CANORA - “Continuing the tradition of honouring and remembering our military heritage is very important to the Legion and its 300,000 members,” said Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tom Eagles, in 2015.
The Battle of Atlantic, the longest military campaign of the Second World War, ran from 1939 to the defeat off Germany in 1945.
“While the outcome was a strategic victory for the Allies it came at a great cost,” Eagles said.
“This military campaign involved thousands of ships in more than 100 convoy battles. By the end of the campaign, an estimated 3,500 merchant ships and 175 warships were lost. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), for its part, lost more than 20 warships. Proportionally, Canadian merchant seamen suffered much more heavily, losing one in ten among the 12,000 who served in Canadian and Allied merchant vessels.”
On the first Sunday of May, people commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic; remembering the bravery and the sacrifices of those who fought in the battle. The legacy and memories of those who fought in it will not be dimmed or forgotten by the passing of time. This year marks the BOA's 80th anniversary; a historic milestone to pause and reflect on the thousands of Canadians and Allies who helped turn the tide of the Second World War.
Honouring Service: A Life at Sea – Canora’s Lieutenant-Commander Colin Dudeck
The Canora Royal Canadian Legion #52 is taking this time to recognize one of its hometown children, Lieutenant-Commander Colin Dudeck, who has dedicated his life serving in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Born in 1986 in Canora, Lieutenant-Commander Colin Dudeck has served in the Royal Canadian Navy for over 20 years, with more than 500 days spent at sea in service to Canada.
After graduating from Canora Composite School in 2004, he attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., spending summers conducting military training and earning a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 2008.
Following graduation, he was posted to Halifax and later to HMS Sultan in the UK for advanced marine engineering training with the Royal Navy. In 2009, he was posted to CFB Esquimalt serving in multiple warships including HMCS Regina, HMCS Winnipeg, and HMCS Calgary for port security operations in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a deployment to Central and Â鶹ÊÓƵ America.
In 2010, he joined HMCS Algonquin as Assistant Engineering Officer, helping lead a department of 55 marine engineers. This was highlighted by a counter-narcotics deployment with the US Coast Guard off the Galápagos Islands and port visits in Peru, Mexico, and Panama. For their role, the ship’s company was awarded the Operational Service Medal – Expedition.
He then served ashore at the Fleet Maintenance Facility as Deputy Marine Engineering Officer. This was highlighted by an assignment in Bangor, Washington, where he attended the deperming of HMCS Victoria, reducing its magnetic signature for submarine operations.
He was then posted to U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, serving as Executive Officer to a Canadian General. This assignment coincided with the rise of ISIS and U.S. deliberations over potential military action in Syria. His contributions earned him the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Upon returning to Canada, he became Deputy Project Manager for a new control system installation aboard Halifax-class frigates, modernizing their propulsion and electrical systems. During this time, the Navy sponsored him to complete a part-time MBA while working full-time on the project.
In 2018, he returned to sea as Marine Systems Engineering Officer (MSEO) aboard HMCS Ottawa. The crew marked 281 days at sea and 70,566 nautical miles, including RIMPAC 2018 and a deployment to the Indo-Pacific consisting of freedom of navigation transits through the Taiwan Strait and North Korean sanctions enforcement. The crew was awarded the Special Service Medal – Expedition.
From 2020 to 2022, LCdr Dudeck served as Group Technical Officer for Kingston and Orca class vessels, coordinating maintenance and operational readiness of Canada’s West Coast minor warships.
He now serves at Naval Fleet School (Pacific), where he leads a team of 50 curriculum developers and instructors. His team designs and delivers technical training, covering subjects ranging from math and physics to electronics, diesel engines, welding, fabrication, leadership, and more.
LCdr Dudeck lives in Victoria with his wife, Jacqui.
As we commemorate the sacrifices made during the Battle of the Atlantic, we also honour the continued service of individuals like Lieutenant-Commander Colin Dudeck – whose career reflects the professionalism, leadership, and commitment of today’s Royal Canadian Navy.
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