The Canadian Armed Forces Ceremonial Guard

Backgrounder

The Canadian Armed Forces Ceremonial Guard

June 26, 2016 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Public Duties

The Ceremonial Guard will perform the first Changing of the Guard for the 2016 season on the east lawn of Parliament Hill at 10 a.m. on June 26, 2016. It will also begin posting sentries at the Residence of the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, David Johnston.  The ceremony is among Ottawa’s most recognized military traditions, and is a summer attraction which has welcomed thousands of visitors to Parliament Hill for more than 55 years. 

Composition of the Guard

The Ceremonial Guard is comprised of trained soldiers from both the Regular and Reserve forces, including members from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy. The Guard includes members from across the country, including over 81 Canadian Army units, four Royal Canadian Navy ships, and one Royal Canadian Air Force squadron, with many members having served overseas on operations. A summer task at the Guard is a highly sought-after position, offering soldiers the opportunity to act as Canadian Armed Forces ambassadors and to demonstrate their excellence throughout the National Capital Region.

Training

Every guardsman or musician must complete at least a basic military qualification to wear the uniforms of the Guards Regiments. Upon arrival in Ottawa, the soldiers undergo training  — including music rehearsals, inspections, and foot and rifle drills — leading up to the start of Public Duties. Public Duties are physically demanding tasks which require the soldiers to be fit to handle the rigors of training for ceremonial duties.

Uniforms

Soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard come from many Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) units across the country, with the Guard continuing the individual traditions of Canada’s two Foot Guards regiments — The Governor General’s Foot Guards (GGFG) and the Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG). Both units wear the bearskin hat, which was first adopted by the United Kingdom Grenadier Guards after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and later adopted by all Guards Regiments in 1831. The regiments are easily recognizable by the coloured plume in the bearskin hat; red for Foot Guards and white for Grenadier Guards. All of the bearskin hats worn by the Ceremonial Guard are more than 20 years old and are well-maintained from the thorough care they have received over the decades.

Fortissimo

The Public Duties season includes the annual “Fortissimo” event, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. from July 20 to 30, 2016 on Parliament Hill. Fortissimo is a military and musical spectacular created for the lawns of Parliament Hill, featuring massed military bands, pipes and drums, guest performers, and the soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard. It is a showcase event in the Nation's Capital that has drawn thousands of spectators since it began in 1997.

Associated Links

Ceremonial Guard Webpage
Changing of the Guard Facebook page
Ceremonial Guard Flickr

Hashtags

The following hashtags will be used:

1. #CeremonialGuard / #Gardedecérémonie,
2. #StrongProudReady / #‎FortsFiersPrêts,
3. #ourForces / #nosForces,
4. #FORTISSIMO, and
5. #CAF / #FAC.

- 30 -

 Contacts

Capt Mike Wonnacott
Ceremonial Guard Unit Public Affairs Representative
Phone: 905-869-7980
Email: Michael.Wonnacott@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Search for related information by keyword

Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Military