QUEBEC CITY - The media are invited to cover the military program activities to be held from July 1 to 3 as part of Quebec City's 400th anniversary festivities on the Plains of Abraham and in the surrounding area.
Quebec City, the only fortified city in North America, still has a permanent garrison of regular force soldiers. It has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site, and the Canadian Forces will take part in its anniversary festivities by providing a wide-ranging program. The troops are therefore inviting everyone to come and celebrate the richness of our military history from 1608 to today.
July 1
------
Plains of Abraham, Reservoir site
1 PM--Fourteen Canadian Forces information stands of various units of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, the Naval Reserve and the Air Force. A number of military members will be on site to answer questions from the public and many vehicles and all types of equipment will be on display.
1:30 and 3 PM--The Compagnie Franche de la Marine will perform a historical re-enactment.
July 2
------
Plains of Abraham, Reservoir site
Starting at 12 noon--Historical encampment recreating military life of periods between 1608 and 2008. Three hundred re-enactment experts and enthusiasts along with many military personnel will be on site to show the public antique and contemporary uniforms, vehicles and equipment.
The site is open to the public. Public Affairs officers will be available at 514-423-4044 to assist journalists covering the event.
Events not to be missed:
2 to 3 PM--Elementary drill
3 to 5 PM--Musket firing drill
6 to 7 PM--Cannon drill (4 and 25-lbs)
July 3
------
City hall and the streets of Old Quebec
8:15 to 8:40 AM--Exercising Freedom of the City by 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.
A group of 120 soldiers will perform this tradition. Freedom of the City is one of the most prestigious honours that municipal authorities can bestow on a military unit. It is, in fact, a mark of affection and esteem that the people of a city grant to a military unit. By granting Freedom of the City, a city gives a military unit permission to parade in its streets with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. Freedom of the City is granted for one of two reasons: either the city has a long-standing excellent relationship with the unit, or else the residents want to thank the unit for a heroic service.
10:15 AM--Military parade through the streets of Old Quebec. The parade will leave from the Plains of Abraham. The parade will include about 2,000 military personnel, military re-enactment experts and enthusiasts, RCMP officers, veterans and civilians, escorted by 38 modern and antique vehicles with their crews, as well as six CH-146 Griffon helicopters and two CF-18 jets. This parade put on especially for Quebec City's 400th anniversary includes two components: one historical and one contemporary.
The historical part of the parade:
- The Huron First Nations
- 1608: Samuel de Champlain
- 1650: Soldier of the Compagnie des cent associés
- 1651: The Milice coloniale de Trois-Rivières
- 1665: The Régiment Carignan-Salières
- 1683: The Compagnies Franches de la Marine
- 1755: The Canonniers Bombardiers de Québec
- 1759: Montcalm's regulars and militia - 1759: James Company of Roger's Rangers
- 1759: The Marquis de Montcalm and Major-General James Wolfe
- 1759: The 78th Fraser Highlanders
- 1760: The Régiment de La Sarre
- 1760: The Régiment de Béarn
- 1760: The 60th (Royal American) Regiment
- 1760: The King's Rangers (Robert Rogers)
- 1776: The Von Barner Light Infantry Regiment
- 1812: The Voltigeurs of Salaberry
- 1839: 24th Regiment of Foot from Fort Ingall
- 1850: The Hudson's Bay coureurs des bois
- 1899: The Boer War - 1914: The Great War
- 1942: 425 Squadron (Lancaster crew)
- 1944: 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
- 1944: The Régiment de la Chaudière
- 1945: The United Nations
Veterans will be riding on collector vehicles.
Contemporary part of the parade:
- The National Band of the Naval Reserve
- Col Eric Tremblay, Commander 5 CMBG
- HMCS Ville de Québec
- HMCS Montcalm
- 5e Régiment d'Artillerie légère du Canada
- The Royal Canadian Dragoons
- 12e Régiment blindé du Canada
- 5 Combat Engineer Regiment
- 71 Communication Group
- Headquarters and Signal Squadron
- 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment
- The Garde en rouge of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment
- The Band of the Royal 22e Régiment
- The 3rd Light Infantry Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment
- 34 Canadian Brigade Group
- 35 Canadian Brigade Group
- 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
- 2 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
- 5 Canadian Service Battalion
- The Royal 22e Régiment Band
- 5 Field Ambulance
- 5 Military Police Unit
- Command Support Capability (CSC) HQ
- International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Sûreté du Québec police officers
- The Valcartier Family Centre
- The RCMP Musical Ride
Please note that for security reasons, the parade route will only be released a few days before the event.
Notes to editors: For additional information on the military activities, please contact Captain Marie-Noelle Blanchet, Public Affairs Officer, Land Force Quebec Area and Joint Task Force East, at (514) 252-2777, extension 4280, or by pager at (514) 423-4044; For further information on 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, please visit its Web site at www.5gbmc.ca
