2024 has ended and we are looking forward to what the New Year will bring. New growth in all areas, as the serving Regiment and Cadet Corps continue to grow their numbers, and the Museum adds to its’ programs. All the usual Association events will be back, and the aim will be to get more people to come out and take part in them.
Before we get into next year, lets take a quick look at how 2024 wound down
Solemn ceremonial and fighting in the streets
November began with the annual round of Remembrance Day parades across the Regimental area. A surprise attendee this year was Cpl (Ret’d) Imre Pallagi, late of A Company in the mid 1970’s, who came from Saskatchewan. Cpl Pallagi went on to become a Lieutenant in the Cadet Instructor Cadre.
The Regimental Public Affairs team did a great job of photographing the parades. This year they were assisted by Capt David Fimio of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, who photographed the Milton parade. If you haven’t seen this already, check out the Regiments' Facebook albums below. Well done to all!
The month ended on a completely different note when the Lorne Scots, Queens Own Rifles, 48th Highlanders and the Toronto Scottish went to Garrison Petawawa for a weekend of CH-147 Chinook helicopter familiarization and insertions into urban operations training. Pte Patel edited a short video during the exercise, which may bring back memories of OBUA training at Meaford, Fort Knox, Camp Blanding or other locations for many.
Happy 100th Anniversary
The 24th of November saw the Regimental Family gain a centenarian when 1188 Lorne Scots Oakville Cadet Corps turned 100. The Corps was formed as the Oakville High School Cadet Corps in 1924 and has never looked back. The Corps has never had a break in its history and during this span has absorbed the T.A. Blakelock High School Cadet Corps and outlived the late 2866 Army Cadet Corps in Oakville. The Corps has provided a steady stream of recruits to the Regiment over the years.
Congratulations to the Corps on this anniversary and best wishes for the next 100 years.
Soldiers’ Appreciation Dinner
For the older among us, this used to be known as the Regimental Christmas Dinner back in the bad old days.
Held at the Col John R Barber Armoury, the dinner followed the annual mandatory training day and marked the end of training for the calendar year. The dinner was an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the Regiment as a whole and of many individuals.
Promotions at the dinner were:
Corporal – Pte Andres, Pte Brar, Pte Buckley, Pte Macdonald, Pte Peixito, Pte Petitpas and Pte Rudolfo
Master Corporal – Cpl Castro
Sergeant – MCpl Savage
Captain – Lt Scott
Captain Lewicki received the 32 CBG Officer of the Year but 2Lt Hoffman took home the Regimental Officer of the Year award. Sgt Grgas-Svrac was the Senior NCO of the Year, MCpl Waye the Junior NCO of the Year and Cpl Butterfield was the Soldier of the Year.
Dufferin Company (RHQ and Admin) took home the Duke of Kent’s Trophy for top Company, much to the surprise of Campbell Company (the rifle company).
A number of special presentations were made;
The regimental allotment of King Charles III Coronation Medals arrived the day before the dinner and were presented to Captain Lewicki, Sgt Bean, Sgt Savage, Cpl Veale, Cpl Kowlessar, Cpl Denisi, Cpl McCowan and Cpl Ihejiahi.
N.B. Col McDermid, LCol Adcock, Maj Hale and Maj Federico have also received the Coronation Medal and there may be more to follow as MPs, MPP’s and other partner groups present them.
A Depart with Dignity event was held for Cpl Darryl Cassey who has retired after many years as the Class B Regimental Storesman. He received a number of gifts from the subunits and messes along with a Regimental Sergeant Majors Award.
WO Pavlovic was also presented with a Regimental Sergeant Majors Award. WO Pavlovic has retired from the Regular Force and is currently training to become a Peel Police officer. He has stated that he intends to join the Regiment once his police training is completed.
You can see pictures of all those who were promoted, recognized or presented with awards on the Regiment's and Association's Facebook page:
Passing of Honorary Colonel John Mcdermid PC
On the 6th of Dec, the Regimental Family lost a long-time member, former Honorary Colonel John Mcdermid. Col Mcdermid had been suffering from a number of health problems and decided to end the fight with Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) on a date of his choosing.
He led a long and varied life, in radio, television, real estate, provincial and federal government. Following his service as a federal cabinet minister, he became the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and later Honorary Colonel. An obituary is posted on our blog https://www.lornescots.ca/post/hcol-the-hon-john-mcdermid
A well attended Celebration of Life for Col Mcdermid was held at Devil’s Pulpit Golf Course on 18 Dec.
Rest in Peace Sir.
Museum Update
The museum has had a very good start to its’ new life in the former Carnegie Library.
Since opening in mid-May, the Museum has 1476 visitors and over 200 other people come in for meetings and community group events. A quick question, which item on display do you think has received the most attention?
The New Year is looking like it will continue this trend as we have a request for a group visit from 2990 Cadet Corps in Milton scheduled for Jan, Toastmasters want to continue their sessions and a variety of Speakers Night topics in the works. We have also received requests to speak about the Museum from several groups.
Future projects include the possibility of the City of Brampton installing a ramp and elevator to increase accessibility. We look forward to having the museum accessible to all.
The Museum depends on volunteers to keep things running. If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Museum at museum@lornescots.ca
If your answer to the question was The Baby Gas Mask, you are correct. Virtually everybody that has come in has said “What is that?”
Mental Health and Peer Support Training
There are still a number of spaces available for the Compassionate Listening workshop.
Help Wanted
The Regimental Association is looking for some help. Due to increasing family and work pressures, the Membership and Social Chairs have had to step down from the Executive. Both these positions play an important part in keeping the membership connected and involved.
The Membership Chair keeps track of both the actual members, their contact information, and the mailing. Membership works closely with the Media Chair to keep members current and informed.
The Social Chair plans, organizes and conducts the various events of the Association year.
Anyone interested in filling in these positions until the election of a new Executive in April 2025 can contact the President at president@lornescots.ca
Coming Events
Sat 04 Jan – Regimental Museum re-opens for regular hours
Sun 19 Jan – Mental Health and Peer Support training, Compassionate Listening workshop.
This is an online event, open to all who want to become a better listener.
Wed 22 Jan – Speakers’ night at the Museum.
Mr. Paul Federico will give a presentation about the poet Robert Burns. Admission is free and the event will start at 7:00 pm.
Sat 25 Jan - Pipes and Drums Burns Night.
Dinner and dancing at the Pearson Centre from 6:00 pm.
Mid-Feb – Free Family Day skating event.
Details to be confirmed.
Sat 01 Mar – Boarspiel curling event.
North Halton Golf and Country Club, Georgetown.
Sun 27 Apr – Association Annual General Meeting.
Details to be confirmed. This is an election year!
Advanced Notice – 2025 is the Association Election year
2025 is an election year for the Association Executive.
If you aren’t happy with the way things have been run in the past, or want to see new things added or changed, this will be your chance to step up and get involved.
Think about standing for a position or convincing someone you think would be a good fit to stand for election to the Executive.
The Association is for the benefit of all members, not just ex CO’s and RSM’s. Bringing new faces and ideas into the leadership is vital to ensuring that the Executive is in touch with the whole membership, not just their peer group.
Think about who you want to see running the Association next year and watch for more details about nominations as we get closer to the Annual General Meeting in April.
How to contribute to the Newsletter
If you have a story about an upcoming event, want to pass on how an event went or something that may be of interest to the Regimental Family, please send a short write-up (100 – 150 words or so) with one or two good quality pictures to the President at president@lornescots.com
Please ensure that all people in any submitted pictures have agreed to have their images posted. The Association will assume that such permissions have been acquired before the picture was submitted.
The Association reserves the right to vet all submissions for appropriateness before posting. Items may not be deemed suitable for posting due to inappropriate language or content. Items submitted will reviewed for factual accuracy and may be edited for length.
Any mistakes which may occur are entirely accidental and no malice or harm is ever intended.
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