Meet CPO2 Grimard – Senior Human Resource Manager
2Lt Jamie Boparai Base Administration––A career road is rarely a straight line. For Chief Petty Officer Second Class Mark Grimard, his journey to become the Base Administration’s Senior Human Resource Manager began in the army as a Primary Reserve armored solider with the Sherbrooke Hussars. A few his friends joined the regiment right after high school while CPO2 Grimard took the college route, studying computer sciences before signing up. “My original intention for joining was to pay for school, but it eventually turned into a long and rewarding career.”When college concluded he went to work at CF Recruiting Centre Detachment Sherbrooke. Two distinct realizations came out of this posting that led him down his current path. First, his education was better suited for employment as a Human Resource Administrator. At the time the trade was a combination of Finance and Human Resources (RMS Clerk) before being separated in 2016 into two distinct trades (Fin and HRA). Second, he wanted to wear the navy uniform and deploy on a warship. He moved into the RMS Clerk Trade while still in the army and began his three months of training in 2001. Much of what he learned is still relevant today, he says, although it is done in quite a different fashion with the emergence of technology in the workplace. “Back then we used hard copy binders to find policies and benefits. We also had to ensure the information was not dated or superseded by visiting various websites. We still do the same job today, but it’s much simpler. Everything is online and in one location. It makes life easier, quickly finding information while ensuring accuracy.”In 2005, he choose the navy uniform when he transferred to the Regular Force. RMS Clerks are considered a “purple trade,” meaning they can conduct the same...