CFLRS Commandant

Commander M.T. Lahaie, CD

Commander Michelaine Lahaie, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 under the Regular Officer Training Plan. She graduated from the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1992 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Military and Strategic Studies and was commissioned as a Maritime Surface Sub Surface (MARS) officer.

Commander Lahaie’s experience at sea includes appointments on board HMCS PRESERVER, as Underwater Warfare Officer in HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC and as Operations Officer and Combat Officer in HMCS MONTREAL. During her two years with HMCS PRESERVER, the ship deployed twice with Operation SHARP GUARD, a UN ground peacekeeping effort that included the participation of a NATO task group imposing economic sanctions off the Bosnian coast line. During her two years onboard HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC, the ship participated in several NATO exercises and completed two Great Lakes Deployments. Commander Lahaie’s Operations Officer tour in HMCS MONTREAL saw the ship ramp up to High Readiness and deploy as the Flag Ship for Operation APOLLO, from September 2002 to April 2003.

Commander Lahaie’s staff experience includes appointments to the Maritime Forces Atlantic as the Deputy Fleet Scheduling Officer, to the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School as the Command Control Information Systems Officer and to the Royal Military College of Canada as B Division Commander. She also held senior appointments at National Defence Headquarters in the Naval Staff, as Occupation Manager for the MARS Occupation and as Personnel Policy Section Head in the Directorate of Maritime Personnel; and in the Directorate of Military Careers as the senior MARS career manager and later as Section Head for the career management of all Naval Hard Sea occupations and Musicians.

In July 2012, Commander Lahaie assumed command of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.