49 www.on.legion.ca We Will Remember Them Ontario Command BÉLANGER, Carl Henri Carl Bélanger was born in Jonquière, Québec on March 23, 1971. He fulfilled a lifelong ambition to serve his country and enlisted in the CanadianArmed Forces (Regular) at age 17. Beginning his career as a Supply Technician, he was posted to CFB Calgary in 1990 where he met and married his wife, Elizabeth. In 1994, while serving with the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, he was awarded the Combat Service Support of the Year Award. Carl was posted to CFB Trenton in 1996 where he became an accomplished parachute instructor, jumper, and rigger. He later earned the internationally recognized FAA Master Parachute Rigger certification in the United States and also served as a Freefall Jump Master, Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare instructor, and completed Basic Mountain Operations training. He served in Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia, on Operation ICESHELF at CFS Alert, and completed two tours in Kandahar, Afghanistan, supporting critical drone recovery operations under hostile conditions. Carl and his wife moved to Carleton Place in 2009 and raised their two boys. Carl retired in January 2018 as a decorated Master Warrant Officer after exemplary service. His honours and awards included the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Sacrifice Medal, and the Royal Canadian Legion Canada 150th Anniversary Medal as well as his Canadian decoration and service medals. Carl was a Royal Canadian Legion member for 20 years. He remained actively involved in his community and continued to support Legion initiatives until his passing on May 1, 2025. BELANGER, Gil Ivan Rejean Gil was born in Timmins, Ontario on September 12, 1962. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular Forces) on June 22, 1981. After basic training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia and Food Services Training (CFSAL) in Borden, Ontario. He was posted at CFB Valcartier, Quebec twice (1982-1988) and again (19911995). Gil was instructor in Borden (CFSAL) from 1988-1991. After his second posting in Valcartier, Quebec, he was then transferred to CFB North Bay (22Wing) after changing element to Air Force (RCAF), stationed there for eleven years from 1995 to 2006. During this time, he was transferred to CFB Petawawa in 2006 where he served with 1RCR, HQ & Sigs, 427 Squadron. Then he returned to North Bay in 2011 with the 33 Svc Bn/Alq Regiment as Kitchen Officer (KO) of Food Services, where in 2016 he retired after 35 years of service. During his 35 years of service, Gil was deployed on numerous UN tours including UNCYP/CYPRUS from March 26 to September 26, 1983, CFS ALERT from July 4 to September 3, 1984, UNCYP/CYPRUS from February 10 to August 10, 1987, UNPROFOR/Bosnia and Herzegovina (ex-Yugoslavia) from November 15, 1993 to May 15, 1994, UNDOF/Golan Heights from May 26 until November 25, 1996; November 29, 1999 until May 29, 2000; and November 26, 2003 until June 2, 2004. Gil is a recipient of Canadian Armed Forces Decoration Medal 2 Clasps (32 plus years), Canadian Peacekeeping Medal along with UN Medals (UNCYP/CYPRUS 2 tours), UNPROFOR/Bosnia and Herzegovina (ex-Yugoslavia 1 tour), UNDOF/Golan Heights (3 tours). Gil retired after 35 years of loyal service. He is a proud member of The Royal Canadian Legion North Bay Branch 23 for nine years. He has been residing in North Bay, Ontario from 1995 until present with his wife.
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