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The Lorne Scots Regimental Association Newsletter September 2026
It has been a quiet summer, so we have combined the summer newsletters.
In this issue:
Click a title to jump to that section.
From the Regiment
Lorne Scots Participate in Steadfast Warrior 26
The Lorne Scots took part in Exercise STEADFAST WARRIOR 26 at Garrison Petawawa from 22–30 August 2026. The command team for the exercise consisted of Major Joseph Curry, who served as Officer Commanding (OC), and Warrant Officer Adam Phelps, who served as Company Sergeant Major (CSM).
During this year’s exercise, the Lorne Scots were tasked with serving as the OPFOR alongside the Governor General’s Horse Guards (GGHG) and the Queen’s York Rangers (QYR). Over the course of several days, the Lorne Scots successfully delayed the PTA’s advance towards Ortona Village. On multiple occasions, the Lorne Scots were able to engage and defeat the PTA’s platoons while they were advancing in company formation, demonstrating effective tactical employment and coordination.
During the main defensive battle at Ortona Village, the Lorne Scots effectively held their assigned ground against advancing PTA companies. Their defensive efforts incorporated a variety of obstacles, well-positioned machine guns, and booby traps, creating significant challenges for the attacking force and demonstrating the unit’s ability to conduct effective defensive operations under realistic conditions.
Ex STEADFAST WARRIOR 26 also marked an important milestone for the newly formed RAVENNA VANGUARD consisting of the GGHG and Lorne Scots. The exercise provided the formation with its first opportunity to practice combined arms drills and develop the cohesion required to operate as an effective Tactical Group. As part of the OPFOR, the RAVENNA VANGUARD successfully conducted offensive, defensive, and security operations, providing a realistic conventional adversary while enabling the achievement of PTA training objectives.
Following the exercise, Captain Scott, MCpl Buk, Cpl Rivero-Peters, and Cpl De Fonte were recognized for their excellent performance and leadership in their respective roles.
Ex STEADFAST WARRIOR 26 was yet another successful exercise for the Lorne Scots, demonstrating the professionalism, adaptability, and tactical effectiveness of its soldiers and leaders while contributing to a challenging and realistic training environment.
Look out for photos posted on the Regiment's official social media accounts.
Continuing Education Opportunity
Limited Edition Lorne Scots 160th Signature Scotch
Watch for the release of pre-sales next week – a limited edition specialty blended scotch to celebrate the Regiment's 160th Anniversary will be available for pre-sale online starting. While supplies last.
All purchases will be available for pickup by adults of legal age at the 160th Meet & Greet, Friday, October 16, 2026 at the Col John R Barber Armouries.
National and International recognition
The Regimental Museum gained both nationwide and international recognition when the annual Kilted Conference dropped in for a visit on May 3, 2026.
43 Commanding Officers, Pipe Majors and others from the kilted Regiments across Canada had gathered in Toronto to discuss all things tartan and concluded the weekend with visits to the Toronto Scottish and Lorne Scots Museums. A very special guest was Major General Robin Lindsay, the Colonel of the Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
At ours, they were given a briefing by Museum Board Chair, LCol Bill Adcock, and HCol Gary Love about the history of the Museum and how it got into the Carnegie Library, followed by time to explore the Museum.
Everyone seemed impressed by the Museum and there were a lot of questions about how we got the City of Brampton to let us into the building, how we operate in relation to the Regiment, staffing and many other points. Hopefully our experiences will help the other units with their museums and historical collections.
Brampton history comes home
May 3, 2026 was a busy day at the Museum. In addition to the Kilted Conference visit in the morning, the afternoon saw a piece of Bramptons’ history come home.
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Glenn Miller brought the Canada General Service Medal with Fenian Raid 1866 clasp of Private John Stewart of the Brampton Infantry Company to the Museum from Lethbridge, Alberta, where he is active in military history activities with the Lethbridge Legion and the Indigenous communities in Southern Alberta. In 2018 he was inducted into the Blood Tribe Headdress Society for his work with the Indigenous communities.
Pte Stewart was a lifelong resident of Brampton. In 1866, he was a member of the Infantry Company in Brampton. The Company was called out for service in Toronto during the Fenian Raid of that year. The medal was authorized in 1899 and he received his in 1900.
On his death, the medal passed to his son, who was living in Lethbridge and later to his great-niece, Mrs. Echo McCarly. Mrs. McCarly is the last of her family and decided that the medal should go to a location where it will connect with local history and tell a story, rather than just be on display somewhere with no context.
While the Museum has several Canada General Service Medals in our collection, this is the first one awarded to a Bramptonian. WO Miller also brought along several other items relating to Pte Stewart. These give us a better knowledge of him and they have inspired the Regimental Historian (Emeritus), Maj Richard Ruggle, to start writing a story about Pte Stewart for the Ontario Genealogical Society (Halton – Peel Branch).
The museum is deeply indebted to Mrs. McCarly for this very kind donation and to Glenn for bringing the medal to the Museum.
The Brampton Armoury renovation
The recently announced armoury renovation project has taken a big step forward with the recent site inspection by the CF Real Property staff from Toronto and interested bidders on the contract. This step allows potential bidders on the project to draw up their bids for the contract.
The next step will be to review the bids and select a contractor.
The regiment has been given a date of mid-August to have the Armoury and other buildings cleared and prepared for work to begin. This work has now been done to a level of approval by the Real Property Operations staff.
The staff have confirmed that the majority of the work will be in the Armoury. The Firehall and old Museum buildings will just be receiving upgrades to the fire alarm systems.
City Support for the museum
Renovations are also coming at the Museum. The City of Brampton has let a contract to install an access ramp and elevator at the Carnegie Library. This project will increase accessibility to the Regimental Museum.
The ramp will go out across the front lawn and come back to the top of the front steps. The elevator will be installed in the left-hand stairwell at the entrance.
As well, the City is contracting for upgrades to the lighting, heating and upper-floor washrooms this summer.
The elevator and ramp work is progressing steadily, while the heater and HVAC upgrade work will be beginning in the last week of August. Dates haven’t been confirmed yet for the installation of the elevator.
The Colonel Thomas Dunn Softball Tournament
The 11th edition of the softball tournament took place on June 20, 2026 at the Bramalea Community Dog Park. The new location was chosen as the long-time home at Duggan Park was not available on the desired date. Special thanks to City of Brampton Councillor Rod Power for arranging our new location.
The lovely day saw about 40 members of the Regimental Family come out to enjoy the softball and company. This meant that there were four competing teams for the first time in several years. As always the event was a success thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Jackie Dunn, Rick Lukasik (Affair Party Rentals), our chef Olly Garceau, the Kelly and Burlock families, and our volunteers.
After the spirited play showed off various levels of athletic ability, the serving regiment took home the trophy, much to the surprise of the Association team. Where they will display the trophy now that the Brampton Armoury renovation project is underway is the next question.
From the Cadet Corps
The summer months mean camps and courses for the Cadet Corps. While the program hasn’t returned to its pre-COVID levels of space available, the number of Cadets attending camp is increasing. All of the Corps supported by the Regiment got Cadets off to camp this summer as either Staff Cadets or on courses.
Cadet Chief Warrant Officer Lukas Smintich from 2990 Milton applied to be a Staff Cadet at Blackdown. He was chosen to be the Camp Regimental Sergeant Major. You can read the CF news release about him: Halton Army Cadet raises the bar at Canada’s largest cadet training centre - BurlingtonToday.com
His appointment ensured that the primrose hackle would receive a lot of exposure over the summer thanks to all the media posts that were put out by the Blackdown Media team, which can be seen on Facebook at Blackdown Cadets.
The Cadet Basic Parachute Course at CFB Trenton is one of the most highly desired courses in the Cadet program. With competition from across Canada, it is extremely difficult to be selected for the course. Two Lorne Scots Cadets managed to do so this summer.
Cadet Warrant Officers Tailor from 1188 Cadet Corps and Winata from 676 Cadet Corps both completed the course this year. WO Tailor also received the Col Robert Douglas Bursary, awarded to the most deserving Cadet on the Basic Parachute Course from Ontario, to assist with that Cadet’s post-secondary education. Congratulations to both Cadets!
Captain Shannon Pecore, late of 2990 Cadet Corps, made what was probably the longest trip of the summer. She travelled to the Whitehorse Cadet Training Centre to be the Unit Public Affairs Officer. This was her second summer at Whitehorse. Capt Pecore was confirmed as the CO of 304 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Chaudière earlier this year after serving as the Administration Officer at 2990 Royal Canadian Army over the last two years.
Our own LCol Bill Adcock got another bit of publicity when he represented the Army Cadet League on the League Day Friday parade at Blackdown Training Centre. His remarks to the parade are posted on the Association Facebook Group.
Congratulations to all the cadets who took part in this years’ summer activities. It seemed like every time there was a post about course and camp activities, there was a Primrose Hackle somewhere in the pictures.
Afghanistan addition in Victoria Park, Milton
Branch 136 of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Town of Milton are working together to add a memorial to veterans of the Afghanistan mission to Victoria Park. The following article is from Inside Halton, first published on 25 June: $40K veterans’ monument approved for Victoria Park in Milton
Fallen Comrades
Since the last newsletter, the Regimental Family has lost:
We Will Remember Them
Coming Events
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 Editor at stewart.sherriff3@gmail.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 be 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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