Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School

Commander M.T. Lahaie, CD

Commandant - Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School

Commander Michelaine Lahaie, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1987 under the Regular Officer Training Plan. She graduated from the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Military and Strategic Studies and was commissioned as a Maritime Surface Sub Surface (MARS) officer.

Commander Lahaie’s experience at sea includes appointments on board Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) PRESERVER, as Underwater Warfare Officer in HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC and as Operations Officer and Combat Officer in HMCS MONTREAL. During her two years with HMCS PRESERVER, the ship deployed twice with Operation SHARP GUARD, a United Nations (UN) ground peacekeeping effort that included the participation of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) task group imposing economic sanctions off the Bosnian coast line. During her two years onboard HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC, the ship participated in several NATO exercises and completed two Great Lakes Deployments. Commander Lahaie’s Operations Officer tour in HMCS MONTREAL saw the ship ramp up to High Readiness and deploy as the Flag Ship for Operation APOLLO, from September 2002 to April 2003.

Commander Lahaie’s staff experience includes appointments to the Maritime Forces Atlantic as the Deputy Fleet Scheduling Officer, to the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School as the Command Control Information Systems Officer and to the Royal Military College of Canada as B Division Commander. She also held senior appointments at National Defence Headquarters in the Naval Staff, as Occupation Manager for the MARS Occupation and as Personnel Policy Section Head in the Directorate of Maritime Personnel; and in the Directorate of Military Careers as the senior MARS career manager and later as Section Head for the career management of all Naval Hard Sea occupations and Musicians.

In July 2012, Commander Lahaie assumed command of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

Chief Warrant Officer J.M.M. Cantin, MMM, CD

School Chief Warrant Officer - Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School

Chief Warrant Officer Michel Cantin was born in Quebec City, Quebec in 1964. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in May 1982 and upon completion of his Field Engineer training in 1983, he was posted to 5e Régiment du génie de combat (5 RGC) in Valcartier, Quebec until 1990. During his tour, he was employed in various positions in a Field Squadron and in 1987 he was deployed on a United Nations (UN) mission in Cyprus under Operation SNOWGOOSE as a section second in command. Upon return, he was employed as a section commander.

In July 1990, he was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) in Chilliwack, British-Columbia. He was employed as an instructor with the General Military Training cell and the Roads, Airfields, Water Supply and Accommodation cell, as well as a standards representative for junior and specialty courses. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in July 1991. In June 1993, he returned to 5 RGC as a section commander and was deployed from October 1993 until April 1994 on a UN mission in Croatia (Operation HARMONY ROTO III) as a section commander and Troop Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) advisor. From April 1995 until October 1995, he was deployed again on another UN mission in Bosnia (Operation CAVALIER ROTO V) as a Troop reconnaissance sergeant and Battle Group EOD advisor.

Promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer in July 1997 he was then involved in January 1998 with the Quebec ice storm crisis as Troop Warrant Officer. From July 1999 until June 2001, he was employed as Regimental Operations Warrant Officer.

Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in June 2001, he was posted at CFSME in Gagetown, New Brunswick, as the Mine Warfare and Demolitions Troop Supervisor. In September 2003, he returned to 5 RGC as the Engineer Support Coordination Center (ESCC) Sergeant Major. From January until July 2004, he was deployed on a North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Afghanistan (Operation ATHENA ROTO 1) as the ESCC Sergeant-Major and EOD/Improvised Explosive Device Disposal technical advisor within the Kabul Multi National Brigade (KMNB). He was awarded a Commander KMNB commendation. Upon his return in July 2004, he was employed as 52 Field Squadron and 58 Admin Squadron Sergeant Major. In June 2006, he was posted to Longue-Pointe as the Montreal Garrison Sergeant-Major.

In July 2007, upon promotion to his present rank, Chief Warrant Officer Cantin was posted to Wainwright, Alberta as the Command Chief Standard Organization Representative for Land Force Western Area. From June 2008 to June 2009, he returned to 5 RGC as the Regimental Sergeant-Major and also became Member of the Order of Military Merit. From November 2009 to September 2010, he returned to Afghanistan and was employed as Task Force Engineer Regimental Sergeant-Major. In November 2010, he was appointed as the Operational Support Engineer Group Chief Warrant Officer.

In June 2011, Chief Warrant Officer Cantin is appointed School Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.