About the Canadian Rangers

The Canadian Rangers

The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Army Reserve who live and work in remote, isolated, and coastal regions of Canada. They provide light-equipped, self-sufficient mobile forces to support Canadian Armed Forces national security and public safety operations within Canada. Canadian Rangers receive up to 12 days annual pay in addition to compensation for any official CAF taskings. 

Who are the Canadian Rangers?

Canadian Rangers are Canadian Armed Forces members who are always ready for service. They are on duty when they are training or when they are called upon during an emergency situation or a domestic operation. Unlike the traditional CAF promotion practices, Canadian Rangers elect their patrol leaders, Canadian Ranger sergeants. There are approximately 5,000 Canadian Rangers living in more than 200 communities who speak 26 different languages and dialects. 

Where are they based?

The Canadian Rangers Organization are divided into five Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups (CRPGs). Each CRPG has its own headquarters and a staff that is responsible for training and mentoring the Rangers and Junior Canadian Rangers in remote, isolated, and coastal communities across Canada, with the exception of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Find out more about the five Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups and the ways Canadian Rangers protect Canada at the Canadian Rangers page. 

• 1^stCanadian Ranger Patrol Group encompasses Nunavut Territory, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories and Atlin, British Columbia. Its headquarters is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
• 2^ndCanadian Ranger Patrol Group is responsible for the area of Northern Quebec, James Bay, and the Lower North Shore. This Group reports to 2^nd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force (East).
• 3^rdCanadian Ranger Patrol Group covers remote coastal and inland regions of Northern Ontario. It reports to the 4th Canadian Division.
• 4^thCanadian Ranger Patrol Group covers British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. This Group’s headquarters is located in Victoria, British Columbia.
• 5^thCanadian Ranger Patrol Group encompasses Newfoundland and Labrador. It is headquartered in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

What tasks and operations do Canadian Rangers participate in?

Here are some examples of the assigned tasks that the Canadian Rangers fulfill:

• Canadian Rangers conduct and provide support to sovereignty operations such as reporting suspicious and unusual activities as well as collecting local information of military significance.
• Canadian Rangers conduct and provide assistance to CAF domestic operations such as providing local knowledge and expertise (i.e. advice and guides) or participating in search and rescue operations.
• Canadian Rangers maintain a CAF presence in the local community through instruction, mentoring, and supervision of youth in the Junior Canadian Rangers Program.

For more information, consult our Canadian Rangers Tasks and Operations page and the Defence Administrative Orders and Directives 2020-2 – Canadian Rangers.

Looking for information on joining the Canadian Rangers?

Contact your local Canadian Ranger Patrol (CRP) to learn how to become a Canadian Ranger. Your local CRP can also inform you if it has any available positions.

If you are unable to contact your local CRP, you can contact your regional Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (CRPG) Headquarters. Contact information for each of the five CRPGs can be found by following the links listed in the Where are they based? section. Learn more by visiting the Canadian Rangers webpage.

Looking for more information about the Canadian Rangers?

Learn more by visiting the following web sites:

• The Canadian Rangers web site provides general information.
• Canadian Rangers – Training
• Canadian Rangers – Frequently Asked Questions