We regret to advise of the death of Major Thomas “Tom” Higgins, CD (Ret’d) of Abbotsford BC, on 25 October 2026. Tom served a full 35-year career with the Canadian Military Engineers as a Field Engineer and a Construction Engineer, and as a Non-Commissioned Member and a Commissioned Officer.
Tom joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1953 as a Sapper Apprentice in the Second Intake. Upon completing his training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, he was posted ‘across the road’ to 3 Field Squadron. Qualifying as a parachutist, Tom was posted to 1 Airborne Troop, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) in Edmonton, AB.
Tom deployed with 1 Middle East Detachment, RCE, as part of United Nations Emergency Force I. Returning to Canada, he joined 11 Works Company in Victoria, BC but was soon on the move again when he joined 4 Field Squadron in Werl Germany. Tom returned to Canada for successive tours in Construction Engineering, first with 7 Works Company in Camp Gagetown, followed by the Base Construction Engineering Section in Ottawa (Rockcliffe).
While stationed at Rockcliffe, in 1969 Tom was selected for Commissioning from the Ranks. After his Military Engineering Officer training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME), he was posted to the Construction Engineering Section at Cold Lake AB. Following this tour, Tom returned to CFSME as the Mechanical Systems Troop Commander and, upon promotion, became BCEO at CFB Suffield in 1977. Following his Suffield tour, Tom returned to CFSME in 1981 for a four-year tour as Officer Commanding Construction Engineering Training Squadron. His final posting was as BCEO Chilliwack after which he retired from the Canadian Forces in 1988.
Following his military service, Tom worked with the cities of Matsqui, then Abbotsford, as their Manager of Inspection Services.
Funeral arrangements will be advised when available.