Open House and Pipe Band Auditions
Mewata Armouries - Saturday, 6 March 2010 to Sunday 7 March 2010

A semi-regular series of events conducted within 41 Canadian Brigade Group has been recruiting drives, job fairs and open houses. This year, the addition of open auditions for the brigade's musical bands - including the Regimental Pipes and Drums - was added, in order to welcome more paid musical talent into the fold. As usual, soldiers of the various units of the brigade were on hand to display skills, weapons and equipment to prospective recruits.

Infantry soldiers show off their snazzy new tablecloths.	A mini-band of the Regimental Pipes and Drums strut their stuff.

Calgary Soldiers' Memorial
Ground Breaking - Saturday, 6 March 2010

The sod has officially turned on the Calgary Soldiers' Memorial. Information on the proposed memorial can be found on the Centennial page by clicking here.

Concept art of finalized memorial design. Click to enlarge.
	The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial is one of several Centennial projects marking the 100th Anniversary of the King's Own Calgary Regiment, The Calgary Highlanders and 14th (Calgary) Service Battalion. The memorial has been made possible by generous contributions by the City of Calgary, which has provided the land on which the memorial is being built, as well as financial subsidization of half the project. The other half of the funding is being raised through private donations and fund raising, such as through Michael Hornburg's Loops for the Troops event. The memorial is part of a Landscape of Memory renovation scheme incorporating a 9-kilometre stretch of Memorial Drive, a project begun in 2004.
The Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial was initiated by The Calgary Highlanders as a Centennial project, and was expanded to include all Army Reserve units in Calgary, including The King’s Own Calgary Regiment; 41 Combat Engineer Regiment; 746 (Calgary) Communications Squadron; The Calgary Highlanders; 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion; 15 Field Ambulance, Detachment Calgary. The memorial will consist of stone tablets bearing the names of over 3,000 Calgarians who gave their lives in the service of Canada, including combat in the First World War, Second World War, up to the present day and the war in Afghanistan. The final design was created by the Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative.
The Landscape of Memory project’s vision statement notes that: The Memorial Drive corridor is both a Major Street in Calgary’s road network, and a unique urban landscape that is shaped by an understanding of its social and physical role, and by a deep respect for its commemorative history. Integral to this vision is a landscape that is supportive, safe, accessible and active, and is enriched by a unifying identity, trees and meaningful places to observe individual and collective memory.	(Above) The trees on Memorial Drive were originally planted after the First World War as "living memorials to men who died for your freedom." Many of the trees, now 80 years old, are dead or dying and some have been removed to facilitate infrastructure construction such as the Bridgeland LRT station. Wooden benches, made from wood salvaged from those memorial trees, with poppies and the legend LEST WE FORGET, were unveiled at the ground-breaking and will be placed at an appropriate venue. (Below) Regimental Museum curator Barry Agnew, at right, does a reconnaissance of the site before the groundbreaking ceremony. The location of the Memorial is due south of the Armouries, just visible across the Bow River. The memorial will face the Armoury when completed.
The Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial is one of the first of several planned interconnected public spaces and is a truly integral component of the overall Landscape of Memory project. The actual location of the Memorial will be on the South side of Memorial Drive approximately 100 metres West of 10th Street. The Memorial will look across the Bow River towards Mewata Armoury where many of the soldiers departed to serve their country. The Memorial is scheduled for unveiling in the fall of 2010 as part of Remembrance Week activities. Further information can be found at www.calgarysoldiersmemorial.ca.

From right to left - Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Colonel Thomas Putt (Commanding Officer, 41 Canadian Brigade Group), Regimental Sergeant Major Emmett Kelly, Pipe Major Michael Giles and Captain Peter Boyle.	Alderman Druh Farrell, Mayor Bronconnier and Colonel Putt break ground for the Memorial with a soldier's entrenching tool.

The Memorial will be unveiled on Remembrance Day, 2010. The structure will include a flagpole, viewing platform facing Mewata Armouries, a wheelchair ramp, and the dates of several regimentally significant battles will be inscribed onto the walls, including that of the Somme, Vimy, Amiens, Dieppe, Normandy, and the Liri Valley. (City of Calgary image)

Centennial Update

The Commanding Officer has issued the following statement regarding activities in the Regiment as we enter our Centennial year:

Operations

Afghanistan. There are currently 26 Highlanders deployed overseas. We expect them to return in May. Two corporals were injured in an IED attack 30 December. Both are back in Canada recuperating.

Olympics. There are currently nine Highlanders serving in support of the winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Territorial Battalion Group. The Calgary Highlanders are now the lead unit for a TBG based out of Calgary.

 

Training Calendar

Ex COYOTE DESTROYER (26-28 Feb). Patrolling exercise near Nordegg with The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4PPCLI).

Ex DINOSAUR SCOUT (19-21 Mar). Urban operations exercise in Drumheller with King’s Own Calgary Regiment.

Ex SOVEREIGN GRIZZLY (1-9 May). Brigade training event in Yellowknife.

Ex DOMESTIC RAM (9-14 May). Command post exercise based on a domestic operations scenario. (There will be two lead-up exercises prior to this). Calgary Highlanders are tasked to take the lead based on their TBG tasking.

Op NIJMEGEN (Jul). The Regiment is taking the lead in training and sending a team to participate in the annual Nijmegen marches in Holland. (Organizer: Captain Andrew Beauchamp) The intent is for the team to comprise soldiers from all three units celebrating their Centennial in 2010 (Calgary Highlanders, King's Own Calgary Regiment, and 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion)

Social and Ceremonial Events

27 Mar: Mess dinner at Mewata for all former COs, RSMs, and Honoraries. (Organizer: Major Owens)

31 Mar: Regimental birthday at the Military Museums. This will include a formal parade marking the change of appointment for the Regiment’s Honorary Colonel, from Colonel Bob Gibson to current Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Skip McDonald, pending confirmation from Ottawa. Dress will be DEU 1A with medals. The evening will also feature a sneak peek at the Centennial exhibit “Tanks and Tartan” in the Founder’s Gallery. Oysters and black velvet afterwards. (Organizers: Captain McLean, RSM Kelly)

23 Apr: Officers’ St Julien mess dinner at Mewata. Guest of Honour is LGen Andrew Graham, CBE. He is the Director General of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and the senior serving Argyll (His formal title is Colonel of the Regiment—The Royal Regiment of Scotland). The evening will also feature the Regimental Bard, novelist Jack Whyte, reciting his St Julien poem. We have also invited the Chief of Defence Staff and other senior officers since they will be in Calgary to attend a conference at U of C that weekend. Cost: $100. (Organizer: Captain Boyle)

24 Apr: 10^th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association annual general meeting at Mewata. (Organizer: Lieutenant Colonel Moffat)

24 Apr: Freedom of the City of Calgary. The Regiment and its affiliated cadet corps will march to Old City Hall where it will conduct the full ceremony with members of the 10^th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association and the newly-formed 103^rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) historical group. Dress DEU 1 with medals. Light refreshments afterwards at Mewata. (Organizer: CWO Kelly)

28 May: Centennial meet and greet at Mewata. A chance to reconnect with old friends in conjunction with the KOCR. All three messes will be open.

29 May: Centennial parade at Currie Barracks in conjunction with KOCR and 14 Service Battalion (soon to be 41 Svc Bn). This will be the last parade ever at Currie. Dress DEU 1 with medals (Organizer: CWO Kelly and KOCR)

29 May: Centennial Dinner and Dance. A formal event at the Military Museums for the entire regimental family in coordination with the KOCR and 14 Svc Bn. (Organizer: Major Owens)

30 May: Regimental BBQ and Highland Games. A casual event for the regimental family. Location TBC (Organizers: 10^th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association and CH Family Association)

1-13 Jun: Battlefield tour of Normandy, Flanders and Holland. Vacancies still available. Cost is $3500 per person. Subsidization available for junior soldiers on a first-come basis. (Organizer: Captain Boyle - see this page)

3-5 Sep: 161^st Infantry-Highlander Weekend in Calgary. The 58^th annual social exchange for officers and senior NCOs. (Organizer: Captain McLean, CWO Besse)

30 Oct: Walcheren parade and change of command. Dress DEU 1 with medals.

30 Oct: Officers’ Walcheren and change of command mess dinner. (Organizer: Captain Boyle)

6 Nov. Calgary Garrison Ball and fundraiser for TMM and the CHRFF at the Hyatt Hotel (Organizer: James Cox)

Nov. Expected unveiling of the Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial. This memorial, to be constructed adjacent to Memorial Drive, will list the names of every Highlander and member of the 10^th Battalion who died serving Canada. The CSM is being coordinated in conjunction with all the Army Reserve regiments in Calgary. Ground-breaking ceremony expected 6/7 March. (Organizer: Captain Boyle)

Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation

Regimental Secretary. Effective 31 January, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Manley replaced Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Lynn Moffat as the Regimental Secretary.

Regimental Pipes and Drums

Centennial CD. The Regimental Pipes and Drums have recently begun recording a music CD.

10^th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association

The annual general meeting will be held Saturday, 24 April at Mewata Armouries, prior to the Freedom of the City parade.

Centennial-related items are now for sale in the Kit Shop.
 

Other Centennial Projects

Pictorial History. Corporal Michael Dorosh is compiling a pictorial history of the Regiment to complement the existing histories (Gallant Canadians by Daniel Dancocks and Battalion of Heroes by David Bercuson)

Highlanders in Afghanistan. 2nd Lieutenant Josh Hill and Master Corporal Cody Martin are gathering material for a book commemorating the service of Highlanders in Afghanistan 2006-2010.

Overseas Service Panel. Thanks to the generosity of the 10^th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association, a panel listing every Highlander who has ever served overseas since the end of the Second World War is now on display at Mewata Armouries. It will be updated to include those soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan.

Regimental Museum

“Tanks and Tartan”, a special Centennial exhibit in conjunction with the KOCR, will open to the public 1 April. Sneak peek 31 March following the Regimental Birthday parade at the Military Museums.
 

Regimental Who’s Who

Battalion Headquarters	Commanding Officer	Lieutenant Colonel Mike Vernon
	Deputy Commanding Officer	Major Mike Owens
	Operations Officer	Major Simon Cox
	Training Officer	Captain Darcy Horman
	Adjutant	Captain Dan Davidson
	Regimental Adjutant, PMC Officers’ Mess	Captain Peter Boyle
	Finance Officer	Captain John Alden
	Padre	Captain Ken Nettleton
	Regimental Sergeant Major	Chief Warrant Officer Emmett Kelly
"A" Company	Officer Commanding	Major Kyle Clapperton
	Second in Command	Captain Drew Beauchamp
	Company Sergeant Major	WO Jim MacDonald
	Company Quartermaster Sergeant	WO Chris Tucker
HQ Company	Officer Commanding	Captain Fiona McLean
	Second in Command	2Lt Gavin Mills
	Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant/CSM	WO Glenn Fedoruk
Honoraries	Honorary Colonel	Bob Gibson
	Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel	Skip McDonald
Regimental Pipes and Drums	Pipe Major	Mike Giles
	Drum Major	Jim Stewart
	Pipe Sergeant	Steve Patterson
	Drum Sergeant	Brian Woodward
Regimental Museum	Curator	Barry Agnew
Affiliated Cadet Corps	CO, 3106 Airdrie Cadet Corps	Captain Tanya Mark
	Cadet Support	Sergeant Denny Russell
	CO, 2137 Calgary Cadet Corps	Captain Julie Sun
	Cadet Support	Master Warrant Officer Gerald Downey
	CO, 3125 Chestermere Cadet Corps	Captain Cheryl Libby
	Cadet Support	Master Corporal McFadden
	CO, 2383 Oilfields Cadet Corps	Captain Les Klapatiuk
Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation	Regimental Secretary	Lieutenant Colonel Tom Manley
10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association	President	Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Lynn Moffat
Calgary Highlanders Family Association (formerly the Ladies Auxiliary)	Chair	Mrs. Ottilie Kelly

 

Extra-Regimentally Employed Highlanders

• Army Operations Course-Lieutenant Colonel Lee Villiger, Captain Ryan Palmer

• 14 Service Battalion-CWO Bob Besse

• 4 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Victoria-Captain Russ Meades

• 41 CBG HQ-Sergeant Patton, Sergeant Mark Nussbaumer

• 41 CBG Battle School-MWO Gerald Downey, Sergeant Dave Melcher

• Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre-Captain Ryan Palmer, MCpl Cody Martin

• Mewata Area Support Centre-Master Corporal Turner, Cpl Sagastume, Cpl Toussaint

• LFWA Area Reserve Standards Detachment-Warrant Officer Johnston

• Ottawa-Lieutenant Colonel Warren Spaan, Major Ray Ansell

• Dallas, Texas-Major Kyle Dorcas

Transfers

Major Neil MacLaine and MWO Marty Woods have recently rebadged to KOCR in order to assist that proud regiment with its succession plan.

Captain Doug Bondurant has transferred to the Princess of Wales Own Regiment, Kingston

Captain Kyle Easton has transferred to 41 Canadian Engineer Regiment

M.C. Vernon, CD
Lieutenant Colonel
Commanding Officer
The Calgary Highlanders

Upcoming Event Announcement
BATUS Hockey

The BATUS Lions, the hockey team of British Army Training Unit Suffield, have agreed to another exhibition match with the Calgary Highlanders' Oak Leafs. The game is currently scheduled to take place on 3 April 2010 at 2100hrs at South Fish Creek Park. A complete list of events and further details will be provided as they become available. Information on the last game between the two squads can be found here - BATUS webpage.

Message From Afghanistan
Why are there no last names in this article? Click here for information on Operational Security.
Warrant Officer H.
6 February 2010

Highlanders!

My time here so far has been a mixture of heightened excitement and controlled chaos. As you may or may not know, I have a job which is divided into two parts.

One job has me filtering information to send both up and down the Chain of command. It is a new perspective of the battlespace. (All these new catch phrases are sometimes overwhelming...)  I see and hear so much more, and my eyes see so much. I mentioned in a previous update that I was mostly concerned with what I could physically see. This time, I see so much farther. I have SA ("Situational Awareness" for the un-initiated) on almost everything. My other job has me performing duties which directly involves me in the everyday "situation". It certainly keeps me busy. I am afforded the opportunity to go places that I only heard about in previous operations. Having the chance to work with other nations also gives me the chance to see how they operate in this extremely complex country. The diverse terrain, the different personalities (read; local nationals) which you encounter, and the ever changing tactical situation all offer their own challenges.

I have grown used to operating within an environment that is vastly different to what I have been used to for my entire military career. I cannot go into too much detail as operational security (OPSEC) will not allow me to, but let's just say, I am working outside of "the norm". For those who know what I am referring to, please explain to those who may not.  I have returned from my first HLTA and am just getting back to work.  Unfortunately, I am only able to work a certain amount of time as "the rules" dictate when I can and cannot work. Needless to say, my "enthusiasm" has placed me in some awkward moments when my chain of command has asked me to not work. Its weird. Nonetheless, being the good infantry senior NCO, I am able to use my skills to find a way to participate in some degree of work to keep myself busy. Working on this camp, you need to maintain a steady work schedule or you may go crazy. I have been busy going to the gym and thoroughly enjoying it. This camp has expanded so much since "my last visit" here. If anyone who has previously served here and come back, you will definitely be able to tell the difference!

The weather has improved slightly since I left for leave. I did not realize how chilly it can get in the desert. The days were warm, about
20 as a high. The nights got as low as just below the freezing mark. Since returning from leave, I have felt a climb in the overall temperature during the day and nights. Unfortunately, the last 24hrs has seen a lot of rain. And when it rains on this camp, it turns into a muddy bog. The good thing is, a lot of the main roads have been paved. The muddy parts are mostly the side roads.  I have seen a few of the boys from time to time. Whenever I do get the chance to chat with them, it usually a quick "hello" or "what have you been up to?". For the most part, the Highlanders here are doing a good job again. I have had the opportunity to speak to a few people in supervisory roles for Highlanders and they say good things. Again, my pride in the regiment is swelled.  I had the chance to speak to a few senior NCO's just before your Soldiers Christmas dinner and have heard that the regiment is doing well. I recall that the "old dogs" still have the energy to deal out a winning blow in the floor hockey game. To those who participated, well done! I also heard the Burns dinner went well. Again, to those who enjoyed themselves, well done! I plan on being there for the next one to enjoy a few rounds with all of you.

I have been in touch Captain Boyle regarding the Centennial celebration plans. And to those who are going away for the battlefield tour, enjoy yourselves. It'll be an event you only get to do once in a lifetime. That's all for now. Gotta go.

Sincerely,

WO H
 

 

Olympic Duties
Captain Fiona McLean

Captain Fiona G. McLean, CD recently had the honour of being a 2010 Olympic Torchbearer when she ran a leg of the torch relay route in Golden, British Columbia on 21 January 2010. 

The Olympic Flame was lit at Olympia, Greece in a traditional ceremony using the sun’s rays reflected off of a parabolic mirror and burns continuously, from torchbearer to torchbearer, until the end of the closing ceremonies of the games.  For each leg of the relay, that torchbearer is, for that moment, the only custodian of the Olympic Flame.

Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is the longest route in the history of the games, covering 45,000 km and engaging Canadians from coast to coast to coast, on a path designed to be within a one-hour drive of 90% of Canada’s population, and involves 12,000 torchbearers selected by public programs.

The Torch, designed and manufactured by Bombardier in collaboration with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), is a symbol of the 2010 Winter Games and represents Canada’s open land, vast potential and smooth, fluid lines left in the snow and ice from winter sports.

Photos courtesy Captain McLean; click to enlarge.