Andrea Bourgeault volunteers on many projects and is the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group Co-chair. In volunteering with DIAG, she reclaimed a lost heritage and was awarded CFB Shilo Civilian of the Year in Dec. 2025 and 3CDSG Civilian of the Year in July. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media
And – twice – the Civilian of the Year Award goes to …
Not just a well-known face around CFB Shilo, but an ongoing presence felt in all things Shilo, Andrea Bourgeault was awarded the 3rd Canadian Division Support Group (3CDSG) Civilian of the Year award on July 16, just a few months after receiving the CFB Shilo Civilian of the Year title.
Bourgeault told Shilo Stag News she believes that if a community is to thrive and grow, involvement and participation in one’s community are “paramount” for members.
The CFB Shilo award, presented in December 2025, cites Bourgeault serving as civilian co-chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG), beyond her primary duties, and also working in close collaboration with the Base biologist to identify natural stage areas for events.
It was specifically noted at the award presentation there was a high likelihood that, if Bourgeault had not volunteered for the position, the DIAG would not have been staffed for up to a year due to leave and postings.
She said when she first came to Shilo more than three years ago, she didn’t originally see herself being as involved in volunteering.
Her career path was a different one, working with young at-risk females, which she said she left for the move to Shilo to support her military spouse.
“[At that time] I wasn’t employed, and there was a certain type of emptiness. But there is so much more to this than supporting our spouses,” she said, now employed as the human resources civilian coordinator since 2024.
Exploring her journey through Shilo, she started off assisting with the Christmas decorations at headquarters. She found a new fulfillment in volunteering.
“It was just that little bit of joy, like seeing the cheer of people’s faces and enjoyment, especially for those who couldn’t go home or didn’t have their family here.”
Her direction through Shilo led to a self-realized pilgrimage of her own Cree culture and a discovered connection to a lost part of her history.
Before leaving Ontario for the prairies, her mother enlightened her with knowledge that Manitoba was where her maternal lineage flowed from. Andrea’s great-grandmother was a Cree woman from Norway House who, in infancy, had been placed in the residential school system.
“That’s where our culture just stopped. Our history had stopped. So, coming back here was an unexpected blessing.”
“I didn’t realize how many opportunities there were to get involved with different volunteer organizations, and the DIAG for me was a little bit of a close-to-home piece,” she said.
At a surprise award presentation during her military spouse’s change-of-command appointment ceremony, Commander of 3CDSG, Colonel R.D. Tesselaar, presented the Division Civilian of the Year award.
“Her drive, passion, and overall contributions in support of the DIAG have enabled CFB Shilo to continue fostering relations with the local Indigenous communities, while simultaneously strengthening the impact and commitment of the Base in support of the truth and reconciliation initiatives,” he read from her citation.
“As civilian co-chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group, she fosters cultural engagement and environmental stewardship,” he said.
Bourgeault’s modesty was evident as she exuded a quiet resolve and deportment when speaking to Stag News about the two recognitions. In response to her awards, she said that we all have a vested interest in our communities; as such, coming to Shilo and being part of the DIAG gifted her the opportunity to reclaim her lost culture.
“Manitoba is so welcoming when it comes to Indigenous activities, culture and reclamation,” she said, adding she is humbled, honoured and ready to continue her knowledge finding and sharing with others through volunteer work.
Col Tesselaar said that through exceptional dedication and initiative, Andrea has transformed staffing operations at CFB Shilo. She developed centralized tools and repositories that streamline hiring, support managers, and ensure compliance.
“Her outreach contributions to Assiniboine Community College (ACC) and Brandon University (BU) have been recognized for enhancing the Department of National Defence (DND) visibility at career fairs. As well, she has been instrumental in the success of the annual spring ball.”
“[This] reflects her commitment to community engagement. Andrea’s contributions exemplify the highest standards of service and bring great credit to CFB Shilo and 3CDSG, and she is therefore awarded the Civilian of the Year award.”
Andrea Bourgeault volunteers on many projects and is the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group Co-chair. In volunteering with DIAG, she reclaimed a lost heritage and was awarded CFB Shilo Civilian of the Year in Dec. 2025 and 3CDSG Civilian of the Year in July. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)
Andrea Bourgeault volunteers on many projects and is the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group Co-chair. In volunteering with DIAG, she reclaimed a lost heritage and was awarded CFB Shilo Civilian of the Year in Dec. 2025 and 3CDSG Civilian of the Year in July. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)
