Gen Jonathan Holbert Vance, CMM, MSC, CD, is a former Canadian Forces officer who served in the Canadian Army as a general.
From 2015 until 2021, Vance served as the Chief of the Defense Staff. Vance was charged with one count of obstruction of justice in relation to s*xual misconduct investigations in July of 2021.
After pleading guilty, former defense chief Vance was sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
After pleading guilty to one charge of obstruction of justice in a case that rocked Canada’s military, retired general Jonathan Vance, once the chief of the defense staff, was sentenced to 80 hours of community service on Wednesday.
During a virtual court appearance in which the former Canadian Armed Forces commander appeared via video, Ontario Justice Robert Wadden handed down the sentence, which also includes 12 months of probation.
“You’ve pled guilty before me to one count of obstruction of justice, and I find you guilty of that offense,” Wadden told Vance before agreeing to a conditional discharge of the case, meaning Vance will not have a criminal record.
Wadden also ordered Vance to stay away from Maj. Kellie Brennan, with whom he had a “long-standing personal connection” that began in 2001 and lasted until early 2021, according to an agreed statement of facts submitted in court.
According to the statement of facts, Vance neglected to declare the relationship, putting him at risk of being charged under the National Defense Act. He then tried to “dissuade” her from telling military police the entire extent of their relationship. Vance’s actions, according to Wadden, were a “serious infraction,” especially considering his position of power as Canada’s top military commander for more than five years.
“It is serious because it is a breach of trust,” he said, “It is serious because it impacts all Canadian society to see a commander of your stature behave in this manner. It is serious because it has personal impacts.”
Man of good character
Vance appeared to be “a man of good character” who had contributed to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and the Canadian Armed Forces during his career, according to the judge who granted the conditional release.
Wadden went on to say that he thought Vance, dressed in a coat and tie and wearing spectacles, was still capable of contributing to society.
Following a months-long investigation into claims of sexual misbehavior, military police charged Vance with one count of obstruction of justice in July. The case was then transferred to a civilian court for trial. Vance was not charged with any unlawful sexual misconduct while serving as Canada’s chief of defense staff from July 2015 to January 2021, making him one of the longest-serving Canadian Armed Forces commanders in history.
You may also like: Metropolitan Museum of Art Vice president, Ashton Hawkins, dies at 84
Vance’s relationship with Brennan initially came to light in February 2021, when Global News disclosed two distinct sexual misconduct charges against him, just weeks after Vance stepped down as defense chief.
One of them involves a sexual email sent by Vance to a junior Armed Forces member in 2012, which the military ombudsman brought up with then-Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan in 2018. Vance has previously ignored calls for comment from The Canadian Press, but he has previously denied wrongdoing, according to Global News.
Jonathan Vance Age, Family, and Early Life
Jonathan Vance is 58 years old as of 2022. Vance was born in Kingston, Ontario, on January 3, 1964. He joined the Army Cadets at the age of 13 while his father, a Canadian Forces officer, was stationed in Lahr, Germany.
Jack Vance, his father, rose through the ranks to the rank of lieutenant-general and was appointed vice chief of the Defence Staff in 1985.
Jonathan Vance Career, What is his profession?
Vance joined Force Mobile Command as an infantry officer with The Royal Canadian Regiment after graduating in 1986. When he was commissioned, his father, Jack, was the vice chief of the Defence Staff.
In 2009 and 2010, he was the deputy commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and the commander of the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In September 2014, he was named commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper confirmed Vance’s appointment as the new Chief of the Defence Staff on April 27, 2015. Following a transfer of command ceremony on July 17, 2015, he formally succeeded General Thomas J. Lawson in the job.
Vance declared his decision to retire as Chief of Defence Staff after five years in office on July 23, 2020, and will serve until his successor is appointed. Despite being a possible candidate for the impending position of head of the NATO Military Committee, the federal government has decided not to pursue the position.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on December 23, 2020, that Vance would be succeeded as Chief of the Defence Staff by Vice Admiral Art McDonald, with the change of command taking place on January 14, 2021.
Which school and college did he go to?
Vance enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1982 and graduated from the Royal Roads Military College in 1986 with a bachelor of arts (BA) in military and strategic studies. He also holds an MA in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Jonathan Vance Net Worth, How much does he earn?
Jonathan Vance Vance’s net worth is likely to be enough due to his profession. But as for now, no information on his net worth has been disclosed.
Also Read: Who is Matthew LudwiKowski? Meet Beth Kirby Husband, Wife Death, Age, Family, Wiki
Jonathan Vance Wife, What about his relationship?
Kerry Vance, General Jonathan Vance’s wife, is his life partner.
His wife is a lawyer with a law degree. She also retired from the United States Army in 2015 with the rank of Colonel.
Kerry, his wife, is a big supporter of military families and routinely visits bases around Canada to meet and learn about other countries’ initiatives to support military families.
Jonathan Vance is the father of a grown child. Olivia Nicole Vance is his daughter’s name.
Is he available on any kind of social media platform?
Talking about the social media presence of Jonathan Vance, we did a quick search for his social media handle but it seems like he is not on any social apps for now.
Body Appearance of Jonathan Vance‘s Height, Weight
| Height | N / A |
| Hair color | Grey |
| Eye color | Greenish |
| Weight | N / A |
| Body type | Fit |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
Interesting facts about Jonathan Vance’s that you should be known
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Age | 58 |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Partner | Kerry Vance |
