Please join the BC Provincial Committee in welcoming Peter Grace as our newest League Member.
Peter was born and raised in the U.K., joined Air Cadets at age 12, and finished in the rank of W.O. He joined the Royal Air Force at 16 ½ and served as an Aircraft Technician for 12 years. During that me, he saw service in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and the Falkland Islands during the short war there. His many postings took him all over the UK to various air bases.
Leaving the R.A.F., Peter worked for a while in Sweden, renovating old motor vehicles. On his return to the U.K., he joined the Suffolk Police Force in England. After two years of mandatory police beat work, he was posted to a specialist unit that dealt with Vice and Drugs, mostly undercover and in plain clothes. During this time, he was invited to join a selection process for the Firearms Specialist Team (SWAT), and following an intensive training course, he was posted to that team.
Peter served with the SWAT unit for over nine years, eventually becoming the SWAT team Captain. He was trained in many specialties, including Hostage Rescue, Rapid Entry, Bodyguard Duties, and Covert Operations. Peter has spent 22 weeks in total taking advanced specialist driver training, including 8 weeks training as a police motorcyclist.
In 2002, Peter and his family moved to Canada, settling in Nelson BC where they started their own landscaping company.
Peter also began assisting with Air Cadets in Nelson, initially as a C.I. but became an officer in 2007. He later became the C.O., before moving to Trail B.C. as the C.O. there.
Peter and his wife later moved to Ontario, buying a business on a lake in Bobcaygeon, with 11 rental cottages. Peter joined the Peterborough Air Cadet squadron, later moving to Lindsey Army Cadets, serving as D.C.O. and Training Officer.
After 8 years in Ontario, Peter and his wife sold the business, they moved back to B.C. settling in Nanaimo at first, Peter also joined the Qualicum Air cadet squadron. After a one-year contract working on a private remote island an hour from Campbell River, Peter and his wife purchased a home on Quadra Island. He transferred to 363 Squadron in Campbell River and became the C.O. until his retirement in 2024.
Peter and his wife have two sons, who both joined the Canadian Military after aging out of Air Cadets. One is a Major and serves as a fighter pilot, and the other was a Combat Engineer, but now works for V.A.
Congratulations – we all look forward to working with you!
