05/09/2025
Please help me pass this message on to anyone that had the pleasure of working with, attending any Mess events, or knowing this Wonderful lady! The Shilo Messes will not be the same without her!!
Subj: Retirement - Mess Manager Patsy Marion
1. After 42 years of dedicated service to CFMWS, Patsy plans to retire on 31 July 2025.
2. Patsy started her career with NPF, in the summer August 1982 as a mini putt attendant at the Shilo Country Club mini golf course. The next summer she worked with the PERI staff at the GSH, as a temporary secretary. Patsy started her mess career in March of 1984. First as a part-time bartender at the WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess from ’84 - ‘86, then moved up to bar supervisor from ’86 – ‘92. After a brief period away to manage a small-town hotel, she returned to the JR Ranks as bar supervisor from ’93 – ‘95. In ‘96, she moved back to the WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess as bar supervisor until 1997, when she became the assistant mess manager.
3. Two years later, Patsy competed for and was successful in becoming the mess manager. Throughout her stint as mess manager, she developed an identity crisis when the organization kept changing her title. (mess manager, messes manager, hospitality manager, messes and institutes manager). In 2013, CFMWS restructured the way the messes were staffed. All mess management positions were deleted (4 positions) and Shilo was to be staffed with one manager overseeing three messes. Patsy was successful in competing for the one position. She was a key player in reorganizing the staffing structure to the way it is now and managed to make the transition successful.
4. Some of the memorable events that she and her staff have been a part of throughout her career are formal mess dinners including special guests like David Jacobson - US Ambassador to Canada, Adrienne Clarkson - Governor General, and so many Colonel-Commandants through the years. She had a blast in being part of community concerts with artists like April Wine, George Canyon, Trooper, Harlequin, The Trews, Tyler Shaw, Michelle Wright, Big Daddy Tazz, and Tim Nutt, winter carnival activities, artillery reunions, Canada Day events, PSP’s Amazing Race summer events, etc.
5. Patsy is most grateful for having the opportunity to have worked along side so many great people through her career. She is grateful to have known all and blessed to call many of them friends.
6. Patsy will be staying in the Shilo area. Her retirement plans include camping, reconnecting with friends and family, spend more time losing balls on the golf course and part time work with the Commissionaires. She will be expanding her coffee selections at home and learning to make fancy drinks for anyone who drops by…because the door is always open, and the coffee is always on. Because it will be hard to give up the routine, you might just see her slinging some beers at the messes from time to time.
7. You are cordially invited to a casual, farewell event to be held at the WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess, in Shilo on Friday July 11th, 2025. The bar will be open at 1400hrs - presentation at 1430hrs. Feel free to stop by for some beverages, games, snacks and story telling.
8. To confirm attendance and/or to send congratulatory messages, well wishes, or anecdotes please contact Rosalind (Rozy) Lebel at [email protected]
