WO Justin Martin McAran Bourque

It is with great sadness and profound love that the family of Justin McAran Bourque announce his unexpected passing on 28 February, 2023 at the age of 33.

Adored son of Teresa and Daniel, loving partner to Gabrielle, caring younger brother to Alex (Catherine) and older brother to Jordan (Simone), and much loved Uncle Justin to Alyssa, Ayden, Dylan and his best friends’ children. His loss will also be felt by his aunts, cousins, and group of deeply loved friends who made up his chosen family in Ottawa.

Joining the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) as a primary reservist infantry at the age of 16, Justin forged his own path through his military career. Justin would go on to instruct many generations of reserve infantry first as a Master Corporal and then as a Sergeant. During this earlier part of his military career, Justin also served on Operation PODIUM at the Vancouver Olympics as well as Operation LOTUS to assist citizens with the devastating floods in the Montérégie region of Québec. Maturing as a soldier and leader, Justin would receive a promotion to Warrant Officer after completing the notoriously difficult qualification courses. Justin joined the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) in 2017 where he came to thrive as an analyst. In this capacity, Justin deployed as part of Canada’s Operation PRESENCE to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in 2019, where he was stationed through the early days of the global pandemic; he went on to receive a Task Force Commander’s certificate for his service. Not only was he held in high esteem for his excellent work ethic and ability, Justin's uncanny ability to source quality ingredients and prepare delicious meals for his Canadian and International colleagues helped him stand out as a leader and provider.

The definition of a foodie, Justin not only loved food, but also lived to create it – making his kitchen equal part laboratory, and rarely making the same thing twice (unless it was pizza). Often his first words in the morning were to announce the day’s exciting meal plan. He was just as likely to invite you over for a pint of beer as to try his homemade butter, or often both! In seeking to expand his food horizons, Justin was experimenting as a novice gardener to grow his own fresh ingredients, and proudly supported local farmers by buying his meat fresh from the farm. Justin was also a true explorer and world traveler, having travelled to Ireland and Scotland with his brothers and parents while also eagerly pursuing any opportunity through work to travel to places such as Australia and Hawaii, and culminating with an unforgettable trip to Columbia this past fall with his partner Gabrielle. Besides food and travel, Justin was an avid lover of games – rarely missing a D&D session in the campaign he and his friends have been running for multiple years.

Warm-hearted, effortlessly funny, and relentlessly curious about anything and everything, Justin lived life with a rare spark. He seemed to approach life always with a child-like enthusiasm. In the time he was here, he truly lived – squeezing many lifetimes worth of adventures, antics and learning out of this one.

Justin leaves everyone who knew him changed for the better.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Justin’s life on Friday March 31st, 2023 at Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave., Vanier, ON K1L 8A6. A visiting hour for close friends and family will begin at 11:30AM, with the funeral service beginning at 1PM in the Sacred Space. A private interment at Capital Memorial Gardens, 3700 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa, ON K2C 3H2, will follow. In lieu of flowers, Justin's loved ones would like to honour his legacy of feeding people, with donations made in his memory to the Ottawa Food Bank: https://www.ottawafoodbank.ca/.