Garrison Petawawa personnel deploy on Operation LASER

Submitted | May 14, 2020 | Local

A soldier in uniform and wearing a mask boards a school bus

Deploying members from Garrison Petawawa board the buses for Saint-Jean, Québec to aid long term care facilities. (Photo by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician)

On the morning of May 8, 2020, 41 personnel from 1 Canadian Field Hospital (1 Cdn Fd Hosp) including Nursing Officers, Medical Technicians, and X-Ray Technician as well as four Dental Officers from 1 Dental Unit Detachment Petawawa departed 1 Cdn Fd Hosp to serve on Operation LASER, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic situation. Among those on hand to offer words of support and to say farewell to the deploying members were 4th Canadian Division Support Group Commander Colonel Louis Lapointe and Formation Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer Tom Verner. Operating Room Technicians from 1 Cdn Fd Hosp also departed from other locations on a later date, and 20 members are currently deployed. CAF Health Services personnel will support the Canadian healthcare system in clinical placements in locations across the country, where medical support teams will collaborate with the civilian medical staff on site.

Click on an image to enlarge. Photos by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

A soldier in uniform and wearing a mask walks with file folder under arm

Corporal Fryer boards a bus for OP LASER in St Jean Quebec to aid retirement homes, the brief took place in 1 Canadian Field Hospital Petawawa, Ontario on May 8, 2020. (Photo by AB Elizabeth Ross)

Deploying members from Garrison Petawawa board the buses for Saint-Jean, Québec to aid long term care facilities.

Two female soldiers in uniform wearing masks standing

Major Lewis and Master Warrant Officer Randell see members off on OP LASER located in St Jean Quebec to aid retirement homes, the buses departed from 1 Canadian Field Hospital Petawawa, Ontario on May 8, 2020.