Atlantic Gunners keeping mountain passes open and safe
March 6, 2023 - Defence Stories
Caption
Gunners from 3rd and 5th Canadian Division are integrated in firing the C3 howitzer to purposely trigger controlled avalanches in partnership with Parks Canada on Operation PALACI near Rogers Pass in British Columbia in early February 2023.
By Captain Lance Wade, 36 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs
People don’t often relate artillery to road safety, which is fair. However, for artillery gunners deployed on Operation PALACI – responsible for avalanche control measures in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbian – this is their bread and butter.
Op PALACI has been running annually as an important domestic operation for over 60 years on behalf of Parks Canada. Typically, it sees detachments of gunners deployed to Western Canada to purposely trigger avalanches in a controlled fashion, keeping mountain passes open and safe. For the first time, gunners from 5th Canadian Division fully integrated with members 38 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) to work hand in glove with 2, 3, and 4 Canadian Divisions.
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The Command Team from 1st Field Artillery Regiment (RCA), Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Lloyd and Chief Warrant Office Dwayne Colbourne (flanks) along with Captain Brandon Finyanos (centre-left) and Master Bombardier David Hardy received a gift from 3 Canadian Division for their participation to Operation PALACI in Halifax on February 7, 2023.
Operation PALACI is the largest mobile avalanche control program in the world, concentrating its efforts on a 40-kilometre stretch of highway known as Rogers Pass. Sadly, over 200 people have been killed by avalanches in “the Pass” since its establishment, with nearly 60 perishing in a single incident in 1910. So far, the 2022-2023 year has been quiet; last year, our gunners fired over 1000 rounds to quell the risk of uncontrolled avalanches.
“This was a fulfilling opportunity to participate in an essential and historic domestic operation,” said Captain Finyanos, originally from 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. “Avalanches pose a very real and serious risk to the travelling public and the movement of goods through the Rogers Pass.”
“Tragically,” continued Capt Finyanos, “two heli-skiers perished this year in an avalanche only few kilometres from our area of operations, which only reinforces how essential this artillery role can be in keeping the public safe.”
The gunners work closely with Parks Canada staff who direct which targets are to be fired on as they methodically work their way through the length of the Pass. The operation also saw the 36 CBG gunners recognized for their professionalism and performance, with some receiving coins from the 3rd Canadian Division Command Team and the Division Sergeant Major.
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