Born in 1960, grew up eldest daughter of commercial fishers in Nova Scotia.
Developed an early fascination with the ocean and those who sail it, and became
a Naval Cadet in high school. Enlisted in the Coast Guard after high school
and spent four years working close shore rescue boats as a Boatswain's Mate.

Oddly enough, her love of the sea was almost equaled by her love of music.  Almost, but not quite.  Even so she was in chiors throughout high school and studied voice in college, taking that as her minor.

Wanting to command larger vessels, she later enrolled at University of Halifax,
majoring in Oceanography, paid for by National Defense as part of her agreement
of enlistment.

She sometimes thought about the choice to become an officer over a singer.  It just seemed a self-indulgent career path.  The study of music helped her military career in odd ways.  It gave her better than average skills at dealing with people and taught her how to user her voice.  She could be clearly understood at anything from a whisper to a shout in a crowded room.  It really came in handy trying to shout orders on deck in high seas.

Went active duty following graduation, and was assigned to a coastal patrol
boat and later served as an antisubmarine warfare officer aboard a destroyer.  It was while on destroyer duty that she met Thomas Sullivan, who she later married.

Switched to Naval Intelligence for faster track to promotion and studied
the disintegration of Soviet naval power at the presumptive end of the Cold War.

Naval Intelligence meant she was on shore more often.  She and Tom had more time together, and it was during this time that Tom Jr. and Victoria were born. The choice to have children didn't come without a cost.  When Tori was born, it was pretto obvious something had to give.  Two military careers and two children was too much for the couple to handle.

It seemed Clare's career was taking off just as Tom's was starting to stall.  He was also getting offers from the private sector for good jobs.  With pressure from the service because of the difference in their ranks and good prospects on the outside, Tom resigned his own commission.  He became the "stay at home parent" when Clarke was deployed.

Decided to get a Master's degree in maritime engineering and take her
knowledge to the private sector, but the outbreak of the war at the
conclusion of her studies scratch that idea.

Managed to book some float time out in the fleet, but spent most of the war
running a photo-reconnaisance and satellite imagery analysis office.  Running the office gave her a chance to keep her family nearby, and out of harm's way.  Even with the war and turmult after, Tom and Clarke managed to keep their family together.

Clarke looked to the assignment at UBC as a possible "out" for her.  It had all the hallmarks of a position that could last for years. It could translate to a similar civilian capacity once she retired.  She campaigned to be sent for the position and after some struggle, got the nod.

Two weeks before she was scheduled to move, word came down of a situation at UBC.  Clarke was ordered to leave the next day.  It seemed the need had escalated from one where it was a cake walk she had to fight to get, to a "situation" the brass felt someone like her.