Royal Canadian Artillery Association
Lieutenant -Colonel (Retired) Andre Richard Past President
The RCAA held its 125 Annual Reunion in Victoria British Columbia 30 September to 2 October 2010.
The Quadrant, Vol 26 Iss 2, Fall 2010
This meeting was an excellent opportunity for the Gunners of Canada from Coast to Coast to get together and exchange ideas. A Meet and Greet was held in the 5 BC Field Regiment's Bay Street Armoury on the Thursday night and the local Gunners hosted everyone in great numbers. We had a chance to exchange old time stories with people we had not seen in many years. The museum of the regiment was discovered by many and there are great collections of artifacts from General Sir Arthur Currie to recent adventures in Kandahar by member of the Regiment. Some people took the time to visit the surroundings, especially Coastal Batteries Emplacements such as Fort Rodd Hill managed by Parks Canada. Victoria and 5 BC Regiment should be recognized as the repository of the Commonwealth Coastal Artillery.
During the 2 days of meeting and Seminar we were privileged to have with us LGen Leslie, MGen Howard, BGen Tremblay, and a great number of Colonels and Chief Warrant Officers. A total of 140 people attended the event and everyone had a chance to ask questions to speakers. We had an excellent Mess Dinner at the Hotel and music was provided by 5 BC Regimental Band.
The Artillery Regimental Strategy was explained to us by the Regimental Colonel, Colonel Peter Williams. Other topics of discussion were: Future Whole of Government Operations by Col Bob Chamberlain, Future roles for Reserve Artillery by Col Dave Henley, US Field Artillery employment and The Future of US Artillery by COL Steve Bullimore, Commander 17th Fires Brigade, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington, the NCMs and NCOs of the Future by CWO Boivin (RSM RCA) and CWO Moretti, (Chief of Land Staff RSM). Other discussion took place about our Heritage and the great many opportunities coming soon to Celebrate like the Queen’ Jubilee, in 2012, preparation for Vimy in 2017 just to name these few.
The center piece of this meeting was the RCAA Transformation Strategy and the efforts that a lot of people will be putting forward in the coming months. What is the Purpose of the RCAA, its mandate, how should it be organized to be able to move into the 21st Century and be able everything it wants to do or needs to do. Colonel Burton will chair these discussions and everyone is welcome to provide comments. We want to move to be able to publish Volume III of the Gunners of Canada and many will be asked to participate to bring this project to fruition.
In summary it was not only an excellent meeting and seminar but a successful one. Your new president, LCol Jim Brazill has a lot on his plate and he needs the participation of everyone to make this Association truly your Association. Visit frequently www.artillery.net, (http://www. artillery.net/beta/royalcanadian-artillery-association/)for more updates.
The RCAA held its 125 Annual Reunion in Victoria British Columbia 30 September to 2 October 2010.
The Quadrant, Vol 26 Iss 2, Fall 2010
This meeting was an excellent opportunity for the Gunners of Canada from Coast to Coast to get together and exchange ideas. A Meet and Greet was held in the 5 BC Field Regiment's Bay Street Armoury on the Thursday night and the local Gunners hosted everyone in great numbers. We had a chance to exchange old time stories with people we had not seen in many years. The museum of the regiment was discovered by many and there are great collections of artifacts from General Sir Arthur Currie to recent adventures in Kandahar by member of the Regiment. Some people took the time to visit the surroundings, especially Coastal Batteries Emplacements such as Fort Rodd Hill managed by Parks Canada. Victoria and 5 BC Regiment should be recognized as the repository of the Commonwealth Coastal Artillery.
During the 2 days of meeting and Seminar we were privileged to have with us LGen Leslie, MGen Howard, BGen Tremblay, and a great number of Colonels and Chief Warrant Officers. A total of 140 people attended the event and everyone had a chance to ask questions to speakers. We had an excellent Mess Dinner at the Hotel and music was provided by 5 BC Regimental Band.
The Artillery Regimental Strategy was explained to us by the Regimental Colonel, Colonel Peter Williams. Other topics of discussion were: Future Whole of Government Operations by Col Bob Chamberlain, Future roles for Reserve Artillery by Col Dave Henley, US Field Artillery employment and The Future of US Artillery by COL Steve Bullimore, Commander 17th Fires Brigade, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington, the NCMs and NCOs of the Future by CWO Boivin (RSM RCA) and CWO Moretti, (Chief of Land Staff RSM). Other discussion took place about our Heritage and the great many opportunities coming soon to Celebrate like the Queen’ Jubilee, in 2012, preparation for Vimy in 2017 just to name these few.
The center piece of this meeting was the RCAA Transformation Strategy and the efforts that a lot of people will be putting forward in the coming months. What is the Purpose of the RCAA, its mandate, how should it be organized to be able to move into the 21st Century and be able everything it wants to do or needs to do. Colonel Burton will chair these discussions and everyone is welcome to provide comments. We want to move to be able to publish Volume III of the Gunners of Canada and many will be asked to participate to bring this project to fruition.
In summary it was not only an excellent meeting and seminar but a successful one. Your new president, LCol Jim Brazill has a lot on his plate and he needs the participation of everyone to make this Association truly your Association. Visit frequently www.artillery.net, (http://www. artillery.net/beta/royalcanadian-artillery-association/)for more updates.
