Charlottetown Honours Veterans at Ceremony

Charlottetown Honours Veterans at Awards Ceremony
Posted on 11/10/2020
The City of Charlottetown honoured five people for their military service during the 2020 Veterans Recognition Awards ceremony on Tuesday, November 10 at Charlottetown City Hall.

The Veterans Recognition Awards were initiated in 2005 to mark The Year of The Veteran. Since then, the City of Charlottetown has continued to honour veterans each year with the private recognition ceremony.

“Poppies, pins, and monuments provide us with tangible reminders of the gratitude we owe members of our military for the sacrifices they make for all of us. These private and personal acts of Remembrance can only be enhanced and deepened through public expressions of gratitude. As such, the significance of recognizing our veterans in ceremonies like this one cannot be overstated,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “The City of Charlottetown recognizes and will continue to recognize the efforts veterans have made to maintain peace at home and abroad. It is because of the bravery, leadership, and tenacity exhibited by our veterans that we have the privilege of living in the best country in the world.”

Those eligible for nomination include people who served in the Armed Forces of Canada during the Second World War, the Korean War, a Special Duty Area (Peacekeeping), War in Afghanistan or in Canada in the Regular Force or Reserves.

The 2020 recipients are:

• Master Warrant Officer Chris Batchilder
• Master Sailor Jeremy Gallant
• Major Allan Manley
• Corporal Ian Morison
• Chief Petty Officer Second Class Mark Nicolle

Award Recipient Biographies:

Master Warrant Officer Chris Batchilder

Master Warrant Officer Chris Batchilder grew up in Georgetown and enrolled in the Regular Force on 17 January 1987 in Charlottetown. For the next thirty years his military service took him across Canada and around the world on multiple deployments. MWO Batchilder was trained as a Communications Research Operator, with his longest posting being 2 Electronic Warfare Regiment, Kingston, Ontario, and frequently served as an Electronic Warfare instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics. This training would serve him well for numerous deployments. From 1990 to 1992 he served in Florida as part of a military exchange program with the US Navy. In 1998 and 1999 he completed a tour of Bosnia. In 2005 he completed a tour in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he experienced enemy fire. In 2007, MWO Batchilder was part of another exchange with the US military at Fort Gordon, Georgia as part of the National Security Agency. In 2015 he travelled to the Middle East and completed a tour in Kuwait and Iraq. MWO Batchilder also completed two tours at Canada Forces Station Alert. MWO Batchilder’s final posting was as Deputy Security Officer at Canadian Joint Operations Center (CJOC) in Ottawa.

In May 2017, MWO Batchilder retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and began work at Veterans Affairs Canada, where he presently serves as Team Leader for “My VAC Account Operations.”
MWO Batchilder proudly wears the Canadian Forces Decoration with 1st clasp, Special Service Medal – CFS Alert, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, General Campaign Star – South-West Asia, NATO – Former Yugoslavia Medal and the Operational Service Medal - Expedition.

He is married to Chantal and their children are Oliver and Abby.

Looking back on three decades of military service MWO Batchilder has fond memories of the teamwork with the members he worked with. He refers to his intelligence work during multiple deployments and his time in uniform as a “Great Adventure”.

Master Sailor Jeremy Gallant

Master Sailor Jeremy Gallant grew up in PEI and joined 721 Communications Regiment, Charlottetown, when he was sixteen years old. Two years later, in 1990 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a Naval Weapons Technician. After basic training at CFB Cornwallis, MS Gallant re-mustered to the trade of Naval Signalman. Throughout the 1990s he served on each of Canada’s coasts at CFB Esquimalt, and CFB Halifax. In 1993 and 1994 he served in Haiti as part of the United Nations multinational force -- Operation Forward Action. In 2001, MS Gallant also served on Operation Apollo in the Persian Gulf. From 2007 to 2010 he was posted to HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown. Then in 2010 he moved to Halifax and re-mustered as an Intelligence Operator and worked in the intelligence cell at Trinity, Halifax. While working at Trinity, MS Gallant deployed on three tours -- in 2011 to Libya as part of Operation Mobile (where they came under enemy fire), in 2015 to the Middle East as part of Operation Reassurance, and in 2017 to Bahrain as part of Operation Foundation.

Over the years MS Gallant has often been called upon to mentor students as an instructor at the Canadian Forces’ School of Military Intelligence (CFSMI) in Kingston, Ont. In 2018 he voluntarily released from the Regular Force and began his service with HMCS Queen Charlotte as a Naval Reservist where he continues to work as Senior Intelligence Operator.

MS Gallant proudly wears the Special Service Medal with Peace and Expedition Clasps (SSM); the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM); the NATO (article 5) Medal for Operation Active Endeavour; the NATO (non-article 5) Medal for Operation Unified Protector with Libya Clasp, the South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM), and the Canada Decoration with 1st Clasp.

In nearly thirty years of military service MS Gallant served on HMC ships Halifax, Nipigon, Gatineau, Fraser, Montreal, Charlottetown and Toronto. In reflecting on his three decades in uniform MS Gallant fondly remembers the friendships and relationships on ship, the seriousness of their tasks, and the unexpected fun that often occurred.

Major Allan Manley

Major Allan Manley grew up in Charlottetown and joined the Prince Edward Island Regiment as an Armoured Officer in the spring of 2005. Later that summer he completed his basic army and officer’s training at CFB Gagetown. In 2007 he moved to Oshawa Ontario and served with the Ontario Regiment where he completed his Troop Leader training. In 2009 he returned to PEI and resumed his work with the PEIR. Over the past fifteen years Major Manley has served as Troop Leader, Operations Officer, Officer Commanding Headquarters Squadron, Battle Captain, and he is presently serving as Officer Commanding Reconnaissance (Recce) Squadron. He also graduated from the year-long Army Operations Course (AOC), and is presently completing the Joint Command Staff Program (JCSP) to be qualified to eventually become a Commanding Officer.

In 2017, Major Manley worked as Liaison Officer for Atul Khare, the UN Under-Secretary-General, at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, in Vancouver. In this role Major Manley coordinated meetings between the UN Under-Secretary-General and defence ministers from numerous countries. He also liaised with the directors of the UN military and the UN police force.

This past spring and summer Major Manley was deployed on Operation LASER, and tasked as the Second-In-Command of Task Force 36, Domestic Response Company C. In addition to serving as OC Recce at the PEIR, he also is tasked as Plans Officer for the 36 Canadian Battalion Territorial Battle Group.

Major Manley proudly wears the Canada Decoration.

Major Manley is married to Christine and they have two daughters, Kaitlyn and Danielle.

Reflecting on fifteen years of military service Major Manley believes that wearing the uniform is part of his personal identity. Working to develop soldiers is what drives him onward, and at the core of his moral compass is respect for others and respect for oneself.

Corporal Ian Morison

Corporal Ian Morison grew up in Summerside as a proud member of the Métis community. In November 2007 he enrolled in the Regular Force as a Military Police (MP) candidate. The MP course at CFB Borden is extremely demanding and he received the Colonel’s Commandant Award as top candidate for his performance. In 2011, prior to his QL5 course, Cpl Morison suffered an injury and was encouraged to take the course at a later date. He refused and pushed through the pain to graduate and, as the top candidate, was awarded the Colonel’s Commandant Award -- in part because of the strong vote cast by his fellow course mates.

Cpl Morison was posted to the Military Police Unit (MPU) in Halifax where he served for the next seven years. During that time Cpl Morison conducted himself with the highest standard of professionalism and compassion. In particular, he was commended for his ability to respond rather than react to unexpected, difficult situations. For example, he pulled over a vehicle and the driver was intoxicated. When he learned that the person’s child had recently been killed in Afghanistan, he personally ensured the individual’s safety and advocated on behalf of the individual with his superiors. For his actions Cpl Morison received a Unit level Divisional Note for his outstanding performance.

In 2010, Cpl Morison was sent to Vancouver and served as annexed policing/security for the Winter Olympics. Cpl Morison regards his time working alongside other MPs and police officers from across Canada as a privilege. He was also working in downtown Vancouver the night the Canadian men’s hockey team won the gold medal. That, too, is a remarkable memory that stays with him.

In 2012, Cpl Morison was deployed as second in command to a Regional Training Center (RTC) in Afghanistan and was also the lead convoy driver for his team. The RTC was located outside Kabul, near Camp Phoenix, where he was tasked as an instructor for members of the Afghanistan National Police and Military Police. As the danger level increased, his role was altered, and he continued his exceptional work in various MP roles. For his exceptional work he received a strong Command review and commendations in theatre.

In 2010, Cpl Morison had a serious car accident which resulted in ongoing migraine headaches. Despite his resolve to push through the pain, four years later he was medically released.

Since that time Cpl Morison has worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans especially advocating and supporting those suffering from PTSD. Cpl Morison experienced the grief of PTSD personally when he lost one of his closest military friends -- a man he considered a true brother in arms -- PO2 Andrew Cullum, to PTSD just a year ago in November 2019.

Cpl Morison proudly wears the Canadian Armed Forces Military Police Medal, the Metis Veterans of Canada Military Service Medal, the Canadian Aboriginal Service Medal, and the General Campaign Star -- South West Asia (GCS-SWA).

Cpl Morison is married to Rachelle and they love being parents to their three-and-half-year-old daughter, Willow Pearl Carolyn Morison.

Cpl Morison is proud to be part of a family that has served in the Canadian military for generations. In reflecting on his own career, he believes it was a privilege to serve and feels a comradeship with and pride for all veterans.

Chief Petty Officer Second Class Mark Nicolle

Chief Petty Officer Second Class Mark Nicolle was born in Halifax and grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland. In June 1982, he enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy and attended the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Cabot, in St. John’s. At the end of the summer CP02 Nicolle applied to continue with the Naval Reserve and was assigned the trade of cook.

In May 1983, CP02 Nicolle travelled to Halifax to attend General Military Training (GMT) Phase 3 and then to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden for his trade qualification training. Promoted to Leading Seaman in October 1983, he participated in both part- and full-time training in HMC Ships Porte St. Jean, Porte St. Louis, Forte Steele, and the Patrol Boats Rapid and Rally. In June 1987, CPO2 Nicolle completed his Junior Leadership Course and was assigned to teach the SYEP in HMCS Cabot. For the next six years, he was employed as the Senior Cook in Cabot. In June 1993, CPO2 Nicolle was employed as a cook Instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics (CFSAL). In January 1994, he was posted to Base Foods, CFB Halifax, and in September of that year was posted to HMCS Moresby as Senior Cook.

In December of 1995, CPO2 Nicolle was posted in HMCS Glace Bay’s shore office as the Senior Cook. On 26 October 1996, CPO2 Nicolle had the honor of being the first sailor to cross the brow of the newly commissioned HMCS Glace Bay. Until August 1999, CPO2 Nicolle sailed in Glace Bay, where the crew participated in various naval exercises and operations. In 2000, he rejoined HMCS Cabot as Senior Cook. In 2001, he was posted to Toronto to serve as Unit Recruiter at HMCS York. In 2003, CP02 Nicolle accepted the position of Unit Recruiter in HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown. In January 2005, CP02 Nicolle was promoted to his current rank and in March 2006, he was appointed Coxswain of HMCS Queen Charlotte. Between 2001 and 2007, CP02 Nicolle taught Basic Training at Naval Reserve Training Division, CFB Borden, where he instructed over 900 recruits. In 2008, he was appointed as the Planning Officer at the Canadian Forces Liaison Council Secretariat at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. In October 2012, he was sent to Quebec City to serve as National Outreach Coordinator at Naval Reserve Headquarters. In July of 2015, CPO2 Nicolle moved back to Ottawa where he was appointed Occupation Manager - Support Trades at Naval Headquarters. In July 2017 he was made Regional Outreach and Attractions Manager for the Atlantic Region. This permitted CPO2 Nicolle to return to HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown, where he continues to serve as Chief Cook, and is the culinary gourmet of the unit’s highly renowned New Year’s Day Chowder.

CPO2 Nicolle resides in Charlottetown, and is active in the community, volunteering at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

CP02 Nicolle proudly wears the Canadian Forces’ Decoration with two clasps, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Looking back on nearly forty years of military service, CP02 Nicolle is grateful for the naval members who mentored him, and for those he has been able to mentor. He takes great pride in the students he has instructed over the years, as well as the friendships with his military colleagues.