Obituary of MAJOR JAMIE RYAN CHRISTOPHER VERMETTE

Major Jamie Ryan Christopher Vermette passed away unexpectedly on Sunday August 14th, 2016 in his home at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, at the age of 35 years. Jamie was born in Winnipeg on October 10th, 1980. He grew up and attended school in Charleswood, graduating from Shaftesbury High School in 1998. He attended the University of Winnipeg and graduated with an Honours BA in Philosophy. He married his high-school sweetheart, Lindsay Cleland, in 2003. Lindsay and Jamie immediately applied, and were accepted, into the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. They spent three years in Sapporo, Japan, and welcomed their first child, Isaac Kai, in 2006 just before returning to Canada. In August of 2007, Jamie accepted a commission into the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Logistics Officer. In 2008, Lindsay and Jamie welcomed their second child, Maya Jane, in Winnipeg. Lieutenant Vermette’s first tour of duty was with Wing Operations at 17 Wing, Winnipeg. In 2010, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters as an Administration Officer. In 2011, Jamie volunteered to serve six months with Operation Attention in Afghanistan as the G1 Policy Advisor for the Afghan Border Police. He was awarded the General Campaign Star (Southwest Asia) and the Canadian Joint Operations Command’s highest commendation for his exceptional dedication to the multi- ational mission in Kabul before returning to Winnipeg in 2012. In 2014, Jamie was posted to 440 Squadron in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, as the Squadron Adjutant. After a highly successful tour and early promotion to Major, he was posted to 15 Wing, Moose Jaw, as the Wing Administration Officer. At the time of his passing, he was also working on a Masters of Business Administration degree. Jamie was first and foremost a loving husband, a devoted father, and a passionate and caring family man. Jamie loved the arts. He was a gifted actor, a visionary director and he loved every aspect of Community Theater. He was an exceptional writer, both creatively and professionally. Jamie brought his unique perspective and compassionate nature to both his professional and personal life, inspiring the lives of every person he met. He inspired his children from a very early age, reading them great works of literature every night before bed. He shared his joy of artistic expression, showing them how to paint, and create amazing Halloween costumes and projects using only cardboard, hot glue, plaster, and paint. In the Vermette household, Halloween was a month long extravaganza. Nothing made Jamie happier than spending summers at Falcon Lake, Manitoba, filling Bay 4 completely full of Vermettes. Waterskiing and evenings around the fire were important family traditions for him. Jamie cared deeply for his community and the world, volunteering with Scouts Canada and Canadian Crossroads International. He filled his garage full of popcorn and raised thousands of dollars for the Yellowknife cub scouts. He was a hopeless romantic and loved to surprise his wife with decorated cars, treasure hunts, and beautifully written poetry. Jamie was pre-deceased by his maternal grandmother, Cleo Grande, with whom he shared a special relationship. He is survived by his wife, Lindsay, his son, Isaac, his daughter, Maya, his parents, George and Sally Vermette (Winnipeg), his brothers, Greg (Jen), Jeff (Ashley), and Mike (Becki), numerous nieces and nephews, his extended Family, and friends and colleagues who were very special to him. He was, simply put, a great man, gone too soon, and sorely missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him. A formal military funeral for Major Vermette will be held at 17 Wing, Winnipeg, on Monday, August 22nd at 10:30 am, Captain Linda Tomlinson-Seebach and Reverend Peter Bush will officiate with a reception to follow at the 17 Wing Officers Mess. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Hero Fund. Interment will take place at St. Charles Cemetery. In living memory of Jamie, a memorial planting will be made by W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries). “We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have the power to imagine better.” J.K. Rowling.