Staff recognized for supporting teacher in his role as Canadian reservist

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Montreal, May 27, 2025 –  On behalf of the Vice Chief of Defense Staff ESP (Employer Support Program) Team for the Canadian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-Colonel Joe Nuñez, MMM, CD was at Vincent Massey Collegiate  in Rosemount on May 26  for a very special presentation recognizing staff who supported teacher Vincent Gagnon for his deployment to Latvia and other assignments.

Vincent Gagnon

The ESP assists reservists when they are requesting time off for training or deployments and employers of reservists to better understand the value of the skills and experiences that their employee will gain through the trainings and deployments.     

Three members of the  EMSB personnel   were nominated for recognition: VMC Principal Franca Cristiano, Human Resources Director Ann Watson and Assistant Director of Human Resources Angela Vaudry. This will be done in the presence of Mr. Gagnon’s Secondary I students.

With students (left to right) are Vincent Gagnon, Franca Cristiano, Ann Watson, Regional Director Darlene Kehayayan  and Commissioner Maria Corsi (the latter two accepting on behalf of Ms. Vaudry and Joe Nunez.


Vincent Gagnon

Mr. Gagnon has worked for  the EMSB since 2004. He currently teaches Histoire, Géographie, and Français langue d’enseignement at the Secondary I level. Over the course of my time at VMC, he also led classes in  Géographie/Histoire (Secondary I & II), Art plastique (en français, Secondary I), Visual Arts (in English, Secondary III & IV), FLE, Français langue d’enseignement (Secondary I to IV) and FLSE, Français langue seconde enrichie (Secondary I & II)

Mr. Gagnon first enrolled with  the Canadian Grenadier Guards, based in Montreal, in April 2001. He was part of Operation REASSURANCE, serving as Chief Liaison Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest overseas mission, contributing to NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in Central and Eastern Europe. This operation represented one of the most significant reinforcements of collective defence by the Alliance in recent history. For Operation DISTINCTION  he served as Officer in Charge of Ceremonial – International   during the 75th anniversary commemoration of the Dieppe Raid in France. This initiative supported the government of Canada’s National Commemoration Program, honouring the service and sacrifice of Canadian Armed Forces members and highlighting Canada’s military heritage.

Mr. Gagnon  spent six months in Latvia at Camp  Adazi and Riga from July 2021 to January 2022 as  chief liaison officer. He occupied the role of chief liaison officer for the Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia. His responsibilities included facilitating communication among contributing military organizations and providing the commander with timely and relevant situational updates. “I worked closely with NATO partners, including Albania, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain, as well as with the Latvian National Land Forces and the three Baltic states and Poland Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Groups, to enhance interoperability and strengthen multinational cooperation,” he said.

Mr. Gagnon’s other overseas assignment was Operation DISTINCTION in France serving as Officer in Charge of Ceremonial – International in August 2017.

Franca Cristiano

Recognition for Staff

“The recognition is not for me personally, but for three outstanding individuals  who have supported my military commitments throughout my time at VMC and the EMSB,” said Mr. Gagnon. “Ms. Watson has been a constant supporter since I began teaching in 2004. At that time she was Assistant Director of Human Resources and has consistently processed my leave requests, ensuring that my salary was reinstated seamlessly and that my benefits and seniority were preserved. Ms. Cristiano was a colleague when I first started and is now my principal; she has always offered guidance, encouragement and practical support whenever I needed to balance teaching and reservist duties. Ms. Vaudry currently serves as Assistant Director of Human Resources and was instrumental in authorizing my most recent leave of absence requests.

“Reservists like me rely on supportive individuals and an understanding employer to balance training and operational deployments. I put forward their names for nomination in acknowledgement of the vital role they have played in enabling me to pursue my military endeavours alongside my teaching duties.”

Mr. Gagnon says he is extremely grateful for the EMSB’s support over the years. In return, he has  served as a member of the Governing Board and as Chair of the Staff Council, participated in humanitarian service trips to Costa Rica, received the Thomas and Riva Hetch Scholarship for the Teaching of the Holocaust, co-coached and accompanied VMC’s FUTSAL and other sports teams to their games, and attended professional development sessions to further enhance his practice.  He has   also served on the Anti-Bullying and Anti-Violence Action Plan (formerly the Safe Schools Action Plan) Committee, completed training in the MEES SEXTO initiative to become an intervention agent, and planned an overnight ski trip for Secondary V students just to name a few examples.

“Throughout various stages of my military career, I have been fortunate to receive the unwavering support of EMSB, especially during periods of demanding training and deployment,” Mr. Gagnon added.  “Most notably, the EMSB supported my leave for Operation REASSURANCE, from April 19, 2021 to 22 August 22,  2022, and again for the Information Operations Course (InfoOps) at CFB Kingston, from  April 8 to 26, 2024. These absences occurred during a period when the education sector was still facing a severe teacher shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this challenge, EMSB demonstrated exceptional understanding and flexibility in accommodating my leaves. Moreover, upon my return from Operation REASSURANCE, the EMSB graciously approved an extension of my leave until the start of the following school year. This allowed me to fully assume a full-time position as Adjutant of the Regiment, while also ensuring continuity for students who otherwise would have faced a mid-year transition to a new teacher.”

Mr. Gagnon notes that the EMSB support goes back even further. In November 2015, he was  released   to attend the Infantry Dismounted Company Commander Course (IDCCC) in Gagetown. In 2018, he was again granted time off for the reconnaissance and planning week with Canadian Joint Operation Command for Operation DISTINCTION (International), where he served as Officer in Charge of Ceremonial in Dieppe, France. From 2011 to 2014, his then Principal John Pevec  supported his four recurring summer taskings with the Public Duties at Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall and the Tomb of the Unknown soldier in Ottawa, during which he held various key positions, including Administration Officer, Operations Officer, and eventually twice as Company Commander leading 90 soldiers insuring their welfare, discipline and training.


About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca

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Contact:

Michael J. Cohen

Manager,  Marketing and Communications

English Montreal School Board

mcohen@emsb.qc.ca 


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