Jules Xavier
Shilo Stag
The Base CWO’s office at Base HQ has gone from Maple Leaf blue to Canadiens bleu, blanc et rouge following a Change of Appointment (CoA) ceremony held at Canoe River Memorial Park.
The CoA was part of an earlier Change of Command (CoC) ceremony where outgoing Base CWO Jeremy Abrahamse’s Command Team partner LCol Chris Wood relinquished his Base command to LCol David Cronk.
Now Capt Abrahamse — following his promotion after passing his pace stick off to CWO Eric LeClair — is a diehard Leaf fan. His replacement, meanwhile, cheers for the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL season.
Capt Abrahamse is often heard saying the praise “Go Leafs!” or “keep your stick on the ice” when addressing Base soldiers during activities or events.
But after two years working alongside LCol Wood, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, Capt Abrahamse is now looking forward to the next chapter in his military career. Here on IR and living out of the WOs’ and Sgts’ quarters, he returns to Edmonton where he rejoins wife Angela, daughter Madison and fellow Leaf fan and son Bradyn.
While he’s not sure about the exact job he will be doing as a junior office, Capt Abrahamse will be working out of 3CDSG.
“It has been a great honour to serve as the BCWO of CFB Shilo for the last two years,” he said. “I would like to personally thank everyone for their service and professionalism throughout my tenure, and I have no doubt you will continue to strive for excellence.”
He added, “Please welcome CWO Eric LeClair as the new Base CWO and provide him with the same level of dedication you have provided me.”
Expecting to drive home June 28 solo following the CoC and CoA, Capt Abrahamse was surprised when his wife and daughter arrived on the Base to be part of his CoA. He can thank the BComd’s executive assistant Ana Arias Molina for planning the surprise.
“I’ve been working on this for the past two months,” said Arias Molina while meeting Angela Abrahamse in-person following the CoA ceremony.
Capt Abrahamse was tricked into picking up a sewing machine for his wife, who happened to be at the location where he drove to receive it.
“I was totally surprised,” he said, surrounded by his wife and daughter, plus well-wishers like fellow Patricia 2PPCLI’s CO LCol Jesse van Eijk. “Now, I have to get used to not using my CWO voice, and being saluted now that I’m an officer.”
Capt Abrahamse started his Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) career on Aug. 28, 1989. After completing his BMQ at now defunct CFB Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, he came west to CFB Wainwright. While in Alberta, he completed his basic training at the PPCLI Battle School. Afterwards, he was posted to 2PPCLI when it was based in Winnipeg.
Capt Abrahamse has multiple operational deployments. In 1990, he deployed with 2PPCLI to Nicosia, Cyprus with UN Peacekeeping Force. A year later, he was off to Qunaytirah, Syria with the UN Disengagement Observer Force.
His deployments continued with 2PPCLI in 1993, when 2PPCLI deployed with Canadian Infantry Battle Group Vukovar, Croatia. In the years 1997, 2000 and 2003 he was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. His final deployment was Joint Task Force Afghanistan in 2008 with 2PPCLI Infantry Brigade Group.
During hi 33-year CAF career, Capt Abrahamse has been privileged to serve in an array of positions — including rifleman, Section Commander, Platoon 2IC, reconnaissance Platoon 2IC, advanced reconnaissance instructor, infantry school operations warrant officer, Company Quarter Master, Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Quarter Master Senior Instructor (QMSI) of 3PPCLI, RSM of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, and more recently his two-year stint as CFB Shilo’s BRSM.
Besides his love of the Toronto Maple Leafs and being a staunch supporter of that NHL team, when he’s not soldiering, Capt Abrahamse enjoys all physical activities?
Who is his replacement coming from Garrison Petawawa?
Born in Pembroke, Ont., recently promoted CWO Eric LeClair, joined the CAF in 1992 as an infanteer and began his military career in the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) following completion of his basic and battle school training.
A member of the Order of Military Merit, now posted to CFB Shilo as the new BRSM, CWO LeClair has provided the CAF with three decades of service. He has served wit two of the Regular Force battalions of the RCR.
Moreover, he has shared his knowledge and experiences through teaching at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre, and the Infantry School.
CWO LeClair has also served under other commands, including the Canadian Special Operations Regiment as Company Quarter Master (CQM).
He has five operational deployments. The first came in 1994 when he deployed to the Balkans in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the First Battalion (1RCR), Charles Coy. Four years later and in 2000, he deployed to Bosnia with 1RCR, but this time as Recce Platoon.
In 2005, he deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as part of Op ARCHER and the US Embedded Training Team. Five years later, he had a subsequent deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan as a Platoon 2IC with 1RCR, Bravo Coy.
CWO LeClair has also participated in foreign courses including the US Army Ranger course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Jungle Warfare Advisor course in Medicina Lines, Seria, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
Married to his wife Andrea for five years, he’s the proud father of Cameron, Brianna and step-daughter Petra.
The wives of Capt Jeremy Abrahamse and CWO Eric Leclair, respectively Ashley and Andrea, received flowers during the BRSM’s CoA held at Canoe River Memorial Park. Following his promotion from CWO, Capt Abrahamse introduced his wife and daughter Madison to well-wishers, including fellow Patricia and 2PCCLI’s CO LCol Jesse van Eijk. He posed with his wife and daughter Madison in front of an artillery piece located in front of the Officers’ Mess, where he can now frequent after being promoted to captain. Then CWO Abrahamse holds the trophy won by his team during the annual Amazing Race event held in the spring. Along with BComd LCol Chris Wood, CWO Abrahamse met the Manitoba premier and Lt-Gov at Base HQ. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag
CWO Jeremy Abrahamse following his promotion to captain had help with his pips being applied to his dress uniform by wife Ashley and daughter Madison following his CoA ceremony held at Canoe River Memorial Park. 3CDSG Comd Col Robert McBride was part of the CoA, where he received the BRSM pace stick from CWO Abrahamse, then passed it on to CWO Eric LeClair. Photos MCpl Brandon Liddy
