A Christmas Vacation at the Wing
Colonel Luc Vachon & Chief Warrant Officer Justin Harper
This holiday season, as we look back on an extraordinary year at 14 Wing, we couldn’t help but take inspiration from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Much like Clark Griswold launching into the holidays with optimism, a questionable plan, and a tree far too large for any living room, we charged into 2025 with big ambitions, even bigger enthusiasm, and the determination to make this year “a real beaut, Clark!”
And thanks to you, it was.
Your professionalism and mission focus delivered reliable airpower day in and day out, no matter what surprises came our way. From responding to nearly 100 urgent search and rescue missions, to supporting Op LENTUS during this summer’s wildfires, to executing long-range patrol missions at home and abroad, you demonstrated the same persistence Clark needed to get those 25,000 lights finally switched on. Every sortie, every deployment, every moment of teamwork added another bright bulb to 14 Wing’s success.
None of this would have been possible without the entire 14 Wing Defence Team. Just as Clark had Cousin Eddie roll up unannounced in the RV, we’ve had our own cast of characters across the Wing step forward at critical moments. Operations, maintenance, mission support, community services, training, force development, families, and our community partners – each contributed to a year defined by resilience, commitment, and our motto: Operate as One.
2025 also marked significant steps into the future of Canadian airpower. We continued preparing for major capability transitions, including the CP-8A Poseidon, CQ-9B Guardian RPAS, and the introduction of the CC-295 Kingfisher.
To the entire team: thank you for your leadership, your sense of duty, and the camaraderie that makes 14 Wing such an exceptional place to serve. As we enjoy the holidays, please keep in your thoughts those deployed or away from home. May your celebrations be warm, safe, and – unlike the Griswold household – relatively chaos-free.
And if anyone asks how things went at 14 Wing this year, feel free to say with confidence…
“It’s a beaut, Clark!”
Happy Holidays, 14 Wing!
Operate as One
