CPO1 Dave Bliss MMM
Fleet CPO
Formation CPO CJCRG
Served 1977-2025
LCdr (CPO1) Dave Bliss was born in Toronto in 1960. He was a Cadet for 4 years before joining the RCN in 1977 at age 17 as a RCN Weapons Underwater Technician, then a Naval Weapons Technician and finally as a CAF Senior Appointment .
He served in the regular force until 2014 after 37 years of service. He joined the Cadets organization in 2014 until his passing in Oct 2025. Dave had accumulated a total 48 years of service for his country with decades of those at sea or deployed. Dave as a CPO1 held that rank for 17 years and as Chief Petty Officer for 30 years. He was known as an consummate sailor and technician. As a senior NCO and Officer we was an outstanding leader and mentor.
He will be greatly missed by his family. He was Married to the love of his life, Laurel for 39 years. He is survived by his children Erandi (Jadon), Ashley (Adam) and Logan (Elizabeth) and grandchildren, Finn, Everlee and Indiana.
He Served at sea in HMC Ships Terra Nova, Qu Appelle, Yukon, twice in Restgouche, Huron, Algonquin, Regina, Winnipeg and two tours at Sea Training Pacific.
His milestone appointments include Coxswain of HMCS Winnipeg, Fleet Chief Pacific and Formation Chief Cadets and Canadian Junior Rangers Group. He was also proud of service as Cornwallis Recruit Instructor and his UN deployment to Cambodia.
His shore postings included a Key Appointment as the DGNPR Chief in Ottawa, Career Manager in Ottawa, DMMS Ottawa, Naval Engineering Unit Pacific, FMF Cape Breton, Formation Ammunition Inspector and MARPAC HQ trials Chief.
Dave and Laurel loved to travel and hike. They competed the West Coast Trail, the French Camino and Dave completed the Portuguese Camino.
Rest In Peace Dave, you were the best of shipmates.
Memorial Service
Place: C&POs Mess, 1575 Lyall Street, Esquimalt
Date: Friday, November 21
Time: 1100 hrs – NLT 1600 hrs
Dress: DEU 1A (medals) or equivalent for speakers / Appropriate civilian attire
Catered, no host bar
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Bliss” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
38 Responses
Rest in peace, Chief, and my condolences to your family.
My thoughts are with The Bliss Family during this difficult time. Thank you, Sir, for your leadership and dedication, you will be missed by many. Rest in Peace.
Chief Bliss, I was deeply saddened this morning to learn of his passing, and my thoughts are with his family.
What’s to say about the Chief that we aren’t all already well aware of. His extremely cool headed attitude in everything he did was absolutely unmatched. Teaching you something you didn’t know before and have trouble grasping? Level. Getting told off for something you know you shouldn’t have done? Level. The tone, the language he used when delivering your comeuppance, always resonated internally and you would feel like a complete fool. His humor? Purposefully understated. Half the time you wouldn’t know if he was joking or completely serious; but as you got to know him more, you would realize most of the time it was somehow both.
He was always someone you could count on you help you through professional or personal issues, He would listen with such composure and presence, you knew you were generally heard and understood, and if for some reason you didn’t, his response certainly would confirm that.
I would imagine the number of youth and young leaders Chief Bliss has profoundly influenced is immeasurable, but the impact he has had is undeniable, He leaves behind a world made meaningfully and thoughtfully better.
Chief, Thank you for your service, Thanks for listening, thanks for the wisdom you shared, and the countless ways you made a difference.
It is impossible to put into words, the profound impact that LCdr Bliss has had on those fortunate enough to know him.
His kindness and compassion were evident in how he sought to bring out the best in others and in the concern for their well-being he demonstrated. I appreciated when he would take the time to stop by my desk to offer insight that would help expand my perspective and set me up for greater success.
While he has left this world far too soon, he has left this world a much better place.
LCDR Dave Bliss: SIR:
There are no words that can adequately give proper acknowledgement to the positive and lasting impact you have made to so many whilst crisscrossing your life’s journey.
Heartfelt thoughts are first to your family, this tremendous loss is shared by many. The news was of a piercing blow to our hearts and we will feel the bruise for a long time.
How privileged we all were to be in your company, be it personal, military, or business.
With due respect, you embodied so many traits and characteristics we can only hope to aspire to, kindness, gentle, consummate professional, fair, to the point with no sugar coating, but with soft edges.
It was a honor to work with you during your time at Vernon CTC to provide supports to the cadet instructors so they may work at a level that matched your commitment to the program.
We will hold high your torch, we will not fail you, or let you down, otherwise the nudge we will feel directing us back in the right direction, we will know is from your pacestick.
Go easy on the troops above, and how fortunate they are now to have you in spirit.
Thank you, Sir, to have known you, albeit only a brief time, but the impact will last forever.
When we finally get out sailing, and the sails are perfectly trimmed and we are “in the groove” we will think of you!
SGT (ret’d) Andrea Newton, CAF, & Army Cadet League of Canada, BC Branch
The most inspirational leader, brother of arms, friend, colleague!
I am still speechless about his death!
RIP Dave!
Merci pour tout!
Marina
CPO1 Bliss was Fleet Chief when I took over Coastal Division.
I fondly remember going to a reception at the Admiral’s Residence, where I was able to introduce my wife to him.
Me: “Chief Petty Officer Dave Bliss, please let me introduce my wife, Judy Carruth”
Dave: <> “Ma’am”
Judy: “Oh Hello Dave, please call me Judy”
Dave: <> “Ma’am”
The consummate professional; a true model of leadership and support to command, and an exceptional mentor.
Our thoughts are with the family and all the sailors, officers and cadets who were enriched by his influence.
I met CPO Bliss as a young officer, while doing my BOQ, he was an amazing mentor and trainer. My sincerest condolences.
Rest in peace, Chief. You will be missed.
My time with you was short but the impact you’ve had on me has lasted to this day. We crossed paths in Vernon in 2016, when you were the RSM of the camp, and that time shaped my understanding of leadership in ways I still carry with me. It was a profound honor to learn from you every day and I am so grateful for the lessons you shared so freely. I only wish I had stayed in touch. Thank you for everything, Chief.