Past President
Hon. Col Tara Veer
Former Mayor of Red Deer, Tara Veer was appointed Honorary Colonel with the Canada Armed Forces, 41 Signals Regiment. Honoraries are a long-time tradition recognizing prominent private citizens who volunteer, advocate for their regiments, communities, and guardians of regimental traditions and histories.
“I am extremely honoured to have been given the distinguished appointment of Honorary Colonel with the Canadian Military,” said Mayor Veer. “The sacrifices of our Canadian Armed Forces and the many veterans that served our country are what allowed me to serve our community. Past and present heroes in the Canadian Armed Forces have made our country what it is today. They are the reason for the freedoms Canadians enjoy today.”
“I am extremely honoured to have been given the distinguished appointment of Honorary Colonel with the Canadian Military,” said Mayor Veer. “The sacrifices of our Canadian Armed Forces and the many veterans that served our country are what allowed me to serve our community. Past and present heroes in the Canadian Armed Forces have made our country what it is today. They are the reason for the freedoms Canadians enjoy today.”
Vice President, Edmonton Chapter
LCol Michael K. Fawcett, CD (Retired)
LCol Fawcett enrolled in the CAF directly out of high school in the Youth Training and Employment Program in 1980. He was accepted into the Officer Candidate Training Plan program, originally as an Arty Officer. LCol Fawcett received his re-classification to the infantry and completed phase 4 in 1984. From there he was posted to 1 PPCLI where he served as Pl Comd until 1987. He was then posted to Recruiting for two years.
During this time LCol Fawcett completed his staff school and Infantry Officer Course. In 1992 LCol Fawcett attended a French course followed by Canadian Land Force Command Staff College. On graduation he was posted to UNPROFOR until Aug of 1994. On his return to Canada LCol Fawcett was posted Canadian Forces School Mechanical Engineering as an infantry instructor until 1997. After that he was posted to 2 PPCLI and held numerous positions such as 2IC Admin Coy for 1 year, 8 months as Ops O and 2 ½ years as the OC B Coy which included a tour in SFOR. In 2001 LCol Fawcett was posted to Western Area Training Center as the DCO and soon after was appointed the CO.
In 2003 LCol Fawcett retired from the Regular Force and began ranching. In 2009 LCol Fawcett joined the L Edmn Regt as the Ops O and the Company Commander. LCol Fawcett took over command of 41 Signal Regiment in 2017 and retired in 2022.
During this time LCol Fawcett completed his staff school and Infantry Officer Course. In 1992 LCol Fawcett attended a French course followed by Canadian Land Force Command Staff College. On graduation he was posted to UNPROFOR until Aug of 1994. On his return to Canada LCol Fawcett was posted Canadian Forces School Mechanical Engineering as an infantry instructor until 1997. After that he was posted to 2 PPCLI and held numerous positions such as 2IC Admin Coy for 1 year, 8 months as Ops O and 2 ½ years as the OC B Coy which included a tour in SFOR. In 2001 LCol Fawcett was posted to Western Area Training Center as the DCO and soon after was appointed the CO.
In 2003 LCol Fawcett retired from the Regular Force and began ranching. In 2009 LCol Fawcett joined the L Edmn Regt as the Ops O and the Company Commander. LCol Fawcett took over command of 41 Signal Regiment in 2017 and retired in 2022.
Advisor
|
LCol Mathew Lupton enrolled in the Army Reserve as a Weapons Technician in the Royal Westminster Regiment in January 1992, and later that year transferred to the Kings Own Calgary Regiment. After a few years in Calgary, he transferred to the British Columbia Regiment. Following graduation from the University of British Columbia in 1998 LCol Lupton transferred to the Regular Force as a CELE (Land) Officer. Upon completion of Phase Training in 2001 he was posted to his first job as a trained officer. LCol Lupton completed a variety of command and staff positions during his Regular Force career, highlights of which include Department Head at Trinity, Project Manager for the Land Command Support System Life Extension, Officer Commanding Support and 2 Squadron at CFSCE, Chief Instructor at CFSCE, Signals Career Manager, CAF Liaison Officer to USCYBERCOM, Commanding Officer of CFIOG OUTCAN and finally J2 SIGINT at CFINTCOM. He deployed to Sudan as part of Op SAFARI and to Belgium and Germany as part of Op UNIFIER. LCol Lupton is a graduate of the Army Technical Staff Officer Programme, the Army Operations Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and holds a BSc in Computer Science, a master’s degree in Defence Engineering and Management, and is an Offensive Security Certified Professional. LCol Lupton is married, and he and his spouse are the proud parents of two CAF members who continue the family tradition of service to Canada.
Director-at-Large
Hon. Col Lloyd Lewis
Lloyd Lewis brings more than four decades of experience in media, leadership, and community service to the Alberta Signals Association. A lifelong communicator and storyteller, he has held senior executive roles across Canada’s broadcasting and digital sectors, including a decade as Vice President and General Manager of CTV Edmonton. Lloyd is a partner in a digital startup, OurSask.Info, a company that has developed a unique platform designed to promote accountability and transparency within Saskatchewan’s 296 Rural Municipalities.
Beyond media, Lloyd has contributed extensively to nonprofit leadership and public service. He currently serves on the AB Chapter of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. Previous board service includes the Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards Foundation, United Way of Alberta Capital Region, and Red Deer College Foundation. A former General Campaign Chair for the United Way of Central Alberta and founding member of Reach Edmonton, he remains deeply engaged in community development and the arts.
Lloyd is a Past Honorary Colonel of 41 Signal Regiment, where he championed closer ties between serving members, veterans, and civilian supporters. In recognition of his contributions to the military community and the arts in Alberta, he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023.
Beyond media, Lloyd has contributed extensively to nonprofit leadership and public service. He currently serves on the AB Chapter of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. Previous board service includes the Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards Foundation, United Way of Alberta Capital Region, and Red Deer College Foundation. A former General Campaign Chair for the United Way of Central Alberta and founding member of Reach Edmonton, he remains deeply engaged in community development and the arts.
Lloyd is a Past Honorary Colonel of 41 Signal Regiment, where he championed closer ties between serving members, veterans, and civilian supporters. In recognition of his contributions to the military community and the arts in Alberta, he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023.
Additional Board Members
President: VACANT
VP Red Deer: Maj Rob Hammel (ret'd)
VP Calgary: Maj Timothy Wallace (ret'd)
Membership Director: LCol Natalie De Roij
Secretary: MWO James Way
Treasurer: VACANT
Sergeant at Arms: MWO Drew Adkins
Director-at-Large: Hon Col Lloyd Lewis
Entertainment Officer: Cpl Sarah Parchewsky (ret'd)
Public Relations Officer: VACANT
VP Red Deer: Maj Rob Hammel (ret'd)
VP Calgary: Maj Timothy Wallace (ret'd)
Membership Director: LCol Natalie De Roij
Secretary: MWO James Way
Treasurer: VACANT
Sergeant at Arms: MWO Drew Adkins
Director-at-Large: Hon Col Lloyd Lewis
Entertainment Officer: Cpl Sarah Parchewsky (ret'd)
Public Relations Officer: VACANT