Defence of Ukraine sends a video thank you to Canada.
You think we forgot about Canada?! No, not like that… we forgot about CANADA?! 
Our primary league ally! 
The flesh and blood of our future Victory! Canada, we love you!

Lieutenant-Colonel JG (John) MacGregor CD, RCA, passed away at his home in Langley BC, on 7 Dec 2022. John was 83 years of age and passed away as a direct result of very serious and painful medical issues.
Anyone who was ever involved in the world of Canadian Army aviation and later Canadian Forces tactical aviation during the 1960s through to when John retired from the Regular Force in 1978 will know the name MacGregor and hold that name in the highest possible regard, both as a pilot and an Artillery Officer who served the Guns so well. After retirement from the Regular Force, John moved to Vancouver and took command of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA from 1981 until 1983.
May he rest in peace knowing that he will not soon be forgotten by anyone who ever had the privilege of knowing and serving with this fine officer and gentleman. Anyone wishing to send email condolences to the family can do so by using John’s wife Karen’s email address flyingm@shaw.ca​
Information received from John Dicker, Canadian Army Aviation Website Editorial Board Member

We've just discovered another former member of the 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery who was awarded the Military Cross in World War I. Lieutenant Alexander MacLean, MC​ enrolled with the 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF in 1916. In France, he was transferred to the 8th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, CEF and was awarded the Military Cross. His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as forward observation officer. Though he was subjected to intense fire and all his party became casualties, with the help of two signallers, he kept his lamp and relay stations in action  without a break for twenty four hours.  

Peter Moogk has just sent in a photo from the 2012 Canada Day Salute at Stanley Park. It's amazing that this is the only photograph that we've receved from that event! Have you gaot any in your album at home? Please forward any you would like to donate to president.vcrgunners@gmail.com

The Regiment will be holding their annual Soldiers' Christmas Dinner on 10 December at 1400 Hours. This is a serving members only event but is open to guests afterwards (About 1630 hours).

The intent of the RCA Membership Cards was to provide a sense of identity with the Association, to highlight some of the benefits of membership and to remind our members of some of the Gunners that have served before us. 
An interesting story came up with the introduction of the trial release with the Vancouver Artillery Association (VAA). Bob Chown is a long serving member of the VAA. While never having been a Gunner, he joins us as a "Friend of the Regiment." As such, he reviewed our list of deceased Gunners and could not find a connection with any of those that were currently listed. We searched through Library and Archives and found a long forgotten gunner by the name of Lieutenant Henry Bruce Chown. As we delved into his military we discovered that he was the recipient of a Military Cross for bravery. Further search revealed that after the war he returned to his medical studies, became a doctor and founded the Winnipeg Rh Laboratory in 1944. According to the Manitoba Historical Society, "His laboratory discovered the mechanism of Rh haemolytic disease, its management, and its ultimate prevention, perhaps the most outstanding medical discovery ever made in Manitoba." For that feat he was inducted into the Order of Canada. Lieutenant Henry Bruce Chown, OC, MC a Canadian Gunner that we should not forget. A bit of a final twist to this story is that our Bob Chown knew Dr Chown as his great-uncle but did not know that he had been a Gunner.

According to the Regimental Rogue the armoured regiments still call it parading for "Stables" while the infantry "executes vehicle maintenance". I can't recall what we  called it in the Artillery but I can recall some RCHA documents that also used the "Stables" terminology. 
Whatever the official name is, we need to take care of our larger pieces of museum equipment at Bessborough Armoury. This includes doing a thorough check on all the vehicles, starting them up and taking them on a drive (weather permitting) through the neighbourhood. We also need to do a thorough cleaning of the limbers and the guns. (wipe off the dust, check for rust, check tire inflation, etc.)
We're proposing Sunday, 25 March 2023. Just need to check with the Regiment to ensure that we do not interfere with any training or pre-planned Cadet events. Also plan to send an invite to WEstern Command to see if they would like to join us. Stay tuned for future news..... Note change of date!

How Bill C-21 turned from banning handguns to hunting guns | CBC News
The latest amendments proposed to the government's gun control bill, C-21, would prohibit large numbers of common hunting rifles, shotguns, as well as antique arms, cannons owned by historical re-enactors, and pricey collector pieces.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Association has been representing us to the parliamentary committee this week and were mentioned in the CBC News article.  
"Many of our veterans actively participate in period outfits as re-enactors to demonstrate the workings of the ordnance at formal salutes, displays, reenactments and the like," the Royal Canadian Artillery Association wrote to the committee studying C-21, saying the bill will make their activities a crime.
Go to article

Interesting discussion paper on some of the shortcomings of the Russian Artillery system.
www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/russia-s-high-tech-artillery-system-was-supposed-to-win-the-war-in-ukraine-but-troops-didn-t-know-how-to-use-it