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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
POIRIER, Gilles Maurice - Passed away on November 3, 2025 in the Roseway Hospital, Shelburne, NS. Born April 21, 1943, in Verdun, Quebec to a very religious family, he could not make it as a priest or a Montreal Canadians hockey player, so he joined the Merchant Marines.
After a year of schooling in Rimouski, he went to work for the Clarke Steamship Line, where he served on the SS Nova Port, MV North Gaspe and the MV North Voyageur.
In 1962, he joined the navy, signing up at HMCS Donnacona in Montreal. Having enlisted during the Cuban crisis, the navy was preparing ships in case of conflict, so he was quickly issued a uniform and sent to HMCS Cornwallis, where for the next three months he went through basic training. He graduated as an Ordinary Seaman Engineering Mechanic Standard trade and was shipped out to HMCS Stadacona where he joined the frigate HMCS Lanark. In 1963 he went to Victoria, BC and took his 3-year Naval Technical Apprenticeship course at HMCS Naden. He briefly served on both HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Iroquois.
In April 1968 Gilles decided to serve in Submarines. He served on all of the Oberon class submarines; HMCS/M Onondaga, Okanagan and Ojibwa. He was CERA onboard HMCS Ojibwa. He retired from the navy in 1986.
Upon his release, he continued to work as a submarine civilian technologist for another 20 years until his retirement in 2006.
In his later years, he was proud to be liaison/"sea daddy" to the HMCS Ojibwa Museum, providing much technical information on normal day-to-day submarine operations. He was an avid storyteller, frequently recounting many of his on and off board shenanigans.
He was a long time member of the Submariners Association of Canada.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jocelyne Poirier, his son Patrick (Cavelle), his grandsons Ethan, Austin and Cameron, all from Leduc, Alberta, his daughter Natasha (Adrian) from Roseway, NS. Brothers Guy (Francine), Claude, sisters Lilianne, Claire, Celine and France (Normand), all of Quebec.
He was predeceased by his parents Lionel and Lucille Poirier, his brother Jacques and his daughter Shawna.
As per his wishes, his body was donated to the Human Body Donation Program, Department of Medical Neuroscience at Dalhousie University.
A Celebration of Life will be held about April 2026.
Ships served in: HMCS DONNACONA - Enlisted in the RCN in 1962 * Rated Ordinary Seaman Engineering Mechanic (Standard) * Volunteered for Submarine Service Apr 1968 HMCS OKANAGAN - Gilles is in the 1979 Work-ups crew photo as a PO1 and in the 1982 crew photo. HMCS OJIBWA - Served in OJIBWA as Chief ERA * Retired 1986
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