The first copy of the Stanley Park Docent Package has now been uploaded on our Reference Page. Check it out here. Let me know if you spot any errors or omissions. president.vcrgunners@gmail.com

We’re looking to reacquaint ourselves with the history of the Point Grey Fort at UBC. The plan is to meet at the #1 gun emplacement at 10:00, Sunday 5 September and try out our new docent’s guide to the fort. The guide provides photographs of the Fort as it looked during the war years plus maps of the area. We’ll break into small groups of no more than 6 individuals, give you a map and photos of one of the areas (#1 gun emplacement, #3 gun emplacement, #9 searchlight emplacement, #10 searchlight emplacement, crew shelter, etc) and send you on your way. Your task will be to examine the area, take some pictures to be shared later, and report back what you find. At 12:10, the Museum of Anthropology security will open the tunnels for an hour so that we can explore up to the Ammunition Magazine.  There is no electricity in the tunnels so bring a flashlight! Don't forget your camera!
However, there’s some COVID rules that we must comply with:
Before attending, you must do a self-assessment for COVID symptoms. Do not attend if you feel the slightest symptom!
Have you been out of the country in the last 14 days or possibly been exposed to someone with COVID symptoms? Please do not plan on attending.
Wear a mask!
Social Distance! Social Distance! Social Distance!
Bring your own hand sanitizer or use the ones that we’ll be providing.
Bring your own chair. We need it so that we can ensure everyone sits properly social distanced.
We’ll beat COVID if we all work together.
When you RSVP, please advise if you’ve been doubled or single vacc’d. Stay home if you’re neither. 
RSVP your intentions to attend to president.vcrgunners@gmail.com We are limited to 30 participants.
Other points:
Bring your own picnic lunch. (Koerner’s Pub does take out) Bring your own chair. Bring coins to feed the parking meter.
Bring an umbrella and appropriate footwear if it looks like rain as there is no minimal overhead cover. (plus umbrellas help with social distancing as long as you don’t share the space!)
There are no washroom/toilet facilities at the gun emplacement. Closest public toilets are at the top of Trail #3 or at Locarno Beach. 

​​It's time to bring our collection of historic photographs out from the archival vaults! We've embarked on a project of 4 separate volumes of full size laminated photographs. These include Yorke Island, Point Grey Fort, Stanley Park Fort and Bessborough Armoury. The intent is to provide a useful tool for a docent to lead a tour through each of these locations with a handy reference photo to pass around the group. "Here's where a 6-Inch Breech Loading Mark VII gun was installed", works a lot better when you have a photo to pass around. A second copy has already been disptched to Yorke Island and draft copies have begun to appear on our reference page here. Would you like to assist in this venture? Check out the drafts for errors or omissions and/or send us a charitable donation to support the production of the remaining copies or assist us in some of our oyther ventures.. Emails and e-transfers to president.vcrgunners@gmail.com

​A couple of Gunners joined other members of 39 Canadian Brigade Group in S100 Firefighting Training in preparation for a deployment to fight fires on Operation LENTUS, in Chilliwack, BC. 8 August 2021. The large UBIQUE 150 patch certainly stands out on Gunner Dean Ahmelich's arm. However, you have to look a little closer at the facemasks to find Gunner Rasmus Dolleris in the crowd.  Looks like a fun course! See more photos here...

​I thought I fell a little behind on my updates but 3 months is ridiculous. There has been activity during that time and I'll try to fill in some of the blanks. In the meantime, the good news for today is that #5 piston has finally been removed. It took a lot of acetone/ATF and a final push with a jack from below. It resisted all the way until it popped free from the top. Examination of the piston indicates that it may have been seized for a considerable period of time. Large patches of burnt oil on one side may be a sign that the piston rings failed. Next step is to evaluate the cylinders. It looks like it needs to be honed and then we check tolerances. Any volunteers? 

​Lieutenant Colonel Kent Wickens takes command of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. His experience as a former Commanding Officer of 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and the 39 Communications Regiment provides considerable experience in his new role. Well done, Kent! Check out the photos here.

Additional photos of the Warrant Officer II George Chow CD funeral taken by Bombardier Albert Law have been uploaded to this page.

Another photo from the Young Soldier Training Plan. This one form a Province Article, 24 September 1960, that features Bombardier Dave Elrick and Lance Bombardier Ken Young in the photo. Check out the other photos from 1960 here. 

A group of Gunners and Engineers from the Young Soldier Training Plan (YSTP) are enroute to Esquimalt in October 1959 for training at Albert Head and Workpoint Barracks. The vent on the fantail was a hot air exhaust blower, very popular on a cold morning at sea. Can you recognize any of the Gunners?
​Check out more pictures from 1959 here.