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Man you’ve got big shoes to fill

Colonel Conrad Namiesniowski, Major-General Yvan Blondin, Colonel François Malo sign the official change of command orders for Wing/Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay Thursday. “You’ve made me very proud.” “It has been an honour to serve with you.

Colonel Conrad Namiesniowski, Major-General Yvan Blondin, Colonel François Malo sign the official change of command orders for Wing/Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay Thursday.

“You’ve made me very proud.”

“It has been an honour to serve with you.”

“22 Wing I am leaving you in very capable hands,” were the parting words Colonel François Malo shared with the men and women he has commanded at CFB North Bay for the last two year.

Malo officially relinquished command of 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay and Command of the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS) to Colonel C.R. (Conrad) Namiesniowski Thursday.

“I am proud of what Colonel Malo did in North Bay,” Major-General Yvan Blondin, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region told the wing.

Blondin, who was on hand to preside over the ceremony, told the audience that the air force has faced recruiting issues as they lose experienced people to a well-earned retirement. But he says through the hard work and dedication of 22 Wing personnel replacing the vacancies is getting easier.

“Canadians love you,” he states.

“I do not have a recruiting problem anymore. People see you in uniform and they say I want to do what you do.”

“I am so, so proud of you. We’re building a new air force and we’re not going back.”

Turning his attention to the incoming commander Blondin simply said, “Man you’ve got big shoes to fill.”

Colonel Namiesniowski, who spent the first four years of his career in North Bay, comes to the Bay after serving as Deputy to the National Military Representative, as well as the Senior Canadian Officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) near Mons, Belgium, the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO).

“Returning to North Bay is the equivalent to returning to my roots,” says Namiesniowski.

“I always knew I would return, I just didn’t know it would take so long, or that I would come back as commander.”

Namiesniowski says the next two years will be a challenge.

“All that I ask of you is that you give me your support,” he says to the wing.