4 Wing Cpl. fined $2,000 & reprimanded with guilty plea of stolen valour

A CAF member of 4 Wing Cold Lake has been fined and reprimanded following an incident of stolen valour.

On Nov. 7, Corporal Rene Duguay pled guilty to wearing service medals he did not earn at a 2022 Remembrance Day ceremony at Cold Lake First Nations, documents show.

He was fined $2000 and “a severe reprimand,” court documents say, following the charge which punishes an act to the prejudice of good order and discipline. This was a joint submission by both prosecution and defence.

Cpl. Duguay was seen wearing the South-West Asia Service Medal, the General Campaign Star – South-West Asia, and the Special Service Medal at the ceremony two years ago.

The incident was reported to military police shortly thereafter.

Documents say that the consequent investigation, including a cautioned interview of Cpl. Duguay, confirmed that he had been wearing the medals without authority to do so at the Remembrance Day ceremony.

It goes on to say he demonstrated a serious lack of integrity and judgement, which had an impact on his unit as a whole.

In 2019, he transferred to regular force and was posted in Cold Lake. At the time of the offense, he was assigned to 4 Mission Support Squadron.

Due to other incidents, the documents state that Duguay has suffered from PTSD in the past and other significant personal challenges.

“It is hoped that he will be able to continue to rebuild himself, albeit his future now lies outside of the CAF. And although these challenges provide a context for his conduct, they do not excuse it.