NU Remembrance Day Service

Nipissing University wishes to remember the contributions of our veterans who have served in war and peace-keeping duties over the years by holding a ceremony as an expression of observance today at 10:30 a.m. in the Front Foyer. Speaking at the ceremony will be Captain Brett McNeil from CFB North Bay.  In addition, a delegation from the University will be participating in the municipal ceremony at Memorial Gardens

Poppy and contribution boxes are available in the Registrar's Office, the Finance Office, Library, Athletic Centre, Office of Student Development & Services and the small cafeteria (A246).

All are welcome to attend the event.

Biography of Captain Brett MacNeil

Captain MacNeil joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a Naval reservist in 1989.  Over the next 8 years he worked as a Boatswain, sailing onboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Porte DAUPHINE, Porte QUEBEC, Porte DE LA REINE, COWICHAN and CHIGNECTO.   He was also a member of Naval reserve divisions in Winnipeg MB, Victoria BC and Vancouver BC.    

In 1997, after completing the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, he transferred into the regular force as an Aviation Systems Technician (AVN Tech).  He was posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake in 1998 and worked at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment servicing and maintaining the CF-18 Hornet, CT-33 Silver Star and CT-114 Tutor.  In the spring of 2002 he was accepted into the Canadian Forces University Training Program for non-commissioned members and moved to Antigonish NS where he attended St. Francis Xavier University.    

Captain MacNeil completed his B.Sc. in Kinesiology in 2006 and moved to Victoria BC where he qualified as a Maritime Surface and Sub-surface Officer (MARS), he was posted to HMCS OTTAWA in November of 2006.  As MARS he sailed on exchange with the Singaporean Navy for 2 months visiting Malaysia, Indonesia and India.  He then sailed in HMCS OTTAWA as the Deck Officer and an officer of the watch responsible from the bridge for ship safety, navigation and operations.  In 2009 he was assigned to HMCS WINNIPEG as the Information Management Director before transferring to the Air Force as an Aerospace Control Officer. 

Captain MacNeil joined 21 Aerospace Control &Warning Squadron in September 2012 and worked as both a Weapons Director and Senior Director until Jun 2014 when he joined the Wing Operations department as the Standards and Evaluation officer. 

Throughout his career Captain MacNeil has been fortunate to represent Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces in international swimming and lifesaving competitions organized by the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM).  First qualifying for the team in 2000 he has competed against world class athletes in Viareggio Italy, St. Petersburg Russia, Warendorf Germany, Catania Sicily, Livorno Italy and Amsterdam Netherlands.    

Captain MacNeil is married with two children and lives in North Bay.  He holds a commercial pilots license and has held a flight instructor rating.  He currently volunteers to teach pilot ground school classes with the North Bay 547 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron and manages the CAF International Military Sports Council (CISM) Swimming and Lifesaving team.