Captain Daniel H. Forget was formally installed as the newest chaplain at CFB Petawawa on March 7 at a chapel on the military base. Padre Forget had been the minister at nearby First, Pembroke, Ont., and members of that congregation — including clerk of session Ann Thompson who escorted him down the aisle — were in attendance to support their former minister. During the ceremony, Forget displayed his musical talents during a duet with his wife, Bonnie Jennings.
That Forget is stationed to his own community for his first military post is an unlikely occurrence, and his former congregation is happy to have him remain close to home.
Born and educated in Montréal, Forget was ordained in 1981. He has ministered to congregations in Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Melbourne, Ottawa and Pembroke, and served the Presbyterian Church in different capacities including national coordinator of Francophone Ministries, moderator of the Synod of Québec and Eastern Ontario and as moderator of the Presbytery of Québec. Forget served as a chaplain in the Primary and Secondary Reserves from 1989 to 1992.
He was sworn into the military in 2009. Since January, he has been attached to 1 Canadian Field Hospital and Central Medical Equipment Depot, helping support the mission in Haiti. His sense of call to serve the Canadian Forces comes from a deep desire and willingness to serve God, his country, those in uniform and their families. –Hilda Young. Hilda is a freelance writer from Petawawa, Ont.
