Canadian Army at a Glance

Backgrounder / October 2, 2026 / National Defence

As of 10 September 2026, the Canadian Army shifted from a largely regional divisional structure to one organized around four core functions: manoeuvre operations, defence of Canada, Army support, and doctrine and training. Although 5th Canadian Division, headquartered in Halifax, was sunset on 27 June 2026, Army units, bases, and support organizations continue to serve in Atlantic Canada under their new chains of command. The former 1st Canadian Division under Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) has been redesignated as the Canadian Joint Response Force Headquarters (CJRF HQ).

While the new Canadian Army structure is now in place, the establishment of some units and the integration of new capabilities will continue to progress over the coming months and years. This backgrounder reflects the Army's current organization and provides a snapshot of an evolving force.

1st Canadian Division

Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, 1st Canadian Division is the Army’s high-readiness manoeuvre division. It generates, commands, and sustains combat-capable land forces for expeditionary and major combat operations. Its new and realigned formations bring manoeuvre, fires, combat support, and operational sustainment under a single divisional command.

• Mechanized brigades and signals.  The 1, 2, and 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups (CMBGs), formerly under 3rd, 4th, and 2nd Canadian Divisions respectively, now come under 1st Canadian Division. The new 1, 2, and 5 Signal Regiments fall under their respective 1, 2, and 5 CMBGs. The newly created 10 Signal Regiment is a unit reporting to 1st Canadian Division.
• Light infantry.  The new 3rd Canadian Light Infantry Regiment Headquarters commands the Army’s three Regular Force light infantry battalions: 3 PPCLI, 3 RCR, and 3 R22eR. The battalions remain as separate units in Edmonton, Petawawa, and Valcartier while providing a common light infantry capability for rapid response, Arctic, and expeditionary tasks.

• Artillery.  The new 1st Canadian Artillery Brigade commands 1 RCHA, 2 RCHA, and 5 RALC, which remain as separate regiments. The future 9th Rocket Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, will add a long-range fires capability.

• Combat support.  6 Canadian Combat Support Brigade (6 CCSB) brings together specialized capabilities, including the redesignated 4th Air Defence Regiment, the new 8th Air Defence Regiment, the redesignated 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, 6 Service Battalion and the new 1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Battalion. An Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance Battalion is planned.
• Operational sustainment.  The new 1st Canadian Sustainment Brigade provides operational sustainment through the newly established 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Logistic Service. Its field role differs from the base and garrison support provided by the Canadian Army Support Division.

2nd Canadian Division

Headquartered in Montréal, Quebec, 2nd Canadian Division is the foundation for the defence of Canada. It integrates Army Reserve and Regular Force capabilities for domestic land operations, territorial defence, emergency response, and sovereignty tasks. It leads Army Reserve force generation and mobilization, and commands forces for response in Arctic, northern, and remote regions. It maintains strong ties with emergency management organizations across Canada.

• Canadian Brigade Groups. All ten Canadian Brigade Groups (CBGs) are now under 2nd Canadian Division command. The 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th and 41st Canadian Brigade Groups (CBGs) have joined the 34th and 35th CBGs, which were already part of the division. 
• Territorial Battle Groups. These new battalions provide scalable Reserve combat capability for mobilization and domestic operations.
• Arctic Response Company Groups. These new formations, which are expected to achieve initial operating capability in December 2026, will provide regionally based forces for northern operations.
• Canadian Rangers Group.  Its headquarters commands the 1st through 5th Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups. The patrol groups remain as separate organizations while contributing to northern presence, surveillance, and response.
• Intelligence Battalion.  The new 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion brings the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Intelligence Companies under a single headquarters. The companies remain as separate sub-units.
• Reserve units. They are established in more than 100 communities across the country.

Canadian Army Support Division

Headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, the Canadian Army Support Division provides institutional support to the Army’s bases, garrisons, support organizations, and Army operations. It oversees four regional support groups—West, Central, East, and Atlantic. The Royal Canadian Artillery Band transferred to the West support group and the Royal 22e Régiment Band to the East support group. The division also connects Army formations and institutions to national supply chains, supports training and mobilization, and helps develop infrastructure for Army growth.

Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre

Based in Kingston, Ontario, the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre is responsible for individual and collective training, and for professional military education across the Army. It also integrates training, doctrine, lessons learned, experimentation, and emerging technologies to prepare the Army for the future. In spring 2026, it consolidated the four Army Training Centres (West, Central, East and Atlantic) under its command, and established nine Canadian Brigade Group-affiliated Battle Schools: 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, the combined 36th and 37th, 38th, 40th and 41st. Bringing these organizations into one training system supports consistent standards, coordinated resources, and increased training capacity.

Looking ahead

The command change gives formation commanders greater authority over their core responsibilities while Canadian Army Headquarters focuses on strategic oversight, force development, and Army-wide modernization. New headquarters and units will mature as personnel, equipment, infrastructure and training capacity become available. Initial and full operating capability for many modernization initiatives depends on those conditions.