Jeff Willis's Page

Oct 2000 - volunteer fire department

The life and times of Jeff Willis

I was born in Rouyn Noranda, moved to Chibougamau at the age of 2. I started my education at Holy Family in 1959 and, when I discovered that Chibougamau was not the place I wanted to be, left in 1970 (noticed I said left and not graduated) to join the Army.
My Military career has been nothing short of excellent. I joined in Dec 1970 and headed to Cornwallis on 2 Jan 1971. After basic training I was posted to 3 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Esquimalt (Victoria) BC...In 1973 they discovered that my eye sight was not to the standard expected for the infantry; as a result I had my first change of careers (not professions). In Jun 1973 I became a Teletype Operator (Tel Op) and after attending training in Kingston was posted to Trenton. My life as a Tel Op lasted 20 years and included the following postings:

1973-1978   708 Communications Squadron Trenton, ON
1978-1982   Communications Squadron Lahr, Germany
1982-1986   Canadian Forces School Of Communications and Electronics Kingston, ON (as an Instructor)
1986-1988   740 Communications Detachment Comox, BC
1988-1993   743 Communications Squadron Penhold, AB

While in Penhold I was recommended for Commissioning (someone thought I would make a good officer..of course that was after I finished what I had started at Holy Family). In 1993 I was selected for the Commissioning From the Ranks program and started my third career this time as an officer. After attending 21 months training at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (Feb 1993 - Nov 1994) I joined the First Canadian Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, Kingston in Dec 94. I stayed with the Regiment until the summer of 1998 when I was posted to the School of Communications and Electronics.

I am married to Wenda and we have two sons Kyle (17) and Jodi (13)

Jeff's last year at Holy Family High was spent with these grade 9 Students in 1970

back row : Kelly LaPlante, Jacques Gauvin, Bert Lefebvre, Jeffrey Willis
middle row : Allen Leblanc, Charlotte Malette, Francine Petitclerc, Nappie Stevenson, David Gallant
front row : Marilyn Joyce, Cathy Chiasson, Doreen LeBrun, Ginette Foucault, Josette Babin
missing : Dale Tremblay and Lise Poirier