2025 Remembrance Day Sentry Program honourees to perform ceremonial duty

October 31, 2025 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Members of the media are invited to speak with individual Canadian Armed Forces members selected as participants in this year’s Remembrance Day Sentry Program.

Eleven Canadian Armed Forces members and one officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received the distinction of being selected from all those nominated across the country. They will play an important ceremonial role during this year’s national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.

• Canadian Army – Sentry Commander: Sergeant Kevin Deng, 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Edmonton, Alta.
• Royal Canadian Navy Sentry: Sailor First Class Christian Campbell, Naval Replenishment Unit Asterix, Canadian Forces Base Halifax, N.S.
• Royal Canadian Air Force Sentry: Master Corporal Benton Wong, Canadian Detachment Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A.
• Canadian Special Operations Sentry: Warrant Officer Jason James, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Headquarters, Suffield, Alta.
• RCMP Sentry: Staff Sergeant Roch Lizotte, J Division, Bathurst, N.B.
• Military Personnel Command Nursing Officer: Captain Mariel Justice, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, High Readiness Detachment, Ottawa.
• Canadian Ranger Sentry: Master Corporal Lona Williams, 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Cartwright, N.L.
• Eagle Staff Bearer: Master Corporal Lindy Georgekish, 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Wemindji, Que.
• Eagle Staff Assistant: Master Corporal Jason Bignell, Director General Compensation and Benefits, Ottawa.
• Directorate of History and Heritage, Musician – Bugler: Sergeant Christopher Gerdei, Central Band, Ottawa.
• Directorate of History and Heritage, Musician – Piper: Corporal Nathan Plante, 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ont.
• Special Guest to the Chief of the Defence Staff and Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer: Master Sailor James Varpalotai, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Vancouver, Esquimalt, B.C.

The Remembrance Day Sentry Program was created in 1998 in order to publicly recognize outstanding Canadian Armed Forces members, from both Regular and Reserve Force, and the RCMP, for their dedication, professionalism and performance in service to Canada.

What:  Journalists will be given the opportunity to speak to the Canadian Armed Forces members and RCMP officer selected for the 2025 Remembrance Day Sentry Program.

When: November 6-11, 2025.

Where: By Teams, phone or in person.

Notes to editor / news director: 

Interested media are requested to contact Diane Sawchuk, at Diane.Sawchuk@forces.gc.ca or at 1-343-597-0020 no later than 9 a.m. on November 11, 2025.

Related Links

2025 Remembrance Day Sentry Program participants announced - Canada.ca