38 ATG article
NATIONAL ARMY RESERVE OPEN HOUSE 38 CANADIAN BRIGADE GROUP ARTILLERY TACTICAL GROUP (ATG) 30 SEPTEMBER 2017 By Lieutenant-Colonel Shawn K. Fortin Commanding Officer 38 CBG ATG
Back in the summer, the Commander Canadian Army directed that all Army Reserve Armouries would open to the public on Saturday, 30 September 2017. As the new Commanding Officer for the 38 Canadian Brigade Group Artillery Tactical Group (38 CBG ATG), I took on the challenge of profiling the Gunners of our three units. The first challenge was to understand the diversity and the geographic dispersion of the ATG. The 26th Field Artillery has batterys in both Brandon (71 Battery) and Portage la Prairie (13 Battery), MB. The 10th Field Artillery Regiment has batterys in both Regina (18 Battery) and Yorton (64 Battery), SK. And the 116th Independent Field Battery located in Kenora, ON. Of the five battery locations, all but one (18 Battery in Regina) are the only Army Reserve Units in their cities. So how do you advertise to the public and try to recruit new members at the same time across such a large space with different targeted audiences? The answer is however you can. The batterys were creative and used newsprint, TV, radio, social media, posters, sandwich boards and their physical displays to draw in the public on what turned out to be a very positive day for most. Where large numbers of the public did not show, soldiers still took pride in their displays, their sub-units and their history regardless. The Brandon Armoury was able to tap into two WWII vehicles from the RCA Museum Shilo as well as MLVW, C1 and Bren Gun Carrier from a private collector. Many thanks to Rob Love for his efforts. The 26th Field Artillery-XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum located within the Brandon Armoury also held a special ceremony concurrent to the Open House where we unveiled and dedicated the new Memorial Garden. The garden commemorates the sacrifices of 508 Brandon area soldiers who lost their lives from the South African War to the Afghanistan War on Terrorism. It was a small but special service attended by the Mayor, MLAs, MP, Chief of Police and many other invited guests plus the public visitors. Finally, when it was all said and done, over 500 civilians had walked through the armouries, interacted with our officers and soldiers, handled personal and crew served weapons, inspected around howitzers and mortars and took away a much better appreciated of what our Army Reserve Artillery is all about. Four of our five battery locations had on the spot recruit enrolments of both new officers and NCMs. A superb effort by all ATG members. I am proud to be their Commanding Officer.
1/5
LCol Fortin in the Brandon Armoury during an Open House interview with the Brandon Sun.
Sgt Houle and Gnr Roucher discuss the sites on a C3 105mm Howitzer at the Portage Armoury.
2/5
Members of 116 Indep Fd Bty bring a 105mm Howitzer into action at the Kenora Armoury.
3/5
OCdt Kuzek and Bdr Pierrepont discuss the Artillery and some unit history at the Yorkton Armoury.
Historic vehicles/weapons from the RCA Museum/Private Collector out front of the Brandon Armoury.
4/5
Members of 116 Indep Fd Bty demonstrating small arms at the Kenroa Armoury.
Memorial Garden at the Brandon Armoury is complete and ready for the unveiling and dedication ceremony. 5/5
Back in the summer, the Commander Canadian Army directed that all Army Reserve Armouries would open to the public on Saturday, 30 September 2017. As the new Commanding Officer for the 38 Canadian Brigade Group Artillery Tactical Group (38 CBG ATG), I took on the challenge of profiling the Gunners of our three units. The first challenge was to understand the diversity and the geographic dispersion of the ATG. The 26th Field Artillery has batterys in both Brandon (71 Battery) and Portage la Prairie (13 Battery), MB. The 10th Field Artillery Regiment has batterys in both Regina (18 Battery) and Yorton (64 Battery), SK. And the 116th Independent Field Battery located in Kenora, ON. Of the five battery locations, all but one (18 Battery in Regina) are the only Army Reserve Units in their cities. So how do you advertise to the public and try to recruit new members at the same time across such a large space with different targeted audiences? The answer is however you can. The batterys were creative and used newsprint, TV, radio, social media, posters, sandwich boards and their physical displays to draw in the public on what turned out to be a very positive day for most. Where large numbers of the public did not show, soldiers still took pride in their displays, their sub-units and their history regardless. The Brandon Armoury was able to tap into two WWII vehicles from the RCA Museum Shilo as well as MLVW, C1 and Bren Gun Carrier from a private collector. Many thanks to Rob Love for his efforts. The 26th Field Artillery-XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum located within the Brandon Armoury also held a special ceremony concurrent to the Open House where we unveiled and dedicated the new Memorial Garden. The garden commemorates the sacrifices of 508 Brandon area soldiers who lost their lives from the South African War to the Afghanistan War on Terrorism. It was a small but special service attended by the Mayor, MLAs, MP, Chief of Police and many other invited guests plus the public visitors. Finally, when it was all said and done, over 500 civilians had walked through the armouries, interacted with our officers and soldiers, handled personal and crew served weapons, inspected around howitzers and mortars and took away a much better appreciated of what our Army Reserve Artillery is all about. Four of our five battery locations had on the spot recruit enrolments of both new officers and NCMs. A superb effort by all ATG members. I am proud to be their Commanding Officer.
1/5
LCol Fortin in the Brandon Armoury during an Open House interview with the Brandon Sun.
Sgt Houle and Gnr Roucher discuss the sites on a C3 105mm Howitzer at the Portage Armoury.
2/5
Members of 116 Indep Fd Bty bring a 105mm Howitzer into action at the Kenora Armoury.
3/5
OCdt Kuzek and Bdr Pierrepont discuss the Artillery and some unit history at the Yorkton Armoury.
Historic vehicles/weapons from the RCA Museum/Private Collector out front of the Brandon Armoury.
4/5
Members of 116 Indep Fd Bty demonstrating small arms at the Kenroa Armoury.
Memorial Garden at the Brandon Armoury is complete and ready for the unveiling and dedication ceremony. 5/5
