Features
If granite grave markers could only talk — let’s preserve military veterans’ plus our ‘war dead’ stories
January 10, 2023
Have you ever wondered about the war stories which could be told when you walk among the rows of grave markers in the veterans’ section of the Brandon cemetery? Visiting the 18th Street municipal cemetery is not unlike visiting a library, the rows and rows of granite markers are not unlike bookshelves filled with books — with each military members’ marker the cover for their story.
Six soldiers laid to rest in Camp Hughes cemetery
January 8, 2023
When Douglas celebrated its centennial in 1982, the book Echos of a Century listed 11 residents of the community who were killed in action or died of wounds during the Great War on a roll of honour. The cenotaph in Douglas you pass en route to CFB Shilo after coming off Hwy 1 and taking Hwy 340 south has 13 names listed on the plaque of “our glorious dead.” For some reason, Alex Campbell and James Leith are not among the 53 community members listed who served overseas during the First World War.
HYENA ROAD — CFB Shilo has part in Paul Gross’ 2015 movie
January 8, 2023
Paul Gross didn’t want to make another war movie, but then he found himself hearing the stories of those who served in Afghanistan.
One’s mortality comes in focus with another birthday, plus retirement in the offing
January 8, 2023
You know you are getting older when the first section of the Brandon Sun which is perused after it is retrieved from CANEX’s recycling is the obituary pages. As my journalism mentor Ken Giles from Brampton, Ont. once confided to me when I was starting out as a journalist at age 24, you’re checking the obits to see how many of your friends have died and, he would quip, to ensure your own moniker is not printed on the page alongside a photograph you would not have chosen to run with your last published words.
Lifelong Army ‘brat’ reminisces about calling CFB Shilo home
January 2, 2023
Rozy, Radish or Snoz — these monikers were Rosalind (nee Flynn) Lebel’s nicknames when she attended Princess Elizabeth High School. Today, an empty field sits in its place after being torn down, with students on the Base now taking a bus to Wawanesa or Brandon to attend high school. “I was the last graduating class from Princess Elizabeth High school,” she recalled.
Army acronyms challenge actress in Hyena Road
November 28, 2022
Learning her lines from the script for Hyena Road was no problem for 33-year-old Canadian actress Christine Horne, who has appeared in such films as Stories We Tell, and The Captive. Figuring out the Canadian Army’s acronyms used on the set of Paul Gross’ latest movie required some help from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who consulted on the film.
Remembrance Day has new meaning for Afghan War veteran, now in focus with RCAF at 17 Wing after military career change
November 11, 2022
Before spending the summer of 2008 in southern Afghanistan Nov. 11 had a very different meaning for me.
At the end of May, I was with 6 Platoon (6Pl) when we took over Combat Outpost (COP) Talukan from 4Pl. Talukan was the third of four such outposts — Haji, Zangabad, Talukan and Mushan. The COPs were arranged east to west, south of the Argandab River in the Khandahar provinces Panjwai district.
Serving his favourite recipe kept his fellow soldiers nourished, says retired Army cook Bdr Bob ‘Cookey’ McKinnon
November 11, 2022
It’s a nickname which has stuck for Bdr (Ret’d) Bob McKinnon, who spent 18 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) keeping soldiers nourished from his Army kitchen. “He called me ‘Cookey’,” recalled Bob, referring to former BComd LCol John Cochrane, when he was posted to Garrison Edmonton.
Military veteran perfects art of portraiture in remembrance
November 8, 2022
For an artist now working from his home studio in Bedford, Nova Scotia, soldiers and veterans come to life through his impressionist portraits. WO (Ret’d) Gilles Boudreault says art allows him to reflect with remembrance on friends and colleagues who have died from his former units.
Students leave poppies at veterans’ graves
November 7, 2022
The acting Commanding Officer (CO) with 2PPCLI knows all about sacrifices when he looks out on the military section at the Brandon cemetery. Speaking during the eighth annual No Stone Left Alone event, Maj Chris Hartwick acknowledged his sacrificed plenty during his 20 years serving in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
