Statement from the family of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent
News Article / October 27, 2014
From the Department of National Defence
On October 20, 2014, two members of the Canadian Armed Forces were victims of a hit and run incident in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, a member of the Joint Personnel Support Unit at the Integrated Personnel Support Centre in St-Jean, Quebec, died of his injuries the same day.
A member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, he joined the Regular Force in May 1986.
The funeral will be held Saturday, November 1 at 11 a.m. at the Longueuil Cathedral on the corner of Chambly Road and St. Charles Street in Longueuil, Quebec. Media will not be permitted inside the church.
On October 24, 2014, Warrant Officer Vincent’s family shared this statement: "It is with tremendous sadness and great shock that we learned of Patrice’s sudden death. His passing will create a huge void in our hearts. Patrice was very proud to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. He did what he loved and we supported him during the 28 years he served. "
"Patrice loved life; he was well liked by everyone and he always spoke passionately about his involvement with the Canadian Armed Forces. Serving was his way of making a difference in our world. "
"To the family and close friends of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, know that we share your pain and we are with you in our hearts."
"Our thoughts are also with the Couture-Rouleau family during these difficult times."
Members of the Vincent family hope that the media and the community respect their privacy during this difficult time of grief.
Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent joined the Canadian Armed Forces in the spring of 1986 as a Combat Engineer. After completing his initial trade training, he was posted to Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Quebec, at 5e Régiment du génie de combat and the Training Centre of the 2nd Canadian Division later the same year.
In 1990 he remustered as a military fire fighter and served at multiple Royal Canadian Air Force wings and Canadian Army bases. These included 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia (1991-1995), 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario (1999-2003), Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Alberta (2006-2011) and 22 Wing North Bay, Ontario (2011) where he served as the base fire chief.
Warrant Officer Vincent also had the opportunity to serve around the world alongside the Royal Canadian Navy on several warships including the Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) St. John’s (1995-1999), HMCS Ottawa (2003), HMCS Winnipeg (2004), HMCS Algonquin (2005) and HMCS Calgary (2005).
Regardless of whether he was serving on land or at sea, Warrant Officer Vincent was vigilant in protecting and ensuring the safety of his colleagues. This dedicated firefighter was always ready and expertly qualified to respond to an emergency. In 1998, he was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) in recognition of his good conduct and his commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Special Service Medal (NATO) for his service aboard the Fleet.
Warrant Officer Vincent was promoted to the rank of warrant officer in July 2012 and posted to the 2nd Canadian Division/Joint Task Force (East) Headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. In March 2013, he was posted to the Joint Personnel Support Unit in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and assigned to the information technology section at 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.
When he was not busy conducting his duties, Warrant Officer Vincent could always be found in a gym engaged in a friendly game of floor hockey. He was proud to be a fire fighter and was fulfilled in knowing his job was to protect others in their time of need. Known as a very friendly and welcoming person, Warrant Officer Vincent will be deeply missed by his family, friends and those with whom he served.