LCol Johnson was born in Craik, Sk. and raised in
Moose Jaw
where he currently resides. He began his cadet career
in 1964 as a member of 1856 Moose Jaw Schools Cadet Corps where he
progressed from cadet to civilian instructor, officer and now volunteer.
Positions in the corps include training officer, administrative officer
and commanding officer (3 times for a total of 10 years). Even with his
appointment as CO of RMNACSTC he continues to be active in the corps as a
true volunteer in the administrative officer’s position.
He has attended a total of 34 summer camps which includes 2 as a
cadet. During his summers he has been a platoon commander, Coy 2IC, Coy OC,
training cadre section OC, PIO, Chief Training Officer, OC Admin/LogO, DCO
and training centre CO. His 26 years at the national training centre are
the most by any person and he is also the first course graduate to command
the training centre. Since 2004 he has been employed at the Connaught
National Cadet Training Centre in
Ottawa
working in the army cadet marksmanship program.
In civilian life LCol Johnson is a high school drama teacher at AE
Peacock Collegiate where he has taught for 33 of his 35 teaching years. At
school and in the community he has produced and/or directed over 60
dramas, musicals, one-act plays (including 3 provincial festival winners),
in addition to coaching the school’s improv team. In the drama world he
is an adjudicator, workshop presenter, and pilot program teacher. He has
served for 12 years as an executive member of the Sask. Drama Association
including terms as president and vice president. His various community
involvement; Crime Stoppers, Miss Canada pageant organizer, motorcycle
safety instructor, city recreation board member and executive member of
various organizations, earned him the Moose Jaw Citizen of the Year and
recognition from the Sask Government as a volunteer award recipient. Lyle
is also the host of a weekly TV show on Shaw cable “Moose Jaw This
Week” which is into its’ 23rd season with over 750 shows completed. He
is currently involved as a board member of the Moose Jaw Air Show board
For recreation he plays hockey with his buddies on the gOLDens no
hit hockey team, rides his bike and motorcycles or flies his ultralight
“The Slowbird” when the winds are kind. He is the holder of several
Canadian and world records for distance and speed in the Challenger II
Special painted in the authorized official paint scheme of 431 Sqn’s
“Snowbirds”.
He is the recipient of the
Canada
125 medal, nominated by his MP, and the CD 2, which he
received in Mar 2001. In Nov 2002 he was presented with the Queen’s
Golden Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant
Governor of
Sask
after again being nominated by his MP (different one
this time!) for his involvement in the community and dedication to youth.