Lieutenant-Colonel the Reverend Marc Torchinsky, Canadian Armed Forces

Lieutenant-Colonel the Reverend Marc Torchinsky continues to live a life of great adventure and blessing. After a life long involvement in the Jewish Community and Education system in Winnipeg, Padre Marc came to Toronto following his baptism at St. Aidan’s Church to pursue a Master of Divinity degree at Wycliffe College – University of Toronto. While at Wycliffe, Padre Marc served as Chaplain to the 48th Highlanders of Canada, was active in student government, travelled on a mission trip to Kenya, and served in numerous parishes throughout the Diocese of Toronto. Ordained in 1999, Padre Marc served as the Assistant Curate at St. Mary's Richmond Hill. In September of 2001 he was called to the Diocese of Montreal and the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels where he was Rector and Regional Dean of St. Anne, Diocesan Council member, and member of the Congregational Development Committee. From 2000-2002 he was a member of the Primate’s Commission on Evangelism Design Team. In 2004, Padre Marc was called back to the Canadian Forces where he served as a Unit Chaplain at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. During this time he completed a 6-month tour of duty with Task Force Afghanistan. After completing a year of second language training, Padre Marc was posted as chaplain to JTF2 (Joint Task Force Two) near Ottawa, where he deployed numerous times to both domestic and international areas of operations and attended the USAF Special Operations School in Florida. Promoted to Major in the summer of 2009, Padre Marc served as the first chaplain to CEFCOM (Canadian Expeditionary Force Command) and completed his time there as the Deputy Operations Command Chaplain. Following a short posting to Petawawa in 2011 as the 2 CMBG (Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group) Chaplain, Padre Marc returned to Manitoba in 2012 to fulfill familial obligations and a posting to CFB (Canadian Forces Base) Shilo as the Senior Base Chaplain. In 2013, Padre Marc was selected to attend the yearlong Joint Command and Staff Program held at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. There he completed the program and was an awarded a Master in Defence Studies degree from the Royal Military College of Canada. Promoted to his present rank in 2014, Padre Marc re-joined his family and returned to Winnipeg following an 18 year absence to take on the position as the 1 CAD (Canadian Air Division) Chaplain. When not active in the local community, as a member of COGS (Council of General Synod), or trying to keep in shape, he spends the rest of his time with his family.