Biography

Lieutenant-Colonel P.J. (Perry) Poirier

Commandant Peace Support Training Centre

Lieutenant-Colonel Perry Poirier was born in Cornwall, Ontario in 1957.  A graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, he also attended Wilfrid Laurier University completing a MA in Canadian History in 1984.

Lieutenant-Colonel Poirier enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1975 as a Reserve soldier with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in St Catharines, Ontario.  Following university, he enrolled in the Regular Forces, joining the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1983.  His first regimental tour was with the First Battalion in London, Ontario, where he served as a platoon commander and Intelligence Officer.  In 1987, he was posted to the Infantry School where he filled a number of instructional and staff positions prior to being posted to the Second Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1990. Upon completion of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff Course in 1991, he was appointed Adjutant prior to his deployment to Cyprus.  Lieutenant-Colonel Poirier assumed command of Golf Company 2RCR in Bosnia in 1993.  During the period 1996 to 1998, he served with the Infantry School’s LAV Doctrine Cell. Upon graduation from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in 1999, he returned to Atlantic Canada and was assigned to LFAA HQ where he filled several staff positions including G3 Ops and Acting G3. In 2002, he returned to regimental duty as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was appointed as the Chief of Staff, 37 Brigade Headquarters, located in Moncton. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Poirier has served on four operational tours:  Cyprus (1985, 1991-92); Bosnia (1992-93) and most recently in Afghanistan as a staff officer with RC(S) HQ (2007-08).

Lieutenant-Colonel Poirier is married to Marguerite (née Gionet) from St Catharines, Ontario.  They have three children: Adam, Samantha and Aaron.