NR - 10.23 - October 7, 2010
KINGSTON, Ont. – The 1st Canadian Division Headquarters was stood-up at CFB Kingston, Ont., earlier today in a ceremony attended by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin, Chief of the Land Staff, and Lieutenant-General Marc Lessard, Commander Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. The 130-member unit provides the Canadian Forces with a headquarters that can rapidly deploy at home or around the globe in response to a variety of crises including humanitarian operations.
"The Canadian Forces continuously distinguish themselves in their service to Canadians, as recently demonstrated through operations abroad in Haiti and Afghanistan, and at home in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister MacKay. "The stand-up of the 1st Canadian Division Headquarters enhances the responsiveness of the Canadian Forces to Canadian interests at home and abroad."
"This headquarters will also strengthen the Canadian Forces leadership role on international missions," said LGen Devlin, "with the capacity to carry out a broad range of joint operations, and a high readiness posture that is essential to meeting current and future challenges. It will establish itself as a robust, operational level headquarters capable of commanding and controlling deployed forces across a full spectrum of contingencies."
"The re-establishment of the Division Headquarters builds upon lessons learned throughout numerous national and international missions," said LGen Lessard. "It represents the Canadian Forces' commitment to continuously adapt our culture, doctrine, training and structure to new world realities and ensure that Canada has a first-class, modern military."
Members of the 1st Canadian Division will wear a distinctive red square shoulder patch which has been worn since the inception of the Division during the First World War.
"The Division has a long and remarkable history," said Major-General David Fraser, Commander 1st Canadian Division. "It is with great pride and with this history in mind that I assume this command."
The headquarters is a joint unit, meaning it is composed of Canadian Forces members and civilians from the Army, Navy and Air Force, and is capable of directing air, land and maritime assets. It is located at CFB Kingston using existing infrastructure and base support.
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Note to news editors: For more information, please contact Maj. Bernard Dionne, 1st Canadian Division HQ Public Affairs Officer, at 613-541-5010, extension 8172.
