8092

 8092 Ken Benoit  (Herc)








As for military service.  Graduated as an Armament Officer but due to reorg became an Aerospace engineer posted to Greenwood 69-72. CFSATE Borden as an Aerospace instructor 72-73 (that didn't go well!) so re-classed to PERO and was posted to Valcartier 73-76 with 6 months in Ismailia Egypt with UNEF 11 from Oct 75-May76. Then posted to CFB Winnipeg (home town) 76-80 as BPERO...married Elaine and had Lauren and Ryan.  Then posted to Royal Roads 80-83 as Athletic Director where in addition to my administrative duties I coached the wrestling and volleyball teams.  After that wonderful tour I was posted to Chilliwack as the BPERO 83-85.  In 85, I found out from my career manager that unless I was promoted to major before I turned 40 I would be released.  (this due to the terms of service at the time)  He informed that I was 3rd on the merit list but that none of the 12 majors in our classification were due to retire or get promoted (only 1 LCol) so being unlikely to get promoted, I reclassified again this time to Trg Dev O (TDO) as Elaine was a stay at home Mom so we needed my salary.

 To be honest I did not much like being a TDO but I stuck it out returning to Chilliwack after my 3 month course in Borden were I stayed until 1992.  Even though work was un-enjoyable for the most part, Chilliwack was a wonderful place due to the great weather and the beautiful mountains. lakes and rivers surrounding the city. I spent many hours riding up and hiking Elk and Cheam mountains in Chilliwack as well as Church mountain just across the border in the USA and swimming in Cultus Lake and the Vedder river.

 We were all sad to leave Chilliwack, but next was a three year posting to Naval HQ in Halifax.  We bought a house just a short walk off Porters Lake 20 km outside of Dartmouth.  I biked to work and back most days even in winter, played squash or lifted weights at noon hour and often played squash in the evenings as well.

 Next posting was to NDHQ, another boring paperwork job, from 95-99.  We lived in Orleans and again I biked to work even when it was minus 20 as long as the roads were clear of snow.  I played squash most evenings first at the RA club and after it burned down at the Ottawa Athletic club.  We also had a family membership at the Orleans Rec Centre so that I could continue to train Ryan in squash and weights.  As well, we played golf Saturdays and Sundays in the summer.

 In 1999, I was posted back to Borden to CFTDC, home of the TDOs.  Unfortunately, Elaine declined to accompany me to Borden and I was not really surprised as I spent almost all my time playing sports either alone or with Ryan when I wasn't at work.  Lauren was studying at Laurentian U so she stayed in Ottawa.  Ryan came with me to a PMQ in Borden.  We continued to work out and play golf together. He went to Georgian College for 3 years to get his PGA card.  I retired form the Regular force in 2007 but took a Class B job on the base for 17 months until I retired for good at age 60.

 In retirement I continued to play squash, lift weights, hike, ride, swim etc.  Ryan got me into paddle boarding.  He had jobs at several golf courses until he got married to a teacher who took a job in Thailand.  They stayed there 3 years so I had a nice 3 week visit in 2017.  They came back to Canada for 2 years then went back to Thailand but separated after 2 years.  His ex came back to Canada but he is still there.

 I met Mona in 2019.  She is very fit and energetic..she is an amazing ping pong player, likes tennis, hiking biking. She is very intelligent. She learned Russian in 3 months and spent 6 years there getting a pharmacy degree.  She also speaks Arabic. Although she has a Pharmacy degree, she also went to College in Ontario and is currently working as an educational Assistant with expertise in dealing with Autistic children

 Daughter Lauren is a CPA working at CN. Lives in South Shore of Montreal with husband and 3 children

Son Ryan is a PGA golf Professional and Can Fit Pro Fitness instructor, currently single and living in Phuket Thailand

 Athletic Accomplishments

 Post grad: volleyball, soccer, basketball, golf and softball all at Canadian Forces national level

 30s -50s added squash and triathlons..lots of biking

Won many CF National and Ontario age group titles and one Canadian National title in the 55+ age

 50s to present squash and rowing on the concept 2 rower

 Current holder of 3 world records in the 75-79 age group lightweight men on the "row erg"...

 see htts:concept 2.com/records

select world, row erg. men, 75-79, lightweight

see events 100m, 1 minute and 500m











1973 Borden  Baseball Team

Mona and I  2024

1990 Cycling

2007 Golf Champ






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