Pond, Garry

Garry Pond was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland on January 22, 1952 – just three years after it became Canada’s 10th province.  He spent his early life there doing all the normal things – school, sports and so on – and he came to appreciate the culture and people of the place he still calls “home”.  The economic prospects were not good however, and in 1972 Garry opted to join the Canadian Forces.  The military had just gone through the amalgamation process, so Garry entered the Forces at a time when there was considerable dispute over Hellyer’s reorganization plans.  Garry’s plan was to enter the support trades, with an eye towards logistics.  Basic training at Cornwallis ensued, and from there Garry began an odyssey across Canada, with stops in North Bay, Shiloh, Gagetown and Petawawa, where he served as a quartermaster.  He rose to the rank of Master Warrant Officer and finished his career at NDHQ, taking his release in 1996.  Garry went on to work as a civilian contractor for the Canadian Forces for another twenty years after that.  Presently he is retired but continues his military connection in his work through the Royal Canadian Legion, where he has risen through the ranks all the way to President of Ontario Provincial Command.  In that post he has worked hard to maintain the Legion’s many programs, including that of Remembrance.  Garry Pond was interviewed over zoom by Scott Masters in August 2021.