This memorial was unveiled in memory of the members of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) who died while serving in the Former Yugoslavia.
Christopher Gregory Holopina was born in October 1973 in Russell, Manitoba. In March 1995, he joined the military and upon completion of his sapper training, was posted to 2 CER. In December 1995, he deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. On 4 July 1996, Sapper Holopina's section was called out to help rescue a group of British soldiers who were stranded in a minefield. While travelling to the task site, the armoured vehicle he was riding in, rolled over into a ravine while trying to avoid an accident near Ripac. Sapper Holopina died as a result of this accident and is buried at the Shell Valley (St. John’s) Cemetery in Russell.
Gilles Joseph Stephan Desmarais was born in Sudbury in June 1975. Gilles joined the militia as an infantryman in 1993 before transferring to the Regular Force in April 1995 as a sapper. Following completion of his trades training, he was posted to 2 CER and deployed to Bosnia. This was followed by a second tour to Bosnia in 1998. Sapper Desmarais was killed on 25 September 1998, while working on a construction project at the Canadian camp at Zgon, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is buried at the Noelville Cemetery, near Sudbury.
