Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Matthew was raised in the town of Wingham where he lived with his Father and Mother (Lincoln and Laurie) and his brother (Brendan).  Matthew was an active participant in many community activities including hockey with the Wingham Minor Hockey Association.  Matthew expressed an early interest in service to his country, specifically as a member of the military.  His father, an OPP Constable had served in Kosovo with the United Nations previously.  Matthew completed a Police Foundations Program at Westervelt College in August 2002.  In May of 2003, Matthew joined the Canadian Forces as a Military Police Officer and completed his training in April 2004 as a Corporal.
  Matthew was first posted to CFB Petawawa in 2004 where he was employed as a Patrolman.  Matthew, from near his first day, requested for an overseas tour, his primary motivation for joining the CF.  In 2005, Matthew was posted to 2 MP Platoon and trained for tactical MP employment and Close Protection Security. 
  In January 2006 Matthew was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Multinational Brigade Regional Command South - assigned to the security detail to protect Brigadier General David Fraser.  On April 22nd 2006, Matthew was in a G-Wagon with 3 other CF members when they struck an IED on the roadway.  Matthew and the three other members all lost their lives.  Matthew made the ulitmate sacrifice to ensure our country's and the country of the Afghan peoples, was safe and secure.
  Matthew was returned home to Wingham with an OPP, Military Police and Wingham Police procession that included all emergency lights, but no sirens through the town.  The eerie silence was compounded by the hundreds of people who lined the streets to pay their last respects.