Shilo Stag
Gunners from across Canada will hold a national reunion at CFB Shilo.
Past and current members of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery will once again gather for the RCA home station reunion at CFB Shilo for four days starting June 29 to renew acquaintances and friendships.
Scheduled every three years, this will be the 14th edition held at the Shilo home station since 1985 — the 13th was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those attending will have served the guns from the Second World War, Korean War, Cold War, UN Peacekeeping, Afghanistan War, and nearly all other operational deployments at home and abroad of the Canadian Army in between.
Any Regimental member — past or current and members of other branches who have served in any artillery unit, their spouses, relatives, friends or associates will be welcome at the reunion.
Many visitors to the reunion will have come from parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but a good number from coast-to-coast in Canada as well as a few from United States as in years past.
CFB Shilo has been the host site for the national reunion largely because of its long history as an artillery training camp that dates back to 1910. It has been a centre of operational training for Canadian Artillery units for more than a century.
Additionally, the Base has been designated the home station of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery since 1960. Most regimental members will have served some part of their career at CFB Shilo.
Those attending the reunion will be able to enjoy numerous social events; play in a friendly golf tournament at the nearby Shilo Country Club; visit the Base’s national artillery museum which is a destination in its own right; experience the firepower and equipment used by current Gunners with 1RCHA; and also see some of the many changes to the facilities at CFB Shilo since their last visit.
The RV park across the road from the golf venue allows those with trailers to camp on Base. As in years past, a memorial service will be held the morning of July 2 at Canoe River Memorial Park.
For information on the RCA reunion contact Maj Jackson at 204-765-3000 ext 3595.
Information and tickets can be obtained by writing: RCA Reunion, PO Box 214, Shilo MB R0K 2A0 or e-mail lindsay.jackson@forces.gc.ca
Or you can visit http://www.artillery.net/beta/canadian-gunner-associations/
Four-day reunion timelines:
June 29
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. registration desk opens at Community Centre Annex, L25
6 p.m. to 1 a.m. meet and greet barbecue at Community Centre Annex, L25. Wristbands to be worn for those attending entire event. For those who wish to only attend this event, it is free to attend, however, if you want to eat, must purchase a meal ticket at the event $20.
RCA Museum open.
June 30
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. registration desk open at Community Centre Annex, L25
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1RCHA’s fire power demo, L25
6 p.m. to 1 a.m. banquet and dance at Community Centre Annex, L25, featuring Look Music DJ Services and The GUNNER band STEELE RAIN all the way from Gagetown, NB. Wristbands to be worn. Individual tickets for this event only can also be purchased $25.
July 1
10 a.m. golf tournament at Shilo Country Club. Participants need to be there for 9 a.m.
RCA Museum open.
6 to 11 p.m. Canada Day celebrations in the outside areas centered around General Strange Hall (GSH), L25 and Jr Ranks Mess.
Dusk fireworks in vicinity of L25
July 2
10 to 10:30 a.m. Gunners Memorial service at Canoe River Memorial Park
11 a.m. starting light lunch, good-byes and departures from L25
Note: This schedule of events will be updated, expanded and re-issued at the registration desk and by visiting http://www.artillery.net/beta/canadian-gunner-associations/
Rekindling memories are all part of the RCA Reunion experience when Gunners return to CFB Shilo. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag
