Born in Hurdman's Bridge, Ontario, to father Theogene Lacelle and mother Victoria Lacelle (nee Craig). Harvey Lacelle represented Canada in the 1936 Olympics as a boxer. He attended the Ottawa Technical School specializing in Electricity, and after enlisting excelled in his training. This allowed him to rise quickly to the rank of Officer. Pilot Officer Lacelle was a member of a five-man aircrew that failed to return after an attack on Bremen, Germany on June 27, 1942.