIS WIFE HILARY, DAUGHTER ADDISON, SONS ISAAC AND EZRA WILL REMAIN IN THE OTTAWA AREA. MCPL SPARKS WILL CONTINUE HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER DELVING DEEPER INTO THE SATELLITE COMMUNICATION COMMUNITY AS A FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVANT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AS A SENIOR SATCOM TECHNOLOGIST. MCPL SPARKS PLANS TO CONTINUE HIS WORK AS A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER AND FURTHER STRENGTHENING BONDS IN HIS COMMUNITY THROUGH COACHING AND MENTORING.
AS PER THE MEMBERS WISH, AN INFORMAL RETIREMENT FUNCTION WILL TAKE PLACE DOWNTOWN OTTAWA AT “HEART AND CROWN IRISH PUB” ON 4 AUGUST 2023 AT 1200HRS TO CELEBRATE COLIN’S RETIREMENT. ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND THE FUNCTION, CONVEY BEST WISHES OR MEMORABLE ANECDOTES ARE INVITED TO RSVP AND SEND THEM TO PO1 WILLIAMSON [email protected] OR MCPL SPARKS [email protected] NLT THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023.
COLIN WISHES TO EXTEND HIS SINCERE APPRECIATION TO HIS LOVELY WIFE HILARY OF 9 YEARS AND THEIR THREE INCREDIBLE CHILDREN, ISAAC, ADDISON AND EZRA FOR THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND SACRIFICES THAT MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. HE IS GRATEFUL TO HIS MILITARY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING THESE 11 YEARS SO EXCEPTIONAL.
