06/05/2026
In keeping with our monthly honouring our living Veteran's we would like to highlight Art O'Donnell:
Chief Petty Officer Arthur O’Donnell
Chief Petty Officer Art O’Donnell joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in August of 1985. His first stop was Canadian Forces Recruit School (CFRS) Cornwallis. Following graduation in October of 85 it was off to trades training at Canadian Forces Fleet School (CFFS) in Esquimalt BC to train as a Naval Signalman.
On completion of Qualification Level 3 (QL3) graduation, Art returned to the East Coast and joined his first ship, HMCS ANNAPOLIS (ANN). While ANN was preparing for deployment he was assigned HMCS FRASER (FRA) and then HMCS OTTAWA (OTT) for Work Ups (WUP’s) which was followed by a deployment in HMCS PRESERVER (PRE) for Caribbean Operations (CARIBOP’s).
In the summer of 1988 Able Seaman (AB) O’Donnell was selected to the East Coast GUN Run team and did a cross country tour competing against the West Coast team. The East Coast team defeated it’s adversary in the NS Tattoo, breaking the 2 minute barrier for the first time in the competition’s history.
Returning to the fleet, Art joined HMCS TERRA NOVA (TNN) and shortly after deployed to the Persian Gulf for a nine month tour to the Gulf/Kuwait war. When the war in Kuwait/Iraq was over he returned home and was assigned to HMCS HUNTER (HUN) in Windsor, Ont. Leading Seaman O’Donnell was selected for Ship’s Diver training in 1992 while in HUN and came back to Halifax to challenge and complete the rigorous course.
Posted back to the Fleet in 1993, Arthur joined HMCS TORONTO and this was highlighted by a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea for Operation Apollo and the conflict in Bosnia. He also enjoyed a Great Lakes trip that included several port visits and 10 days in Toronto.
Following several trade related courses and another trip to a Reserve Unit, HMCS CABOT in St. John’s NF, Petty Officer 2nd class O’Donnell was off to the Primary Leadership School as an instructor. This was one of the most rewarding positions he experienced in the CF. He left the school to join HMCS MONTREAL (MON), then Art was off to Maritime Operations Group 5 (MOG5) as Information Technology supervisor.
He then joined HMCS HALIFAX (HAL) (Favorite ship) as Senior Naval Communicator (SNC). Gaining much experience during NATO, PO1 O’Donnell was selected to join Canadian Commander Fleet Atlantic (CCFL) as Senior Naval Communicator of the Atlantic Fleet. During this posting CCFL was tasked to Command Task Force 150 (CTF 150) and was in command of Operations in the Afghanistan Theatre.
After being promoted to CPO2, Arthur went back to sea in HAL as the Combat/Training Chief until retirement in 2010. He now resides in the Village of Doaktown with the lady that steadfastly supported him throughout his career, wife and best friend, Lorrie.
