Appendix: Calendar of Anniversaries Observed by the Canadian Armed Forces
| January | Each year since 1970, in January, the Royal Military College, Kingston, and the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Spring , compete in a two-game hockey series. In the odd-numbered years, the USAFA team visits Kingston; in the even, the reverse. |
| January 1 | Traditionally, New Year's Day is celebrated widely throughout the Canadian Forces. Many units enjoy activities, the nature of which are peculiar to a particular base, battalion or unit, and these are mentioned elsewhere in this book. But most consist of the warm geniality of inter-mess visiting and levees. |
| January 16 | On 16 January 1863, the forbear of the Princess of Wales Own Regiment, the 14th battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada, was formed. The regiment observes the day annually with a ceremonial parade at Montreal Street Armoury, Kingston. |
| January 25 | Burns Night. The birth of Robert Burns, 25 January 1759. The Pipes and Drums of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) hold their annual Burns Night Dinner on the Saturday nearest January 25 in traditional Scottish fashion. |
| January 25 | The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada celebrates Burns Night at a mess dinner in the sergeant's mess. |
| February | Annually, usually in February the CFB Petawawa Military Engineers' Pigspiel is held on the base and is open to all military engineers and their civilian colleagues throughout the Canadian Forces. This curling bonspiel culminates in a grand banquet. |
| February | Each year, in the first week of February, the officers of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), at Victoria, entertain their ladies at dinner in the mess. |
| February 1 | The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada dates from 1 February 1910 when the 79th Highlanders of Canada was authorized. This anniversary is observed by the regiment on the first Sunday of February with a church parade to the regimental church, First Presbyterian Church, Winnipeg. |
| February 15 | A joint mess dinner is held in Côte des neiges Armoury by the Royal Canadian Hussars and 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, Montreal. |
| February 16 | On this day, the King's Own Calgary Regiment commemorate the mobilization of the regiment, 16 February 1941, with an informal dinner dance. It is called the Mobilization Dinner. |
| February 27 | Paardeberg Day. The Royal Canadian Regiment observes this day to commemorate the surrender of Boer forces to the regiment at Paardeberg, South Africa, 27 February 1900. The celebration takes the form of field games between all-ranks teams, the emphasis being on fun rather than serious contest. Traditionally, with the 1st Battalion, it is broomball. But for the 3rd Battalion in the deep snows of CFB Petawawa, it is tug-of-war and soccer on snowshoes! These hilarious events are immediately followed by regimental gatherings, usually in the junior ranks messes. |
| March | Each year, early in March, the cadets from the Royal Military College, Kingston, and the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, meet for a week-end of friendly rivalry in a variety of activities. In the odd-numbered years, RMC cadets travel to West Point, in the even years, the reverse. Highlights of the week-end are the traditional hockey game first played in 1923, and the annual debate. |
| March | The Goose Bay Annual NATO mess dinner. Each year at Canadian Forces Station Goose Bay, Labrador, the senior non-commissioned officers of the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force, and the Canadian Forces stationed there, hold a mess dinner which over the years has become the major social event of the year. Sponsored on a rotating basis by the warrant officers and sergeants of the three forces representing three signatory powers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, this annual mess dinner is honoured by the presence of a general officer as guest of honour and music is provided by the North American Air Defence Band. |
| March | In mid-March the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) observe York County Night, a custom of a hundred years. In 1878, the warden of York County, Ontario, and his council presented the regiment with a stand of colours. To return the compliment, it became a custom for the rangers to give the colours back each year at the first session of the council. This annual return of the colours carried out with impressive ceremony has been celebrated each year for almost a century and the evening filled with colourful pageantry, is known as York County Night. |
| March 17 | St. Patrick's Day. As a special tribute to the character of the united counties in eastern Ontario, the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders celebrate St. Patrick's Night in the officers' mess. |
| March 17 | This was the birthday of the Lady Patricia Ramsay, until her death in 1974, the colonel-in-chief of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. As Princess Patricia of Connaught, this granddaughter of Queen Victoria sponsored the founding of the regiment in 1914, and her birthday, 17 March 1886, was for nearly six decades celebrated as the birthday of the regiment. Today, the anniversary is known as regimental day. It is the occasion for battalion parades all-ranks luncheons, and mess dinners. A long-time feature of the day is the annual broom-i-loo tournament between the sergeants and the officers played outdoors irrespective of weather conditions, using a soccer ball and corn brooms. |
| March 24 | The official birthday of 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada (regular force) based at CFB Valcartier is the date the unit was established, 6 May 1968. The Regimental Day of le Régiment Blindé du Canada (Militia), based in Trois-Rivières, is March 24, commemorating the day in 1871 when four independent companies were brought together to form the Three Rivers Provisional Battalion of Infantry . |
| March 30 | On this day, at Sarcee Barracks, Calgary, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) celebrates the anniversary of the regiment's famous cavalry charge at Moreuil Wood, near Amiens, France, 30 March 1918. Spread over a three-day period, the observances take the form of a ceremonial parade including the regimental guidon, and divine service for which the centre-piece is the Memorial Gong, in service since 1929 in commemoration of those members of the regiment who gave their lives for king and empire during the Great War, 1914-18. Moreuil Wood Day is also the occasion for the presentation of the Hessin Sword, awarded annually since 1961 to the subaltern of the regiment who, in the judgement of his fellow officers, has displayed the highest qualities of leadership, integrity and ability. Each spring, the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment holds its Annual Military Spring Ball. |
| April | 400 Air Reserve Squadron, Toronto, holds the 400 Squadron Annual Ladies Night, formerly the Red and Silver Ball, for all ranks, the first Friday evening in April. |
| April | Each spring, the cadets of Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean and their guests attend the Annual Sports Dinner in the cadet mess. The guest of honour, usually a well known professional athlete, officiates at the presentation of athletic awards. |
| April | Le Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean, on the first Sunday of April, is the scene of the cadets' annual "Assault at Arms." Attended by a general officer as guest of honour, the day-long occasion consists of a ceremonial parade, demonstrations of precision drill and gymnastics, a luncheon in the officers' mess, and a tea attended by all the cadets and their guests. |
| April 1 | Anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Canadian Air Force, 1 April 1924. |
| April 1 | The Loyal Edmonton Regiment was founded 1 April 1908, as the 101st Regiment. Annually on this day there is a ceremonial parade and a reunion with the 49th Battalion Association in honour of the regiment's part in the Great War, 1914-18. |
| April 1 | The Fort Garry Horse was founded on 1 April 1912. At suitable intervals, this anniversary is celebrated by the regiment on the weekend closest to April 1. |
| April 1 | The regimental birthday of the British Columbia Dragoons is 1 April 1911, when the 1st Regiment British Columbia Horse was formed. Annually, the regimental guidon is trooped in one of three major communities of the Okanagan — Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. |
| April 1 | The Rocky Mountain Rangers, with headquarters at Kamloops, celebrates the regiment's birthday, commemorating the formation of the 102 Regiment on 1 April 1908. |
| April 1 | The Calgary Highlanders observes the regiment's birthday, 1 April 1910. |
| April 4 | Regimental birthday of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's). On this day in the year 1848, eleven troops of cavalry were formed into a regiment called the New Brunswick Yeomanry Cavalry, making the militia component of the 8th Canadian Hussars the oldest, though not the senior, cavalry, now armoured, regiment in the Canadian Forces. The anniversary observances include a ceremonial parade and drumhead church service, sports in the afternoon, and mess dinners and dances in the evening. |
| April 8 | Although officially formed on 8 April 1968, the Canadian Airborne Regiment's regimental day is celebrated on June 6 in commemoration of that day in 1944 when the regiment's forbear, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, made its first jump to engage the enemy, at the invasion of Normandy. |
| April 9 | On the Sunday nearest this day, the battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment in garrison at the Citadel parades with veterans of the regiment to the wooden Croix de Vimy near the chapel on the heights of Quebec. There, divine service is conducted in memory of those members of the regiment who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, France, in 1917. |
| April 9 | On the Saturday nearest this day, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the regimental association dine in remembrance of the victory of Vimy Ridge, 9 April 1917. |
| April 9 | Annually, on April 9, les Fusiliers du St. Laurent holds a regimental dinner. Also, the regiment has its Annual Regimental Ball. |
| April 22/April 23 | St. Julien Day. On this day, the sergeant's mess of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) dines in commemoration of the gallant part played by the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) in the Battle of St. Julien Wood, 1915 |
| April 22/April 23 | Annually on the weekend closest to this date, the Calgary Highlanders honours the heroic stand of the 10th Battalion (Calgary Highlanders) during the first German gas attack, Battle of St. Julien Wood, 22/23 April, 1915. The weekend observances include the officers' St. Julien Mess Dinner, the all-ranks dinner with the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association, and a church parade. |
| April 22/April 23 | The 56th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, annually, on the Sunday after April 22, holds a parade at St. Catharines, Ontario, to honour the gallant stand of the 10th Battery at the Battle of St. Julien (2nd Battle of Ypres 1915), the first German gas attack. The survivors of that day have an honoured place in this parade. |
| April 23 | Birthday of HMCS Malahat, 23 April 1947. Even though this shore establishment functioned as a naval recruiting centre during the Second World War, its birthday is considered to be its commissioning as a naval division, 23 April 1947. This day is observed either by a reception or by a mess dinner. |
| April 23 | St. George's Day. Annually, on the weekend closest to April 23, the King's Own Calgary Regiment observes St. George's Day to mark its alliance with the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. The observance takes the form of a church parade, an all-ranks luncheon, a sergeants' mess dinner, and the "passing of the Wassail Bowl" at the officers' mess dinner. |
| April 23 | St. George's Day is observed by the Canadian Grenadier Guards. |
| April 25 | There is a celebration annually in the officers' mess, Canadian Forces Station, Sydney, marking the founding of the unofficial Royal Cape Breton Air Force in 1956. |
| April 25 | "Kapyong Day," commemorating the battle fought in Korea in which Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry participated, is observed by the regiment, particularly the 2nd Battalion, with mess dinners and regimental balls, decorations for the latter featuring oriental motifs. Kapyong Barracks is located at Winnipeg. |
| April 26 | On this day, the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada celebrates the founding of the regiment, 26 April 1860. |
| April 29 | Although the regular component of the old Canadian Engineer Corps dates from 1 July 1903, military engineers consider their natal date the day they were designated the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, 29 April 1936. On this day, or close to it, a variety of reunions of military engineer occur. One of these takes place annually when some fifty parachutists of the First Airborne Engineer Field Squadron of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, from Edmonton, literally drop into the School of Military Engineering, CFB Chilliwack, British Columbia. |
| April | A popular and growing custom in the fleet occurs on Easter Sunday when the families of members of the ships' companies are invited on board for dinner. |
| May | Annually, early in May, the officer of the Royal 22e Régiment dine those officers leaving the regiment. Each departing officer receives a plaque and a letter of appreciation from the commanding officer. |
| May | On a selected day in mid-May, le Régiment de Maisonneuve parades a guard of honour for the observance at the Maisonneuve monument commemorating the founding of Montreal by Maisonneuve in 1642. |
| May | The regimental dinner of the Royal Canadian Hussars is held each spring, usually in May. |
| First Sunday in May | On the first Sunday in May, the Royal Montreal Regiment holds its annual church parade to St. Matthias' Church, where the regimental colour is re-consecrated to the memory of the regiment's war dead, with particular reference to the heavy tosses at Ypres and St. Julien in the spring of 1915. |
| First Sunday in May | On "Battle of the Atlantic Sunday," commemorative services are held from coast to coast and in HMC ships at sea. The national ceremony is held at Halifax, where the men of the fleet parade to the naval memorial at Point Pleasant. In HMCS York, the naval division at Toronto, a wreath is cast upon the waters of Lake Ontario. A similar ceremony is performed at Victoria Pier, Montreal, by HMCS Donnacona. |
| May | Graduation, better known as Grad Day, at le Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean, occurs annually early in May. The trooping of the college colour takes place in the afternoon, followed by the Graduation Ball at night. The all-night party is concluded at dawn next day with a group photograph out on the parade square of the cadets and their partners who are then served breakfast prepared by the college commandant, staff officers and their ladies. |
| May | Annually, in early May, at several major land force bases, field engineer squadrons sponsor a week-end of festivities called a "Milly Reunion". It replaces a similar celebration formerly associated with the birthday of the old Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers. Attended by military engineers, active and retired, and their families, the three day event includes a ceremonial parade , a candle-light dinner and all ranks dance, and, on the Sunday, an old-fashioned family-style picnic. |
| May | First Saturday of the month. The Battle of Cut Knife Hill, associated with the regiment's first battle honour, North-west Canada 1885, is observed by the Governor-General's Foot Guards with an annual mess dinner in the sergeant's mess. |
| May 4 | Anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Canadian Navy, 4 May 1910. |
| May 6 | The official birthday of le 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada (regular force) based at CFB Valcartier, is the date the unit was established, 6 May 1968. The regimental day of le 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada (Militia), based at Trois-Rivières, is March 24, commemorating the day in 1871 when four independent companies were brought together to form the Three Rivers Provisional Battalion of Infantry. |
| May 6 | A close relationship has grown up between the chief and petty officers of HMCS Star, and United States Naval Reserve units in the Lake Ontario region. Each spring and fall, visits are exchanged with the USNR at Rochester, and also at Oswego, New York. The Battle of Oswego occurred 6 May 1814, when Commodore Yeo's squadron of the Royal Navy successfully attacked the port. |
| May 8 | The ceremony of trooping the colour is performed by Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in commemoration of the regiment's part in the Battle of Frezenberg, 8 May 1915, particularly by the 1st Battalion. Events include all-ranks luncheons, mess dinners the preceding day, and regimental balls on May 8. |
| May 12 | Batoche Day. On this day, the Royal Regiment of Canada commemorates the participation of its forbear, the 10th Royal Grenadiers, in the North-west Rebellion, 1885, in particular the capture of Batoche in northern Saskatchewan. |
| May 24 | "Strathcona Day" of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) marks the anniversary of the Crossing of the Melfa River during the Italian campaign, 24 May 1944. Normally held at Sarcee Barracks, Calgary, the event takes the form of an all-ranks ports day and "bun feed.". |
| May 24 | The Royal Westminster Regiment Association holds its Melfa Dinner on the weekend prior to May 24, while the regiment has it mess dinner on the weekend following this date. At this commemoration of the Battle of Melfa Crossing in Italy on 24 May 1944, representatives of Lord Strathcona's Horse renew their battle association with the Royal Westminster Regiment. |
| May 24 | Official birthday of the Sovereign. A royal salute is fired at noon on the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, which is celebrated in Canada on the Monday immediately preceding May 25. Saluting stations for this royal anniversary observance are: St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Victoria (Esquimalt). |
| May 26 | Artillery Day. This day is celebrated by most units of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery with a variety of events including special parades, ports days, mess dinners, teas, parties and open houses. The founding date of the Royal Artillery was 26 May 1716. |
| May | Annually, during the last week-end in May, the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) exercise their privilege of freedom of the city of Victoria, British Columbia. |
| June 1 | Though formed from four independent companies in 1900, the Algonquin Regiment, based in North Bay and Timmins, Ontario, celebrates the birthday of the regiment on June 1, the day in 1903 that it was designated the 97th Regiment Algonquin Rifles. The observance takes the form of a dining-in for serving officers and associated members of the officers' mess. |
| June 2 | The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada commemorates the regiment's first battle casualties, the Engagement at Ridgeway during the Fenian Raids, 2 June 1866. |
| June 2 | The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment holds its Regimental Mobilization and Anniversary Dinner marking the regiment's birthday, 2 June 1885. |
| June 4-6 | "Rome-Normandy Days" commemorate the First Canadian Special Service Battalion's entry into Rome on 4 June 1944, and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion's jump into Normandy early in the morning of 6 June 1944. The three-day observances by the Canadian Airborne Regiment include a church parade, trooping of the colour, exercising freedom of the city of Edmonton, a full day of jumping at Namao, Alberta, with the families of the regiment being served lunch in the drop-zone, a tea party in the officers' mess, and an all-ranks dance. |
| June 6 | The Regina Rifle Regiment parades on June 6 to the Cenotaph in Regina's Victoria Park in remembrance of fallen comrades in the Hooge-Ypres Salient, Belgium, 6 June 1916, and the Normandy Invasion, 6 June 1944. This is followed by a regimental mess dinner in Regina. |
| June 6 | A regimental mess dinner is held on June 6 by le Régiment de la Chaudière, Lévis, Quebec, in commemoration of the regiment's landing in Normandy, 6 June 1944. |
| June 6 | Annually, on this day the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada honours the fallen in the Normandy Landing, 6 June 1944. |
| June 6 | On the weekend closest to June 6, the Fort Garry Horse commemorates the part played by the regiment in the Invasion of Normandy, 1944. |
| June 6 | Although officially formed on 8 April 1968 the Canadian Airborne Regiment's regimental day is celebrated on June 6 in commemoration of that day in 1944 when the regiment's forbear, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, made its first jump to engage the enemy, at the invasion of Normandy. |
| June 6 | This was for over a century after 1758 the parade day or training day of the old "sedentary militia" (universal compulsory service) of the former provinces and colonies; it was the birthday of George III, a holiday on which the annual muster took place, and for many areas it provided almost the only money seen during the year. This was probably the precursor of our present Armed Forces Day as well as both Victoria Day and Dominion Day or Canada Day. June, 1916, in which the regiment's Forbear, the Toronto Regiment, distinguished itself. |
| June 14 | The service battalions from coast to coast celebrate their birthday on this day. Usually, the occasion is marked by special ceremonial parade, and battalion dances in the evening. |
| June 18 | June 18 is the regimental birthday of the Princess Louise Fusiliers. It was on this day in 1869 that the Halifax Volunteer Battalion of Infantry was authorized. This event is commemorated by the annual officers' mess dinner. |
| June 30 | A dinner in the officers' mess of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment is held annually on the eve of the anniversary of the heroic advance of the regiment at the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, 1 July 1916. |
| June | Armed Forces Day. On the Saturday preceding Canada Week, which embraces July 1 (Dominion Day), the commands, bases, stations and units of the forces, at home and abroad, are "at home" so that the public may become better acquainted with the forces and their work. |
| July 1 | Dominion Day. On the anniversary of Canada's birthday, units of all three elements perform public services from coast to coast as well as at station abroad, in the form of ceremonial parade, gun salute and fly-past. |
| July 1 | Dominion Day. To commemorate the Confederation of Canada, July 1867, twenty-one-gun salutes are fired at noon, July 1, at Canadian Forces saluting stations at: St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria (Esquimalt). |
| July 1 | Commemoration Day. Since 1917, units of the forces have joined with the people of Newfoundland on the Sunday nearest to July 1, a day set aside by an Act of the Parliament of Newfoundland to honour in solemn remembrance the men of the Newfoundland Regiment who fell in heroic sacrifice at the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, 1 July 1916. |
| July 1 | The Order of Military Merit, of which His Excellency the Governor-General, Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, is Chancellor, was inaugurated on 1 July 1972. The honours lists of this first truly Canadian military decoration are announced twice yearly on a day close to July 1 and January 1. |
| July 3 | The regimental birthday of the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is 3 July 1868, when the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion of Infantry was authorized to be formed from six independent companies. Each year a day is elected for the annual regimental dinner in the officers' mess. |
| July 8 | The serving officers of the Highland Fusiliers of Canada observe the anniversary of the Battle of Buron in the Normandy campaign, 8 July 1944 at a mess dinner. It was at this battle that one of the regiment's predecessors, the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, suffered severe casualties. |
| July 10 | This day is celebrated by the Royal Canadian Regiment in honour of its landing on the Pachino Peninsula, Sicily, 10 July 1943. Highlight of the day is inter-company track and field events followed by a regimental gathering. |
| August | On the first Monday of August, civic holiday, the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) celebrates Simcoe Day with military pageantry in the Borough of East York, Toronto, where the regiment enjoys the honour and privilege of the freedom of the city. (John Graves Simcoe, first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, late in the eighteenth century, commanded a forbear of the regiment two hundred years ago.) |
| August 1 | Minden Day is observed by the North Saskatchewan Regiment honouring the heroic part played by its allied regiment, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the Baule of Minden, 1 August 1759. On that day in both regiments, the White Rose of York is worn on the head-dress. |
| August 7 | Second Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, celebrates its birthday on this day in commemoration of its formation at Camp Shilo on 7 August 1950, in preparation for service in Korea. In 1975, festivities included a mounted march-past, the firing of a feu-de-joie using 105 mm howitzers, and a dance attended by all ranks. |
| August 10 | The anniversary of 10 August 1914, the regimental birthday of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, has an origin unique in the Canadian Forces. It is the date of the regiment's charter, the mark of a privately raised regiment. The Patricias were founded through the persona! initiative and expense of Captain Andrew Hamilton Gault as a battalion of largely veteran soldiers for service in the Great War. |
| August 19 | Dieppe Day. The Royal Regiment of Canada observes and remembers its part in the Dieppe Raid, 19 August 1942. |
| August 19 | On the closest Friday to this day, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada holds a regimental reunion. |
| September | On a weekend in September, "Stars," past and present, foregather in HMCS Star at Hamilton for their annual reunion. |
| September | Towards the end of September each year, the officer of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), at Victoria, join with the associate members of the mess for dinner. |
| September | The 30th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, "the Bytown Gunners," holds an all-ranks regimental dinner annually in September to celebrate the founding of the original battery in 1855. |
| September 14 | On 14 September 1866, at the time of the Fenian Raids, the 36th Peel Battalion Of Infantry was authorized. This day is observed as the regimental birthday by the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment). |
| Sunday September 15 or first Sunday following 15 September | On "Battle of Britain Sunday," commemorative services are held from coast to coast. Until recently, the national ceremony was held at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Ottawa. Now, the Royal Canadian Air Force Association has accepted the sponsorship of the national observance of Baule of Britain Sunday, with strong support from the Canadian Forces. It intends to conduct this national memorial service in Winnipeg, the home of Air Command Headquarters, and eventually in centres across the land coinciding with the association's annual convention. |
| October | Each October, the officers of the King's Own Calgary Regiment hold their Bride's Dinner and dance to honour the most recent bride of an officer, or the wife of an officer not previously honoured by the mess. |
| October | Annually, in October, the Saskatchewan Dragoons troop their guidon. The Trooping Ball is attended by all ranks. |
| October | Annually during October, a Sunday is designated by the Royal Westminster Regiment for church parade and the christening of children of the regiment. |
| October | A day is elected each year for the annual officers' mess dinner to commemorate the part played by the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada at the Battle of Passchendaele, October 1917. |
| October | Annually, usually early in October, the Royal Military College, Kingston, holds its highly popular and long established ex-cadet week-end. Over several days, former graduates of the college are welcomed back to dine and to witness displays of drill and sports, and to attend a special church parade and service at the Memorial Arch at the entrance to the college grounds. |
| October | Annually in October, the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) dine in celebration of the parts played by forbears of the regiment in two battles fought during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, the "Brandywine and Queenston Heights Dinner". |
| October 5 | The ship's company of the destroyer, HMCS Margaree, celebrates the anniversary of the ship's first commissioning, 5 October 1957, at a party on board which includes beer and birthday cake. |
| October 8 | The West Nova Scotia Regiment marks this day as Ortona Day, though the battle for Ortona, Italy, in which the regiment was heavily engaged, was waged during the month of December, 1943. (Actually, this day is the regimental birthday, its forbear, the First Regiment of Annapolis County Volunteers, having been formed 8 October 1869.) |
| October 21 | Trafalgar Day. On the nearest Friday to this date, the officers of HMCS Star, past and present, commemorate Nelson's victory off Cape Trafalgar, 21 October 1805 at a mess dinner. |
| October 21 | Trafalgar Day. This anniversary is observed in HMCS Cataraqui at Kingston, Ontario, with a ceremonial parade. |
| October 21 | Trafalgar Day. The day is also marked by HMCS Scotian, the naval reserve division at Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| October 21 | Trafalgar Day in Stadacona wardroom, CFB Halifax, is the scene of a "super weepers" for the officers of the First Canadian Submarine Squadron, and a "penny beer" for the officers of the base. |
| October 21 | On this day, members of the Royal 22e Régiment entertain their ladies to dinner to commemorate the birthday of the regiment, 21 October 1914, when the 22e Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, was raised for war service. |
| October 30 | The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada commemorates the capture of Crest Farm (Passchendaele) 30 October 1917, with a mess dinner in the officers' mess on the nearest Friday or Saturday. |
| October 31 | On the weekend closest to this day, the Calgary Highlanders honour the fallen who died when the regiment led the attack in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway, 31 October — 1 November 1944. The observances take the form of a mess dinner and church parade. |
| October | Annually, late in October, the warrant officers and sergeants of the Royal 22e Régiment hold a dinner dance at the Citadel, Quebec, in honour of departing members of the mess. |
| November | Early in November, the officers of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), at Victoria, join with the associate members of the mess, and their ladies, for the annual Social and Ball. |
| November | On the last Friday of November, the officers of Saskatoon's naval division, HMCS Unicorn, hold their time-honoured AQT (Ale, Quail and Tale) Dinner. It is related to the wild game cuisine said to have been served during the only naval engagement in Saskatchewan when the SS Northcote was under fire in the North-west Rebellion of 1885. |
| November 5 | The ship's company of HMCS Brunswicker, the naval reserve division at Saint John, attends the annual memorial service al the Jervis Bay Monument. On 5 November 1940, HMS Jervis Bay, an armed merchant cruiser with a close association with the city and partly manned by the Royal Canadian Navy, went down under the guns of the battleship, Admiral Scheer, in the epic defence of Convoy HX-84 in the North Atlantic. |
| November 7 | On November 7, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, the oldest regular force cavalry regiment, holds a reunion of present and former members of the RCD to commemorate the day the regiment won three Victoria Crosses at Liliefontein, South Africa, 7 November 1900. |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day. At 1100 on this day, with flags at half-mast, a twenty-one-gun memorial salute is fired at each Canadian Forces saluting station at: St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria (Esquimalt). |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day dates from 11 November 1918, the armistice which brought the First World War to an end. The observance of this day honours all of Canada's war dead. Commemorative services are held from coast to coast, in HMC ship at sea, and at stations abroad. The national ceremony is conducted at the National War Memorial, Confederation Square, Ottawa. |
| November 11 | Annually, on an evening close to this date, the Officers' Mess of the Saskatchewan Dragoons holds its Remembrance Day Ball. |
| November 11 | On Armistice Sunday, the Royal Montreal Regiment parades to the cenotaphs at Westmount and Pointe Claire, Quebec, and to St. Anne's Military Hospital. On the Friday preceding Remembrance Day, the Royal Montreal Regiment holds its annual reunion mess dinner for both former and serving officers of the regiment. |
| November 11 | On the Saturday preceding Remembrance Day observance, the Royal Canadian Regiment parades with the Regimental Association for Memorial Day Service. This takes place at the regiment's war memorial at the home station, Wolseley Barracks, London. |
| November 20 | This day is celebrated as the regimental birthday of the Royal Westminster Regiment which traces its origin back to colonial times and the Westminster Volunteer Rifles of 20 November 1863. |
| November 20 | Cambrai Day. Cambrai Day is the official regimental day of the Fort Garry Horse. On the closest week-end, the regiment celebrates the part it played in the First Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917. |
| November 21 | The Canoe River Memorial Service. On this day in 1950, the Second Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, bound for war service in Korea, suffered seventeen killed and thirty-five injured, in a railway collision near Canoe River in the mountains of British Columbia. In commemoration of this tragedy, memorial services are held on this day by the regiment and at the Canoe River Monument at the regimental depot, Shilo, Manitoba. |
| November 30 | St. Andrew's Day. On the last Saturday nearest to St. Andrew's Day, all serving and retired officers of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) attend the annual Game Dinner consisting entirely of sea food and game procured by the officers themselves. |
| November 30 | St. Andrew's Day is observed by the Calgary Highlander with a mess dinner in the officers' mess. |
| November 30 | The officers' mess of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders sponsors the St. Andrews's Ball in Cornwall, Ontario. |
| November 30 | November 30 is observed as a holiday in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and all officers attend the festivities of the St. Andrews Society. |
| November 30 | In association with the St. Andrews Society of Toronto, the 48th Highlanders of Canada, in alternate years, produce the 48th Highlanders Ball. |
| December | 400 Air Reserve Squadron, Toronto, holds its annual Black Velvet reunion, for all former and present squadron officers, the first Friday in December. The name stems from the concoction served — stout and champagne! |
| December | At the annual mess dinner in the senior non-commissioned officers' mess of the Royal Westminster Regiment, the Bungled Bayonet Award is presented with much hilarity to the senior CO who has committed during the year the greatest faux pas.. The trophy is a CF pattern boot elegantly mounted on a mahogany shield transfixed with a Mark I bayonet. |
| December | About mid-month, at the end of the autumn term, the cadets of Royal Roads Military College gather on the quarter-deck in Grant Block for their Christmas carol service, complete with choir and bell ringer. This tradition began as early as 1944 in the days of the Royal Canadian Naval College, quartered in HMCS Royal Roads, when "Officers, Cadets, Wrens and Ratings assembled in the main hall of the Castle to sing Christmas carols." (The Log, HMCS Royal Roads, 1944-1945). |
| December 4 | St. Barbara's Day. The day of St. Barbara, the mystical patron saint of artillerymen, is observed by units of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery with church parades, sports, mess dinners and other events, even to firing salutes with miniature guns. |
| December 15 | The Windsor Regiment celebrate its birthday on December 15 recalling its founding as the Essex Regiment (Tank) on 15 December 1936. |
| December 21 | Birthday of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 21 December 1883. There is a regimental gathering in the junior ranks mess to commence the period of relaxed duties associated with the celebration of Christmas. The men of the regiment are served by their officers and senior NCOs in the traditional fashion. In the evening, mess dinners are held in both the officers and warrant officers/sergeants messes. |
| December 25 | The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada celebrate the birthday of the regiment's colonel-in-chief, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent, December 25. |
| December 31 | Hogmanay is celebrated by most of the Scottish regiments of the Canadian Forces in traditional highland fashion. |
| December 31 | December 31 Hogmanay is celebrated by most of the Scottish regiments of the Canadian Forces in traditional highland fashion. |
| December 31 | Other ranks of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) dine annually to honour the memory of the four members of the regiment who won the Victoria Cross. |
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