Not necessary - you can get it from any previous colleague even on plain paper and get it signed and notarized along with the LOE
Not any colleague will do. Follow the below thread:A previous employer despite repeated requests to include duties won't oblige. Will CIC reject my application because of duties missing from a previous job?
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/pr-application-rejected.561594/