North Bay names its new commander of 22 Wing/CFB North Bay
There’s a new commanding officer for 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base and the Canadian Air Defence sector in North Bay.
Outgoing wing commander Col. Mark Lachapelle officially relinquished power to his successor in a Friday morning ceremony with a stroke of a pen.
"I’m definitely going to miss it here. Especially all the great people," Lachapelle said.
“This is an amazing community. It’s a family and I’m so happy to have been part of it.”
Lachapelle assumed command in July, 2019 becoming the longest-serving commander at the base.
During his tenure, Lachapelle said he was helped by his team, family, and the community in dealing with the pandemic in the last two years.
"We went through something that has never really been done before and to just have that sense of pride and community that supports the mission is phenomenal," he said.
Lachapelle will travel to Alabama where he’s enrolled in Air War College with his counterparts in the United States Air Force (USAF).
“We will learn about the strategic level of government and the military and understand how those pieces all work together.” Essentially how the government and military work with other agencies when it comes to national security.”
North Bay native Col. Richard Jolette assumes duties with experience as a weapons commander after completing training in 2003. He also served at CFB Bagotville, Quebec.
“It brings me back to my childhood and beginnings in the Canadian armed forces.”
“I love sitting on the scope with young aviators. I see myself in them. The tools that they have now just blows my mind," said Jolette
In 2018, Jolette took over command of the 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron, overseeing North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations before being promoted to colonel last year.
The base is looking to modernize operations with a good share of the recently announced $8 billion in federal funding to go towards upgrading technology and equipment within NORAD.
"From what we've heard from the federal minister, it could be significant financially with new capacities and possibilities that are able to come online," said Jolette.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Commonwealth falls short of condemning Russia as Trudeau prepares for G7
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to the G7 in Germany Saturday without a consensus from the Commonwealth to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but with a chorus of countries calling for help to overcome the fallout of the war.

Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of protesters descended on the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday to denounce the justice's decision to overturn the half-century-old Roe v. Wade precedent that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion.
WHO panel: Monkeypox not a global emergency 'at this stage'
The World Health Organization said the escalating monkeypox outbreak in nearly 50 countries should be closely monitored but does not warrant being declared a global health emergency.
Tear gas used to disperse protesters outside Arizona Capitol building, officials say
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, holding that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, protesters and supporters of the ruling gathered at the high court's building in Washington, D.C., and in other cities nationwide.
Conservative MPs free to attend 'freedom' protests this summer: Bergen
With the nation's capital bracing for anticipated anti-mandate 'freedom' movement protests during Canada Day weekend, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen says her MPs are free to attend.
With war, Kyiv pride parade becomes a peace march in Warsaw
Ukraine's largest LGBTQ rights event, KyivPride, is going ahead on Saturday. But not on its native streets and not as a celebration.
Biden signs landmark gun measure, says 'lives will be saved'
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.
Child labour remains an increasing source of Canada’s everyday products: NGO
Many Canadians still remain unaware of the involvement of forced child labour in the products they buy, according to non-profit agency World Vision Canada.
Norway shaken by attack that kills 2 during Pride festival
A gunman opened fire in Oslo's nightlife district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving more than 20 wounded in what the Norwegian security service called an 'Islamist terror act' during the capital's annual LGBTQ Pride festival.