Interview with Major (Ret'd) Dee Brasseur (March 14, 2022)

Interviewer: Kate Benkendorf Interviewee: Major (Ret'd) Dee Brasseur Rank: Major Medals and Honours: CM (Order of Canada); Queens Diamond Jubilee; CD2 An interview/narrative of Deanna M. Brasseur's experiences serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Interview took place on March 14, 2022 in Victoria, B.C. over a video call. ABSTRACT: 0:00 – 4:09 Life leading up to enlistment in the military; growing up all over Canada; born in Pembrooke, RDC 4:10 – 10:20 Early career; basic training, Administration Clerk, typist, Officer Training on CF-101 Fighter, SWINTER program, pilot training as one of first three women; Moose Jaw, press conferences, pressure 10:21 – 15:22 Discussion about flying; after 5 years instructing Moose Jaw, becoming Flight Commander on T-Birds, CF-5s to CF-18s, injured flying Cosmos, being grounded, Director of Flight Safety as an Accident Investigator and took over as Supervisor shortly after; last posting in regular forces 15:23 – 23:21 Life leading up to and involving the creation of the women’s Canadian Precision Flying Team and her experience leading it, landing a Tutor without an engine 23:22 – 29:51 Most significant experience of her career as President of Board of Inquiry into the first fatal crash of a CF-18 into the Canadian Arctic, in Inuvik and Cold Lake, challenges and successes 29:52 – 37:47 Life leading up to and during her initial early retirement; Director of Flight Safety, Canadian Aerospace Training Project, writing a book, motivational speaking 37:48 – 43:24 Life leading up and after re-enlisting in the Reserves; 9/11 attacks, becoming Director of Strategic Planning, Chief of Air Staff on Harassment and Military Co-Chair of the Defence Women’s Advisory Organization 43:25 – 51:33 Comments on the Deschamps report, experience and treatment of women in the CAF over the years, anecdote of incident of sexual assault in Cold Lake at a bar by a visiting squadron commander, experience afterwards 51:34 – 1:00:28 Discussion of changes in CAF that have been beneficial for women, recruitment and funding issues, low number of female fighter pilots over time; standards, overall CAF downsizing 1:00:29 – 1:05:20 Comparison between early career and being an officer, leadership style, recognition on career by induction into the Order of Canada in 1999 1:05:21 – 1:09:26 Discussion of personal and father’s experience with PTSD, coping, creating an organization to support others with PTSD 1:09:27 – 1:13:20 Reflection on military career and experience as a veteran, gained skills and experiences 1:13:21 – 1:17:27 Comments on effect of the Air Force on the rest of life; family, advice for women joining the CAF

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Brasseur, Deanna M., 1953-
• Benkendorf, Kate

Subject

• Personal narratives
• Military history
• Personal narratives--Canadian
• Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
• Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force
• Airplanes, Military--Accidents--Investigation
• Women soldiers
• Airplanes, Military
• Brasseur, Deanna M., 1953-
• Women air pilots
• Sexual harassment in the military
• Air pilots, Military
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Language

• eng

Identifier

• Interview #SC141_BDM_887

Keyword

• Moose Jaw
• Administration Clerk
• Director of Strategic Planning
• CF-18 Crash
• National Defence Headquarters
• Cosmos
• Order of Canada
• Nova Scotia
• Air Weapons Controller
• CF-101 Fighter
• CF-18s
• Canadian Precision Flying Team
• RMC
• Dental Unit
• Typist
• Officer Candidate Training Program
• Alberta
• Basic Flying Training
• RCMP
• T-Birds
• Cornwallace
• Veteran
• 9/11 Attacks
• Snowbirds
• SWINTER program
• Director of Flight Safety
• 416 Squadron
• Ontario
• RDC
• Deschamps Report
• Borden
• CF-5s
• Sexual Assault
• Flight Commander
• President of Board of Inquiry
• Manitoba
• Winnipeg
• North Bay
• Pilot
• Tutor
• Female Officers
• Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
• Portage Prairie
• Trainers
• Chief of Air Staff on Harassment
• Arctic
• Accident Investigator
• Inuvik
• Cold Lake
• PTSD
• Canadian Aerospace Training Project
• Base Flight
• Military Co-Chair of the Defence Women’s Advisory Organization

Date created

• March 14, 2022

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews (HIST 426, Spring 2022).

Resource type

• Moving Image

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 01:17:27

Alternative title

• Being the Change Within: Female Officers in the Canadian Armed Forces

Geographic coverage

• Arctic Regions
• Saskatchewan--Moose Jaw

Coordinates

• 75.58494, -43.94531
• 50.40005, -105.53445

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• oral histories (literary genre)
• reminiscences
• interviews
• video recordings (physical artifacts)

Archival item identifier

• Accession Number: 2022-020; Series: I; Item: 887

Fonds title

• Military Oral History collection

Fonds identifier

• SC141

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection

Date digitized

• March 14, 2022

Technical note

• Interview done through a Zoom video call, MP4, 7.12 GB. Metadata by KD.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/thxe-dx45