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Biography

LCol Terry Kopan, OMM, MOM, CD

 

Terry Kopan was born and raised in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. His involvement with cadets
began in 1974, at age 13, when he joined Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 114 Orkney. He attended summer training at H.M.C.S. Quadra twice, spent two months aboard Destroyer Escort H.M.C.S. Terra Nova in 1977 and graduated from the cadet program with the rank of Chief Petty Officer First Class in June 1980. Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan subsequently enrolled in the Canadian Forces Cadet Instructors List as an Officer Cadet, serving with RCSCC Orkney as Assistant Training Officer, and receiving his Commission to Acting Sub-Lieutenant on June 1st, 1981.

In December 1981, he engaged as a Regular Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and attended training in Regina, Saskatchewan. Posted with the RCMP to Fort St. John, B.C. in 1982, Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan transferred to Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps 2276 Rocky Mountain Rangers, serving in a variety of roles and Commanding the Corps from 1987 to 1988. Along
with an RCMP posting to Langley, B.C. in 1988, he transferred to 1922 The Royal Westminster
Regiment Army Cadet Corp in Abbotsford and served as Training Officer and Deputy Commanding Officer. In 1989, Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan transferred to 1725 Canadian Military Engineers Army Cadet Corps at Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack serving as Administration Officer, Deputy Commanding Officer and Commanding Officer. During this time, he was selected twice as the Officer in Charge of the Canadian Contingent to the United Kingdom Land Forces Cadet Leadership Course held in England.

Promoted to Major in 1996, he was appointed Area Cadet lnstructors Cadre Officer (Land)
for the Lower Mainland, responsible for providing assistance and coaching to the Commanding
Officers of the 15 Army Cadet Corps between Chilliwack and Sechelt. Subsequently, and concurrent with his Area CIC Officer duties for Vancouver South/Fraser Valley, Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan Commanded 72 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Army Cadet Corps Vancouver during 1998/99 and 2812 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Army Cadet Corps Surrey during the 1999/00 training year. He has served as League Liaison Officer (Land) to the Army Cadet League of Canada (B.C. Branch) and as a member of the Cadet Instructors Cadre Regional Advisory Council for Pacific Region.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan was influential in national policy changes between the R.C.M.P.
and the Canadian Forces, which resulted in RCMP Members being permitted to serve concurrently as Canadian Forces Reserve Officers in the Cadet Instructor Cadre Branch.
His full time career continues with the RCMP as an Inspector with the Vancouver branch of the RCMP.

At Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Center, Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan has served as
the Officer Commanding Foxtrot Company during the summer of 1995 and Deputy Commanding
Officer for the summers of 2000 and 2001. He was appointed to his current position of Commanding Officer and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 2002.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kopan is married to the former Kathi Austman, also a CIC Officer serving with
1725 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Chilliwack. Their oldest daughter Laura, now deceased, Was a Warrant Officer with 1725. Their son Matthew, was also a cadet with 1725 and their Youngest Daughter Sarah is an aspiring cadet. The Kopan family reside in Abbotsford.