Timeline: 2020-2039

See Timeline home page for references.

2020

January 21-23rd – The QOR 60th (Para) Coy with members of 32 Canadian Brigade Group and 31 Canadian Brigade Group conducted a full equipment static-line tamp parachute drop onto DZ Gorvad CFB Borden from 1000’ AGL. A CC-130J Hercules from 436 Sqn supported the drop. Lake Simcoe Regional Airport served as the Airhead. Paratroopers were participating on Exercise Northern Star at 4 Div TC Meaford and Burwash

Para Coy loading up on a RCAF J Model Herc – Regimental Photo

Para coy exiting at the ramp – Regimental Photo

February 8th -The 2020 Toronto Garrison Officer’s Ball, hosted by the Regiment at the Liberty Grand. As Toronto’s premier social event for the military community and supporters, the 203rd edition of the Garrison Ball commemorates the sacrifices and achievements leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and V-E Day.

Highlights of the Event included: 800 guests, including nearly 500 Army Officers from the Greater Toronto Area, as well as members of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. As well as the Regimants Band and Bugles were the house band for the evening.

February 21-23rd – Winter Exercise Northern Star 2 at CFB Burwash as well as a Full Equipment Jump into CFB Borden.

February 26th – Last night the QOR Sergeants’ Mess hosted our annual memorial dinner for Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC, commemorating the night where Sgt. Cosens’ actions won him the Victoria Cross. Last night was special not only because it was the 75th anniversary of that event but also having the @ash_of_c Sergeants’ Mess join us (Sgt. Cosens’ Regiment before joining the QOR during the war). Special thanks to RSM O’Halloran and his loving wife Raquel for organizing this event, and to all the family and friends who helped.

Senior NCOs of the Regiment and Argyls and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada at the Regimental Sergeants Mess at Moss Park Armouries – Regimental Photo

March 13th – The Regiment received new jumpers Cpl Tang, Cpl Divito, Cpl Hill, Lt Merrithew, Cpl Trachuk, Rfn Chenier and Capt Beaupre (not in the photo) who completed their basic parachutists’ course this day.

New jumpers Cpl Tang, Cpl Divito, Cpl Hill, Lt Merrithew, Cpl Trachuk, Rfn Chenier and Capt Beaupre (not in the photo) – Regimental Photo

April – Regiment mobilizes contingent for Operation Reassurance the Canadian Armed Forces response to the COVID-19 fight. Members were on standby until the end of August of 2020

April 26th – The Regiment celebrated our 160th Year as a Regiment. This historic day is usually recognized by a series of events attended by the Regiment and family. Due to the limitations presented by COVOD-19, the Regiment put out a Video.

May – Sgt Craig Hood of the QOR of C named 32 CBG’s Snr NCO of the year for 2019.

Sgt Hood Senior NCO of the year for 32 CBG. – Regimental Photo

All unit Training Cancelled due to COVID-19 until September.

June 8th – Master Corporal Valentin Costache and Cpl Edward Tsoi are presented with the command coin from Major-General Andrew Downes, Surgeon General and Commander of Canadian Forces Health Services Group at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto East. Master Corporal Costache and Cpl Tsoi received the coin for their work setting up new operating procedures to allow the teams of soldiers and medics to stay mission orientated during Operation LASER where Canadian soldiers and medics provided assistance at long term care facilities. Toronto, Ontario, 8 June 2020. Corporal Justin Dremanis, 4th Canadian Division Headquarters Public Affairs.

Master Corporal Valentin Costache – Corporal Justin Dreimanis, 4th Canadian Division Headquarters Public Affairs.

Corporal Ed Tsoi – Photo from Corporal Justin Dreimanis, 4th Canadian Division Headquarters Public Affairs.

July – Warrant Officer Mike Currie and Master Warrant Officer Adam de Bartok deploy on Op Impact to Jordan as mentors to the Jordanian Military.

August – Master Corporal Jessome and Captain Toohey-Foughnan deploy on Op Impact to Jordan as mentors to the Jordanian Military.

September 19th – 68 jumpers from both QOR of C and 3 RCR participated under clear skies, from two CC-130J aircraft, in formation.

September 20th, 2020 – The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada held their Change of Command and Change of Appointment ceremonies. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small virtual ceremony was held at Moss Park Armoury.

November 11th – Small contingent from the Regiment conducted a small ceremonial at the Regimental Cross of Sacrifice.

November 22nd – Ex Quick Rig was conducted though due to high winds parachute jump was cancelled.

December 12th – The regiment could not hold its annual Christmas dinner. But awards were still handed out.

2021

2022

February – Nine of our members participated on JRTC in Fort Polk, Louisiana with 3 Royal Canadian Regiment. This is the high readiness validation for 3 RCR in which they participate in various operations, including Airmobile and Airborne. [PH Mar]

February 25-27 – About 50 members participate in Exercise Maroon Frost 2 at the Burwash Range and Training Area near Sudbury. This included the successful completion of the QOR’s first Cold Weather Operator course (formerly Basic Winter Warfare as the first in the series of cold weather courses). The Ex included training in improvised shelters, snares and preparation of prey, fires and heaters, a cold-water survival dip in the lake, and a ruck march out of the training area with rabbits for dinner. [PH Mar]

March 2022 – Conducted Exercise Crash Can at the Winona training area. This was an Urban Operations training exercise that allowed platoons to practice the fundamentals of forced entry and room clearing. Thanks to the instruction of our Urban Operations Instructors Master Warrant Officer Burns, Warrant Officer Murray, Warrant Officer Winnicki and Master Corporal Fransen-Tingey, it was an excellent exercise. [PH April]

March – Captain Filatow, Sergeant Doria, Master Corporal Divito and 5 riflemen returned from JRTC in Fort Polk, Louisiana with 3 RCR. [PH April]

April 8-10 – Exercise Maroon Hammer 1, was held in Meaford and Borden and consisted of conventional and field firing ranges. The exercise culminated with a Parachute descent from a CC-130J Hercules onto DZ Patterson at CFB Borden.

April 22-24 – The Rogers Challenge competition was run by the Queen’s York Rangers, and consisted of teams of four from across the Brigade completing various challenges along a 40km route. Our teams put in a strong performance and were the first to cross the finish line, ultimately placing 2nd and 4th out of over a dozen teams. Congratulations to Corporals Bingham and Salinas (Team Leaders), and Corporals Taylor, Kalogerakis, Chang, Teper, Patterson, and Conquer for their performance. Special mention goes to MCpl Divito for organizing the teams, MWO Burns for running the water crossing stand, and Sgt Doria for running the rappelling stand.

April 26 – Regiment’s 162nd Anniversary

June 6 – 200 guests attend D-Day Dinner held at Casa Loma by the 1860 Club

2023

January – Sergeant Gordon Brown qualifies as a Jumpmaster.

January 22 – Majit Minhas succeeds Vicky Sunohara as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel at Casa Loma in the presence of the Honorable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence.

Feb 1 – Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Manjit Minhas, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Moody and Regimental Sergeant Major Jeff Johnston met at Buckingham Palace with Colonel in Chief Camilla, Queen Consort, for the presentation of her Canadian Forces Decoration.

The Queen Consort with guests from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada after being presented with the Canadian Forces’ Decoration by Brigadier-General Dwayne Parsons during a reception for the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada at Buckingham Palace in central London on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

After the presentation, they had the opportunity to travel to France, with a stop at Vimy Ridge. Once in Normandy, they met with Nicole Hoffer from Canada House and the Mayors of Anisy, Anguerny, Bernières-sur-Mer, and Giberville, planning the Regiment’s participation in the 80th Anniversary of D-Day

Some of our volunteers at the Feb 2023 event (Library at the RCMI)

February 2 – Our annual museum volunteer recognition night to recognize service in 2022 was held in the library and the Royal Canadian Military Institute. Our new Curator, CWO Shaun Kelly, CD (Ret’d) was awarded a Commanding Officer’s Commendation by museum liaison Dave Pampe for his 10 years of service to the museum. (The CO was still in England.)