Corner Brook Chronicles: Through Challenges and Unknowns — PO2 Louis-Alexandre Néron

July 21, 2025 – Royal Canadian Navy

Estimated read time – 1:30

Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Louis-Alexandre Néron doesn’t shy away from challenges. If anything, it seems to fuel him.

While attending CEGEP in Jonquière, he confounded his parents when he chose to leave Alma, Québec to join the Royal Canadian Navy and move to Halifax. The choice came after attending recruiting session and being offered paid training and a guaranteed job as a Weapon’s Engineer.

“I thought it was perfect.  I would get the three years of experience that most civilian employers were looking for,” said PO2 Néron.

Like most young sailors, he had to adjust to the Navy culture. Add to this his limited English and PO2 Néron was faced with some significant challenges.

“I barely spoke English, and I definitely struggled to integrate at first,” said PO2 Néron.

At the time, he was thinking of leaving after his first contract. His parents had hoped he would return home.

“For them, it was an unknown world. Even today, it is an unknown world,” says the Petty Officer, who has tried to explain his choice to his family.

But their son never looked back. He like it so much, he signed a 25-year contract and intends to stay until retirement. Until then, he wants take advantage of every opportunity that’s offered to him, be it time at sea or additional training.

“I fell in love with the environment and going to sea, and I have been fighting to get more sea time and get all my qualifications ever since,” says PO2 Néron.

What’s next? PO2 Néron recently moved to the West Coast to join the upgraded and fully operational, His Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Corner Brook. When he’s done there, he hopes to be on the ground helping with the acquisition of new submarines.

“As long as I have a sense of purpose in what I am doing, I intend to continue.”