The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Celebrates 150 Years

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada marched into its 150th year of continuous service to the nation on New Year’s Day, 2010. This is a significant year in the regimental history and will be celebrated nationally in Victoria, Calgary and Toronto from April 19-26.

All of the Victoria celebrations are open to the public, beginning on April 20 at 11:30 a.m. when the Colonel-in-Chief is formally welcomed at Government House by salutes and inspection of two Quarter Guards. The guards are mounted by The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association and by The Canadian Scottish Regiment, of which Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra is also Colonel-in-Chief.

At 2 p.m. on the same day a Cairn will be unveiled marking the 150th birthday of The Queen’s Own at VENTURE (formerly Work Point Barracks) where the First Battalion served from 1963 - 1970.

The unveiling of a new plaque near the bus terminal at the University of Victoria (formerly the site of the Gordon Head Barracks) will be carried out by Colonel Paul Hughes, the Honorary Colonel of the regiment at 4 p.m. on April 20. For years, Gordon Head served as a signals station and later, in World War II, as an officer training school. The 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, moved into the barracks in 1955 when it returned from Korea. The role of the camp changed significantly in 1957 when the battalion was deployed to Germany for NATO duties. The battalion was the last army unit to occupy what was to become a major part of UVic.
 

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