Honorary Colonels an integral piece of Army’s connection to Canadians
October 31, 2025 - Tim Bryant, Western Sentinel
With more than a century’s worth of history behind it, the Canadian Army’s Honorary Colonel program has proven to be a vital tool for connecting the CAF with the wider civilian population.
“They’re essentially our biggest advocates on the civilian side, our guardians of tradition and history, and our most trusted advisors,” explained LCol Fred Hayward, speaking in advance of 3rd Canadian Division’s Honorary Colonels Training Session conference for which he acted as the co‑ordinator. The conference took place from Oct. 24 to 26 at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.
At the moment, there are approximately 60 Honorary Colonels across 3rd Canadian Division, LCol Hayward said. Of those, roughly one third change each year.
Honorary Colonels are typically community members who have a vested interest in the military, either through personal or historical connections, or because they are influential people within their communities. They often have expertise and influence military personnel may lack, and can use that experience to come up with creative solutions to challenges the military is facing.
With the Canadian Army undergoing a Modernization push to transform from a set of regional Divisions to purpose‑focused Divisions, Honorary Colonels will have a greater opportunity to fully showcase those creative solutions.
“A number of our Honorary Colonels, based on where they worked before, have that expertise in how to communicate those changes throughout,” LCol Hayward said.
With their personal experiences as a guide, Honorary Colonels can help their units and regiments put in place best practices to manage the challenges Modernization presents, as well as offer suggestions for which practices to avoid.
One of Modernization’s biggest changes to 3rd Canadian Division is moving the three Reserve Force brigades—38, 39 and 41 Canadian Brigade Groups—out of 3rd Canadian Division and into a new Defence of Canada Division. While that will change how the Reserves interact with their Regular Force counterparts, it won’t fundamentally alter the roles and responsibilities of the Honorary Colonels.
“For the Honorary Colonels, the roles are essentially still the same: to be that stabilizing backbone to make sure the culture and history are preserved, and enable us to move to the future,” LCol Hayward said.
In fact, Honorary Colonels will be able to fully demonstrate their talents by serving as trusted advisors assisting the Reserve Force brigades as they work to fit into the new Divisional structure, thanks to their experiences managing and enacting changes in their professional lives.
On the public‑facing side, Honorary Colonels have a key role to play in Modernization. As part of the Training Session conference, they were given a rundown of what Modernization means and what effects it will have on the CAF and Canadians.
“[The Honorary Colonels] can really be that translation function to the communities on the civilian side,” LCol Hayward explained.
Having a foot in both the military and civilian worlds grants Honorary Colonels unique opportunities to effect change.
“Not only can they advocate within the [civilian] community, but then they can also advocate within the military chain of command structure as well,” LCol Hayward said.
Caption
Honorary Lieutenant‑Colonel Sandra Sutter (right), representing 41 Signal Regiment, learns about the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) tank simulator during the 3rd Canadian Division Honorary Colonels Training Session conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on Oct. 25.
Photo by Lt Robynn Still, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Caption
Honorary Colonel Donald Foster (left), representing 15 Field Regiment, enters a tank with guidance from a soldier of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) during the 3rd Canadian Division Honorary Colonels Training Session conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on Oct. 25.
Photo by Lt Robynn Still, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Examples of that advocacy include advising Commanding Officers on matters such as integration into key community initiatives and identifying the supports Reservists may require as they transition between military service and civilian life, as well as co‑ordinating with community organizations and support networks to enhance awareness of programs, resources and opportunities available to Reservists and their families.
Both Reserve and Regular Force units and regiments can have Honorary Colonels. The Reserve Honorary Colonels are the aforementioned highly regarded and influential community members, who bring skills and gravitas to the role.
“Not only are these influential people within the community, but they meet all of the military aspects of truth, duty, valour and good ethics,” LCol Hayward explained.
Caption
Honorary Colonels representing units and regiments from 3rd Canadian Division get a look at Canadian Armed Forces equipment during the April 26 Honorary Colonels conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.
Photo supplied
Caption
Brigadier-General Wade Rutland, Commander 3rd Canadian Division (second from left), briefs visiting Honorary Colonels in the Warrant Officers and Sergeants' Mess during the 3rd Canadian Division Honorary Colonels Training Session conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on Oct. 25.
Photo by Lt Robynn Still, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Meanwhile, for Regular Force units, “you have […] Honorary Colonels who are ex‑high ranking military officers who understand how to guide their regiments through the military and federal government systems.”
Those Honorary Colonels are also known as Colonels of the Regiment or Colonels‑in‑Chief, and are sometimes held by influential citizens. Among those who have held such roles is former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Colonel‑in‑Chief of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in 2007, a role she holds to this day.
The path to become an Honorary Colonel has two branches: the unit initiates the search and finds suitable candidates, or a suitable candidate approaches the unit. In either case, candidates are vetted and only appointed following the approval and sign‑off from the Commander of the Canadian Army, Chief of the Defence Staff and the Minister of National Defence.
“You’re really looking for those people that have that added value already within their community – through community service or influence within not just [their] community, but within their industry as well,” LCol Hayward said.
More often than not, those people who expressed interest themselves already have some form of connection to the military, whether that’s a family member or their industry or volunteer work.
“You get it through your service or your influence and great deeds in the community.”
The 3rd Canadian Division Honorary Colonels Training Session conference was one of the last conferences some Honorary Colonels attended as members of 3rd Canadian Division before the Canadian Army’s reorganization into purpose‑focused Divisions. With that in mind, it served as a means of bringing Honorary Colonels up to speed on the pending changes.
“The main focus [was] to let the Honorary Colonels know all the specific details,” LCol Hayward said.
Among the details discussed were the type of division the Honorary Colonels would be transferring into, how and where both the Reserves and Regular Force units fit into the new system, and the timelines for Modernization.
[It was also an] opportunity for the Honorary Colonels to really speak with the senior division leadership […] and to have that natural interaction where ideas can flow back and forth,” LCol Hayward added.
In his interactions with Honorary Colonels thus far, he said they have been receptive to the pending changes, but they want to know more so they can start thinking about how they can help their units and regiments.
“When you talk to any Honorary Colonel, they’re more about, ‘OK. What can I do that’s of value?’” LCol Hayward said. “They will point out points that may not work that well, but they’ll always have some sort of helpful way forward.”
Since the first Honorary senior officer was appointed in 1895, when Lieutenant‑Colonel the Honourable J.M. Gibson, Provincial Secretary in the Ontario Government, became Honorary Lieutenant‑Colonel of the 13th Battalion of Infantry, Honorary Colonels and Lieutenant‑Colonels have played a key role in the interaction between the CAF and Canadians.
Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden described the appointment of Honorary Colonels and Lieutenant‑Colonels as invaluable to the military of the early 20th century.
“[It is] of greatest advantage to the Militia to be able to enlist the interest and sympathy of gentlemen of position and wealth by connecting them to regiments,” he said.
That sentiment continues today, LCol Hayward said.
“They are a combination of our mentors, a combination of our coaches, and a combination of the best advocates for the Army that we have."
Caption
Two soldiers from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) explain tank navigation procedures to 41 Combat Engineer Regiment Honorary Lieutenant‑Colonel Anne McLellan during the 3rd Canadian Division Honorary Colonels Training Session conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on Oct. 25.
Photo by Lt Robynn Still, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Caption
Honorary Colonels representing units and regiments from 3rd Canadian Division get a look at Canadian Armed Forces equipment during the April 26 Honorary Colonels conference at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.
Photo supplied