Sergeant Shane Stachnik


Sergeant Shane Stachnik
Sgt Shane Stachnik was born on 13 November 1975 in Edmonton, Alberta to his parents Hank and Avril Stachnik. He lived in Edmonton the first several years of his life until his family moved to a small acreage 100km northeast, called Waskatenau. It was there that his younger sister Deanna and he grew up.
Shane attended school in Waskatenau until grade nine and then went to high school in Smoky Lake and graduated in 1993. He spent a lot of time working for farmers, doing everything from painting to bailing hay and other fieldwork. After high school he continued to do work for local farmers and also worked north of Athabasca as a slasher on cut lines.
His parents still reside in the area, his father a Tank Truck Driver (retired) and his Mother at the local gas station in the Bakery Department. His sister Deanna married Ben Yent and is a Dental Technician; they now reside in Timmins, Ontario.
Shane started his military service in the reserves at 8 Field Engineer Regiment as a Vehicle Technician in January 1994, enrolling in the Regular Force in January 1995. He completed his QL3 training in October 1995. With only trade’s open in combat arms at that time, he chose the Engineers for a chance to operate different types of equipment and work on different types of construction projects. He was posted to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa, Ontario where he served 11 years of his career.
While serving in 2 CER, Sgt Stachnik completed three tours to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (Bosnia) in 1996, 1998 and 2001. He was promoted to the rank of MCpl in January 2002 and served as a Section Second in Command in both 23 and 24 Field Squadrons. While a member of 24 Field Squadron, he deployed on Operation Athena Roto 0 in 2003 working in Squadron Headquarters.
One of Sgt Stachnik’s many contributions to the Canadian Forces came during his deployment to Sri Lanka as a member of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team in January of 2005. During this 45-day deployment as Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) Section Commander, he supervised the production of over one million litres of potable water for the local population. He also helped during the 1997 Winnipeg floods.
Sgt Stachnik was promoted to his current rank of Sergeant in January of 2004. He was posted to 23 Field Squadron as a Field Section Commander and deployed to Operation Archer Roto 3 in August 2006. It was on this fateful tour that he was killed in action during Operation Medusa on 03 September 2006.
Shane is remembered as a dedicated leader, always placing the needs of his soldiers before his own. He enjoyed traveling around the world and riding his 2001 Harley Davidson Softail. He is survived by his parents Hank and Avril Stachnik, his fiancée & common-law spouse Darcy Mitton and his step children Elliott & Samantha Webb and his sister and brother-in-law Ben & Deanna Yent.
Family statement
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
~Kahlil Gibran~
We Miss you and Love you always Shane
- Your family