Sergeant Graeme Alexander Patterson, CD

Graeme Alexander Patterson was born in Collingwood, Ontario, to Kim and John (“Pat”) Patterson. Over the years, his family changed when their marriage dissolved. His mom, Kim, welcomed his sister Hayley, and his dad married Monika and together they welcomed his sister Jenna. Graeme shared time between their two homes.

Before joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 2006, Graeme worked night crew in grocery stores and briefly tried his hand at landscaping. Originally interested in computers, he was offered the trade of Avionics Systems Technician instead. He completed Basic Military Qualification, Performance Oriented Electronic Training, and his trades training before his first posting to Cold Lake, Alberta.

While in Alberta, Graeme became the proud father of Greyson Snyder in 2009. At 1 AMS, he met David Porter — best friend turned brother, and lifelong companion through the many chapters that followed. During his military career, Graeme also deployed to Kuwait and Sicily.

Graeme remained in Cold Lake until 2015, when he was posted to Canadian Forces Base Borden. Over the years, he served at the Canadian Forces School for Aviation Technology and Engineering (CFSATE), then 400 Squadron, and finally back to CFSATE. It was during his years in Borden when he met his spouse, Nicole McKay, along with her children Siobhan and Cayden. Together, the two blended their families and built a life together centred on teamwork, honesty, resilience, and a great deal of laughter.

Graeme proudly claimed being a nerd. One of his enduring passions was video games. Whether he was playing original Nintendo with his Power Glove or standing in line for the newest Zelda release, Graeme loved both the challenge and the lore. Gaming was one of the places where he found joy, connection, and community throughout his life, especially with friends and loved ones far away.

In his work, Graeme leaves behind a legacy of thoughtful leadership and mentorship. He was known as the kind of leader who would not simply give answers, but would help others learn how to think through problems for themselves. People gravitated to his desk for conversations about work, philosophy, international politics, or the latest movie or game release.

Above all else, Graeme will be remembered as a loving husband, a deeply caring and engaged father, a devoted friend, and a dedicated leader who made people feel seen, supported, and valued.

Family, friends, and colleagues are invited to join in remembering Sergeant Graeme Alexander Patterson at a celebration of life to be held on May 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Base Borden Officers’ Mess. Bring stories, laughter, and memories to share. In lieu of flowers, donations to Support Our Troops, in his name, would be greatly appreciated.

Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.peacefultransition.ca