THE RIFLES REPORT

Monthly Update
October 2021

COMMANDING OFFICER’S UPDATE

I have had the opportunity to be in command of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for just over a year.  Commanding in our new COVID-19 environment has been a challenging but rewarding experience.  I am impressed daily by the adaptability, tenacity, and initiative that our serving members demonstrate to execute engaging training and support courses.

The month of September has been no exception.  We have returned to regular in-person training nights with over over 300 members.  Congratulations to Cpl Chambers, Cpl Mazza and Rfn Somerville, who just completed the Basic Parachutist course that was run by 3 RCR in CFB Petawawa.  Congratulations are also in order for Capt Toohey-Faughnan, Lt Filatow, MCpl Gunn, Cpl Chang, and Cpl Kaminski, who completed the very challenging 2 CMBG Iron Warrior event in CFB Petawawa on September 12th.  The QOR also took responsibility for running a Rappel Tower Operator course for 32 Canadian Brigade Group.

At the end of the month, we conducted Exercise Maroon Warrior 1 in Meaford.  During this exercise, we ran conventional and field firing ranges, as well as urban operations training.  It was great to have over a hundred Riflemen out training that weekend. 

The 1860 Club continues to grow, and we thank you for subscribing.  A friendly reminder: the opportunity to become a Founder will be closing at the end of December.  Unfortunately, due to challenges related to COVID-19, we will not be able to hold the 1860 Club event as we had planned for this month.  We will be holding a modified Remembrance Day Ceremony at St Paul’s on November 7th; more details will follow.

In Pace Paratus,

Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Moody, CD
Commanding Officer

Iron Warrior and Army Run 2021

Over the weekend of 10-12 Sept 21, five members of the Regiment competed in the Iron Warrior competition in Petawawa, Ontario.  The team was supported by members of the QOR of C Band, Ops Cell, OR, and 60th Company, with financial support from the Regimental Trust.  The competition days were an opportunity for members of the Regiment to challenge their bodies and minds in an endurance race; a combination of ruck marching, portaging, and canoeing.

While there were some terrain and weather challenges during the competition days, all QOR of C competitors pushed through and placed formidably amongst the nearly 500 competitors.  Particular BZ goes to MCpl Adam Gunn, who placed 31st in the Sprint event (21 Km) with a time of 2:49 and Rfn Alex Kaminski, who placed 41st in the Marathon event (42 Km) with a time of 5:17.  The team looks forward to next year’s Iron Warrior, and hopes to bring an even larger, faster, stronger team back to the beautiful Mattawa Plains.

Meanwhile, the Regimental Trust also enabled the QOR Running Team to participate in the 2021 Canada Army Run.  Although the event was virtual, it allowed competitors from across the country to measure up against each other.  Of note, 2Lt Steven Ye placed 27th out of nearly 1000 runners in the 5K + 10K Challenge.  The Running Team hopes to return to Ottawa for the 2022 edition.

qor association update

The QORA (Toronto Branch), since the Pandemic in March 2020, has not had the opportunity to be as active as we were in previous years.  To keep members connected, one of our Executive members, Jerry Senetchko, came up with the idea to form a group called Keeping Connected—Rifleman Strong—via the internet.  There are nearly 60 former members in this group that have served in the Regiment, and some that continue to serve in CAF, British Forces, and American Forces.  We have members living all across Canada, England, Ireland, and the United States.  More QOR members have been added since the inception; if you know of anyone that may be interested, please let us know.  The Keeping Connected group has been very beneficial as it allows us to share photos, laughter, and stories of the good times when serving together.  It also connects with those that are living alone and need some comfort during these strange times.

I also have set up a Zoom get-together every 6 weeks, thanks to the QOR Museum Curator John Stephens.  This gives us another opportunity to virtually meet, and express the feeling of seeing each other.  The Association has also run some events that have been very valuable, such as visits to Camp X in Oshawa, the Ontario Regiment Museum Tank Day, and most recently Aquino Tank Weekend.

I would like to thank all members of the Association that renewed their 2021 membership; it is greatly appreciated.  Thank you to members of the Executive for their continuing support while going through these trying times.

For Association members, I encourage you to join the 1860 Club; articles such as The Powder Horn & The Rifles Report will keep you updated with events of the Regiment and the Association.  You will also find the link for the Association Facebook Page for information and updates below. 

Stay Healthy and Safe!  I look forward to meeting up again.

Brian Budden
President
Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)

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 accept payment online. This month, we are pleased to offer a custom-made wall plaque featuring our cap badge.

Please visit the QOR Kit Shop here.

The museum is open, and regular volunteer nights have started again this month! Please visit our website at qormuseum.org for more information.

If you have potential items for our Museum and Archive collection, please read this page and complete the online form, or contact us at museum@qormuseum.org.

Trust Fund and Fundraising Update 

Since the launch of the 1860 Club, our members have donated over $100,000 to support The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Trust Fund.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generosity, and recognize the following members:

Normandy 1944 Donors
Over $186,000 in lifetime contributions 

HLCol Lionel Goffart, OStJ, CD 
Col Paul F Hughes, CD (Ret’d)

Vimy 1917 Donors
Over $18,600 in lifetime contributions

Capt Bernie Aaron (Ret’d)
HLCol Brendan Caldwell (Ret'd)
Lt J. Chris Donald (Ret'd)
Mr. Bryan Gransden
Capt Adam Hermant, OStJ, CD (Ret’d)
Hermant Family Foundation
HCol Larry Stevenson, CD (Ret’d)
LCol John Strathy, CD (Ret’d)
WO Philip ten Kortenaar, CD (Ret’d)
True Patriot Love Foundation

1860 Club Founders 

Col William Ball - US Army (Ret’d)
LCol William Barnard, CD (Ret’d)
LCol Sandi Banerjee, CD
Mr. Hans G. Bathija
Bruce Beauchamp Memorial Fund and Mr. Terry Beauchamp
Hon Col Bryan Brulotte, KJ, CD
Cpl Brian Buchan
2Lt Martin Bunch
LCol Greg Burton, CD (Ret’d)
HLCol Brendan Caldwell (Ret'd)
Maj Allan Champion, CD (Ret’d)
Capt Robert Chan, CD (Ret’d) and Ms. Annie Li
Ms. Linda Di Felice
Lt J. Chris Donald (Ret'd)
HLCol Lionel Goffart, OStJ, CD
Lt Brandon Filatow
LCol John Fotheringham, CD (Ret’d)
Mr. Bryan Gransden
2Lt Juron Grant-Kinnear
MCpl Robert Grieve (Ret'd)
Cpl Lee Harrison, CD (Ret’d)
WO David Hodgson, CD
MGen Walter Holmes, MStJ, MSM, CD, MBE (Ret’d)
Ms. Lana Holmes
Col Paul F Hughes CD (Ret’d)
Jackman Foundation
CWO Jeff Johnson, CD
LCol Frank Lamie, CD
MWO Darnel Leader, CD
Maj Samuel Leibel, CD
Capt Ben-Jaemin Lee, CD
Capt Roland Llewellyn-Thomas, CD
Mr. James Lutz
Maj Henry McCabe, MMM, CD (Ret’d)
Ms. Michele McCarthy
Ms. Jenna Zuschlag Misener
Lt David Merrithew
Mr. Nick Migliore
LCol Scott Moody, CD
Mr. Carmine Nigro
Capt David Pampe, CD
Dr. Dylan Pannell, CD, MD, PhD, CCFP, FRCSC
Lt Marco Petta
Cpl Sharl Robinson
Maj Anthony Schultz, CD (Ret’d)
CWO Mark Shannon, MMM, CD
MGen John Sharpe, CMM, CD (Ret’d)
Capt Kevin Sheedy, CD
Maj John Stephens, CD (Ret’d)
Mr. Tristan Strathy
WO Philip ten Kortenaar, CD (Ret’d)
Dr. Lynn Tomkins
Capt Usman (Uzi) Valiante (Ret'd)
Mr. Jeffrey Wallace
LCol Tony Welsh, CD (Ret'd)
LCol Rob Zeidler, MStJ, CD (Ret'd)

Please click here to find out how to become a Founder. For more information on supporting the Trust Fund, please click here.

For any additional questions, please 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 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 Rifles Report or The Powder Horn, please contact Martin Bunch, 1860 Club Communications Director at editor@1860club.ca