THE POWDER HORN
Monthly Newsletter
February 2025
COMMAND TEAM UPDATE
Being a member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada means belonging to a broader Regimental family, which is a distinct privilege. Not only do Riflemen undertake secondary or tertiary tasks and responsibilities while on duty, but they also selflessly volunteer their time and efforts to improving their communities.
Our last words on these pages at the end of January spoke to the concepts of honour and tradition. On 1 February, current and formerly serving soldiers gathered at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to join the Canadian Airborne Forces Association for presentation of the King Charles III Coronation Medal to paratrooper Ed Marshall. In concert with Warrant Officer Winnicki, the World War II veteran and centenarian had raised over $100,000 for Sick Kid’s Hospital in 2024.
Later that day, the Deployed Soldier’s Support Committee hosted a meet and greet for friends and family of those Riflemen slated for Operation REASSURANCE. Over a dozen members are preparing to depart for CFB Petawawa to undertake pre-deployment training alongside their peers, and it is important to not only recognize the vital role that their loved-ones play, but acknowledge their own unique challenges on the home front.
It is humbling to watch the current generation of Riflemen professionally develop, mentally grow and shoulder the great burden of sacrifice on behalf of their nation.
On the evening of 21 February, four members of the Regiment attended the Royal Canadian Military Institute to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Operation UNIFIER, and solemnly commemorate the third year of the brutal, full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Major Lee, Corporal Pugliese and Corporal Chambers joined their compatriots from across the country, while hearing from the Ukrainian Defence Attaché to Canada, and Brigadier-General Stalker, Assistant Commander Training – NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).
On 23 February, the unit deployed to CFB Borden to conduct live-fire range activity. The heavy snow and plummeting temperatures were a bleak backdrop for our soldiers, who persevered through austere conditions to complete their annual readiness and training requirements in snowshoes.
In Pace Paratus
Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major
Capt (Ret'd) Kevin Junor, MMM, CD Awarded the Order of Ontario
Captain (Ret’d) Kevin Junor has been awarded the Order of Ontario; his citation highlights a military career that "spans almost four decades, notably as Regimental Sergeant Major with the Toronto Scottish Regiment – the first Black individual appointed to this position in the regiment; later an officer in Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Beyond military service, he's made significant contributions to community safety in Ontario. He also serves as citizen security sector-lead on the Global Jamaican Diaspora Council. He's been an advocate for diversity and inclusion globally. His leadership contributed to the Government of Canada’s historic apology to the descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion, the only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history."
80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and VE-Day Pilgrimage
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada will return to Europe in May 2025 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of V-E Day and the Liberation of the Netherlands. The Regiment will send a delegation to Europe in honour of the 34 Riflemen who lost their lives during Operation Blockbuster, during the final push to the Rhine. The itinerary will retrace the steps of the QOR of C as they fought through the Netherlands, liberating the crucial channel ports. After crossing into Germany, Sergeant Aubrey Cosens was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross while capturing the tiny farming hamlet of Mooshof, Germany.
Following the success of the D+80 Fundraising Campaign, which sent over 70 Riflemen to Normandy in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Regiment will be conducting another fundraising campaign in support of NLD80. For a limited time, donors will be able to sponsor one of 34 Riflemen to attend this historic occasion. Your donation will cover their trip expenses, and support the Regiment’s commemorative activities.
$100 Donation
Donors will receive a certificate of appreciation upon the completion of the trip.
$500 Donation
Donors will receive a limited commemorative coin to mark the occasion of the 80th anniversary trip.
$2500 Donation (Sponsor a Rifleman)
As an official Rifleman sponsor, donors will receive a Coin of Remembrance to be shared with the sponsored Rifleman—who will research the fallen member and communicate with you about their journey. Donors will also receive a commemorative coin and certificate of appreciation.
$5000 Donation (Mess Dinner Sponsor)
As the sponsor for the commemorative Mess Dinner in Groesbeek on May 8th, 2025, your organization will be recognized at the dinner with branding and recognition. In addition, you will also be an official Rifleman sponsor, and be provided with a Coin of Remembrance to be shared with the sponsored member. Finally, you will receive a commemorative plaque, coin, and certificate of appreciation.
Please click here to support the trip.
82025 Nijmegen March
The 2025 4Days Marches will be held from Tuesday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. This is the world’s largest walking achievement event with over 45,000 participants (around 6,000 military and 39,000 civilian) from 70 different countries. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada have a deep connection with the event, by sending teams and participants since the 1950’s. The Canadian Armed Forces no longer send an official contingent, however there are still many Canadians—both military and civilian—that participate in the event. Depending on your age, you will march 30 or 50 kilometres each day for four days and be awarded the Vierdaagsekruis (4Days Marches Cross). In 2025, a small group of veterans from the QOR will be participating in style; if you would like to participate, please contact smoody@1860club.ca.
Recognizing our 2024 Volunteers
Our annual event to recognize our 2024 volunteers took place in the library of the Royal Canadian Military Institute on the evening of 6 February 2025.
Twenty-five attendees included our weekly volunteers, members of our museum’s Board of Governors, the Curator and Assistant Curators of Casa Loma (which hosts our museum) and Major Rhys Henderson, Deputy Commanding Officer of The Queen’s Own Rifles (on behalf of the Commanding Officer) and Master Warrant Officer Darnel Leader, Quartermaster Sergeant Major Instructor (on behalf of the Regimental Sergeant Major.)
Please read more about our Volunteer Recognition Night here .
QOR Association Update
On behalf of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association (Toronto Branch), I would like to thank those Association members who have paid their 2025 dues.
This month, we welcomed back our Regimental Padre John Howie, who has recovered very nicely from his recent surgery.
On a related note, Padre Howie, James Atcheson and Calgary Branch President Gil Chenier received the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Congratulations!
On February 8th, we had our first Get-Together Zoom Meeting of the year. Members of the Branch met up on February 26th to celebrate and toast the 80th Anniversary of Sgt Aubrey Cosens's VC at RCL Branch 258.
QOR NLD+80 is fast approaching, and you can also support the fundraising campaign by making a donation. I personally made a donation myself and the QOR Association (Toronto Branch) has made a donation of $500. Don’t forget, with your donation you will receive a Tax Receipt from the Trust Fund.
Let's show our support for serving Rifleman of the Regiment!
On a sad note we recently lost Major Phil Tachauer, CD—a great drummer that played for a number of years in the Signals Band, The Queen's Own Rifles Of Canada Band and Bugles, and the St. Andrews Pipes and Drums. He was also involved in the Air Cadets for a number of years. Phil was 95 years old when he passed. Padre Howie and I attended Phil's Celebration of Life on February 23.
In Pace Paratus
CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)
MAROON BERET NEWSLETTER
The current issue of the Maroon Beret Newsletter for 2024 can be found at the link below:
https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca/maroonberet
The next edition is planned for late March 2025. Please feel free to send any articles and photos to me by March 1st, 2025.
If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please let me know.
We are on Facebook and Instagram @canadianairborneforces, as well as LinkedIn.
Scott Moody
Communications Director
Canadian Airborne Forces Association
https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca
Canadian Infantry Association
My name is LCol (Ret’d) Doug Johnson. I commanded the Lorne Scots from 1997-2000. I write to you today as the President of the Central Ontario Branch of the Canadian Infantry Association. The Central Ontrario Branch is made up of all Infantry units in 32 Brigade.
The CIA has been around since 1912. All Infantry Regiments are members of the Association. Traditionally The Commanding Officers of each unit have been the ones representing the Regiments at meetings. Its purpose is to support and advance the Infantry profession. We belong to the Conference of Defence Association as do all the other military trade organizations such as Engineers, Intelligence, as well as the other two services. We are independent of the DND or the CAF so we can represent our members on Infantry issues.
We have recently begun to revise the organization of the organization. We have now opened the membership so that all Infanteers, regardless of rank regular force or reserve, can become members rather than just the units. There is no cost to join CIA. I write to you to solicit your help in reaching out to your members, both active and retired, to make them aware of CIA and encourage them to join. They can visit the website for more information at www.ducimus.army and complete the form under the membership category. Again, there is no cost to joining.
QOR of C Kit Shop
If you are interested in purchasing QOR of C merchandise, you may do so via our online Kit Shop. We now have the ability to issue invoices and accept payment online. We have several new items in stock, including merchandise from the Airborne Reunion.
Please visit the QOR Kit Shop here.
Watch and Shoot (Upcoming Events)
April 26, 2025
Regimental Birthday
May 3-10, 2025
NLD+80 Trip
June 6, 2025
D-Day Dinner
For more events, please consult the calendar of events.
Trust Fund and Fundraising Update
Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $500,000 to support The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund and various Regimental initiatives. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generosity and support. The full list of Founders can be viewed here.
For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here. For any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Online Links
The QOR of C Regimental Association
More information about The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Association Branches can be found at:
Toronto Branch
https://www.facebook.com/qortorontoassociation
East Coast Branch
https://www.qor-east.com
Calgary Branch
https://www.qorcalgary.com
Vancouver Island Branch
https://www.qorvi.com
The Rifleman Magazine (Annual Journal of the QOR of C)
https://fliphtml5.com/insrc/ryzm
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum
https://qormuseum.org/
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Website
https://www.queensownrifles.com/
Kit Shop
https://sites.google.com/view/qorkitshop/
Submissions
To submit comments or content to the The Rifles Report or The Powder Horn, please contact Brian Whittaker, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca