14 Wing Greenwood Commander Colonel Jeff Davis, incoming commander Colonel Luc Vachon and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Proulx attended the Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA)’s l’Échange in Yarmouth August 14, when Davis presented special edition Royal Canadian Air Force centennial coins to 10 Acadians, as part of the RCAF’s 100 Coins to 100 Canadians initiative. The coins are being presented through 2024 to Canadians who, through their behaviour and contributions, have exemplified the RCAF’s values and embody the characteristic spirit of the Canadian Armed Forces’ ethos.
“There is much for all to celebrate during the Congrès, for the Acadian story is Canada’s story,” said Davis. “This year, we are inviting all Canadians to celebrate another important part of Canada’s history: the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrates 100 years as a distinct military institution.
“Nos deux histoires se rejoignent lors d’évènements tels que celui-ci. Je suis fier de rendre hommage aux Acadiens qui ont servi dans l’Aviation royale canadienne ou ont soutenu ceux qui y servaient. Leurs contributions font partie de notre histoire commune et continuent toujours d’avoir un impact positif sur l’ARC.”
RCAF and the Acadian stories both come together during events such as the CMA, Davis said.
“I am proud to pay tribute to the Acadians who served in the RCAF, or supported those who served. Their contributions are part of our shared history, and continue to have a positive impact on the RCAF. The courage and perseverance that Acadians demonstrated in the face of the cultural and linguistic barriers they surmounted to serve Canada with distinction over the last hundred years have contributed to shaping the RCAF into the strong, diverse and effective force that it is today.”
Gérard Thériault served in the RCAF from 1952 to 1981. During his service, he served in France in support of Canada’s air defense commitments to NATO during the Cold War, helped establish the Canadian Forces Base Lahr in Germany, and worked with the RCAF Directorate of History and Heritage. In Nova Scotia, he helped form the Clare Veterans Association, and was the president of the Thériault family reunion during the 2004 CMA.
Percy Cottreau joined the Reserves when his family was posted in Ontario, serving at Canadian Forces Station Alert in 1973. He began his work with the Cadets, teaching photography basics, in Barrie, Ontario, in 1978. In the 1980s, Cottreau volunteered with 299 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, becoming the Yarmouth Air Cadet Squadron’s commanding officer from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2018. During his 44 years of service as an officer, Cottreau has mentored hundreds of youths both in Yarmouth and beyond.
Lawrence Theriault
Lawrence Theriault joined the RCAF in 1956 as an airframe technician, serving around the world until he was medically released in 1964. Determined to continue a career in aviation, Theriault pursued an aircraft maintenance engineer’s license in 1965, and lead a bush plane team in remote locations of central and northern Quebec in the early 1970s. In 1976, he was a founding member of the Atlantic Aircraft Maintenance Association and, in 1979, established the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Association. He was one of the first three people to receive Transport Canada approval as a minister’s delegate. In 2003, Theriault was presented the Vachon Trophy and, in 2006, he was inducted into the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Canada Hall of Fame.
Master Warrant Officer (retired) Dennis Muise
Dennis Muise joined the CAF in 1980, serving with the RCAF, Army and Navy during his 34-plus-year career, including two United Nations tours in Golan Heights and Croatia. Today, he is an active member of the Wedgeport Legion.
Major (retired) Kenneth Pothier
Kenneth Pothier enrolled in the RCAF in 1979, serving 26 years as a helicopter pilot. Career highlights include a deployment with the Multi-National Force and Observers peacekeeping force in Egypt as a squadron operations officer for the Rotary Wing Aviation Unit, several staff officer and pilot instructor postings, and a deployment as the Joint Task Force Afghanistan air wing liaison officer. Once retired, he joined the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), and occupied positions as national vice-president, finances and administration, and CASARA Nova Scotia president.
Robert Amirault
Robert Amirault joined the RCAF in 1961 after five years in the Navy. During his military career, he served in Lahr, Egypt, Israel and on six separate missions in Alert, retiring in 1985. Amirault was one of the first fishermen to harvest fucus. He also served 14 years with the West Pubnico Royal Canadian Legion, of which he is still a member.
Chief Warrant Officer (retired) Garry d’Entremont
Garry d’Entremont enrolled in the RCAF in 1964, first as an aircraft technician, then as a flight engineer on the CC115 Buffalo aircraft and the CC130 Hercules. He deployed on a UN mission in Egypt, served in the Gulf and Yugoslavian wars, held the position of chief flight engineer instructor for the Hercules, and 436 Squadron flight engineer leader; accumulating a total of 10,000 flying hours by his retirement in April 1997.
Erik Doucet enrolled in the RCAF in 1998, serving as an air traffic controller for 20 years across Canada and deploying both in Arctic sovereignty operations in Northern Canada and for OP ATHENA in the Middle East. After his retirement in 2018, Doucet joined NAV Canada, responsible for air defence coordination and airspace planning with the CAF. In 2022, he was inducted as a member of the Honorary Snowbirds because of his work during OP INSPIRATION, and remains actively involved with the air force today as an RCAF pipes and drums bagpiper.
Yolande Donaldson (d’Entremont)
Yolande Donaldson taught at Plymouth School for 22 years and has been a Wedgeport Legion member since 2016, currently occupying the position of youth relations officer. She manages the Legion Remembrance Day poster contest and works with regional schools to ensure they have access to documents on Canadian military history. Donaldson has also joined Korean veteran Bob Garron of Veterans Place in Yarmouth in the picture project, “REMEMBER THEM” … ”JAMAIS OUBLIÉ,” which is a year-long remembrance initiative that focuses on the contributions and sacrifices of local service members.
Vaughne Madden
Vaughne Madden dedicated her career to the representation of Acadian and Francophone interests. Three-time CMA executive director (in 2004, 2019 and 2024), with experience working for Nova Scotia Acadian Affairs and past participation in Acadian Week in Normandy, she understands the contributions of Acadians during the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices made by their families home in Canada. The RCAF is thankful to Madden and this year’s CMA team for their warm hospitality, and for having shared in the RCAF’s objective to celebrate the contributions of Acadians during the RCAF’s centennial.
