THE POWDER HORN
Monthly Newsletter
April 2026
COMMAND TEAM UPDATE
Relevance is the foundation upon which all training is delivered by The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Our focus has been to prepare Riflemen for this generation’s conflicts and to ensure they are able to shoot, move, and communicate under realistic conditions.
Over the past two years, the Regiment has progressively pushed the envelope of possibility and challenged leadership at all levels. From live trench-clearing in 2024, to our first iteration of platoon live-fire as part of hasty attacks in the fall of 2025, March 2026 saw the Regiment deliver live platoon-level ambushes in Petawawa.
Under the observation of UAS operated by Recce Platoon, the platoon engaged mobile and static targets on the objective. Machine gun fire from the supporting firebase suppressed and destroyed, before the assault breached concertina obstacles and cleared enemy fighting positions in depth.
Exercise MAROON HAMMER saw the unit conduct numerous iterations of confidence-building engagements across the snow-covered landscape. During the evening, reconnaissance patrols were deployed to refine section-level drills and navigation, while Recce Platoon attempted to track their movements using thermal sights. The following morning, grenadiers completed a live M203 range before redeploying to Toronto.
At the end of the month, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada were formally tactically grouped with The Ontario Regiment (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps) as part of the Canadian Army Modernization Order.
The Regiments, each maintaining their own distinct heritage, culture, and trade identity, will continue forward under a single Command Team and operate together on exercises.
Further details on Tactical Group PARATUS, including associated changes of command and appointments, will be provided in the next volume of The Powder Horn.
In Pace Paratus
Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer
Matthew Pike
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major
2026 D-Day Dinner (June 3rd, 2026)
The 1860 Club and The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada cordially invite you to the 5th Annual D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma in commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway.
Casa Loma was built by our 8th Commanding Officer, Major-General Sir Henry Pellatt, and is home to the Regiment’s Museum and Archives. This exclusive event will commence with a cocktail reception, followed by a gourmet dinner in the Library, curated by the Liberty Group. The evening will feature performances throughout from the Regimental Band.
2026 Volunteer Recognition Night
On Thursday, February 12, The Queen’s Own Rifles Museum held another successful event to recognize and thank our dedicated team of volunteers. Approximately 18 volunteers, museum board members, and representatives once again gathered in the beautiful Royal Canadian Military Institute’s library for drinks, refreshments, and socializing.
Our volunteers include former and serving members of the Regiment, current and former members of the Master’s in Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto, and others with an interest in history and the military. They catalogue objects; process and describe archival materials; scan archival records for our website; redesign and update exhibits; clean existing exhibits; accession new donations; update our database and website; respond to research requests; track expenditures against our allocated budget; and liaise with other military museums in the Greater Toronto Area, to name just a few tasks.
For the more formal part of the evening, we gathered near the fireplace, where each attendee introduced themselves and their role at the museum. We were especially pleased to have our wounded Curator join us, with multiple pins in his ankle, on his first outing in almost two months that did not involve a hospital visit!
On behalf of the Command Team, Deputy Commanding Officer Sam Leibel and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Michael Hyde expressed the Regiment’s gratitude for our volunteers’ efforts to both physically and virtually preserve and share the QOR’s long and detailed history. They also provided an overview of the impacts of the current Canadian Army modernization on the QOR. While this has significant organizational impacts at higher levels, it is clear that it will not directly impact the museum. There will also be no significant operational impact on the QOR, except for the sharing of the Command Team with The Ontario Regiment beginning at the end of March 2026.
The Museum’s Board of Governors members Adam Hermant, Lisa Holmes, Jenna Misener, and Tony Schultz sent their regrets for the evening; however, Board Chair Michele McCarthy expressed the Board’s appreciation for the more than 1,600 hours of work our volunteers contributed in 2025. Museum Director John Stephens announced that the Museum has purchased its first interactive exhibit, which involves dressing a 1916 soldier in his uniform and equipment. The exhibit is expected to be received and installed in mid-March.
With the assistance of Regimental representatives, we concluded the formal portion of the evening with a draw for eight $50 gift certificates, generously provided by Liberty Entertainment Group for various restaurants they operate in Toronto.
If you would like to financially support the work of our Regimental Museum, donations can be made through our CanadaHelps portal.
National Memorial to the Fallen
On 1 November 2025, a new National Memorial to the Fallen was unveiled in Kingston, ON.
The memorial honours, in a single location, the over 120,000 Canadian service members who have died in wars and conflicts since the War of 1812, as recorded in the eight Books of Remembrance on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It also honours those who, prior to 1812, helped shape Canada through their involvement in earlier conflicts. The memorial was conceived and built by the National Wall of Remembrance Association (NWORA) in partnership with the City of Kingston.
On 1 November 2025, a new National Memorial to the Fallen was unveiled in Kingston, ON.
The memorial honours, in a single location, the more than 120,000 Canadian service members who have died in wars and conflicts since the War of 1812, as recorded in the eight Books of Remembrance on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It also honours those who, prior to 1812, helped shape Canada through their involvement in earlier conflicts. The memorial was conceived and built by the National Wall of Remembrance Association (NWORA) in partnership with the City of Kingston.
Centered around a Canadian flag flying on a 25-foot flagpole and surrounded by a large compass rose base representing the far corners of the world where Canadian service personnel have fought and died, the memorial includes four large granite pillars representing four periods of conflict: Pre-First World War; the First World War; the Second World War; and Post-Second World War. Each pillar includes key images from those time frames, reflecting the human face of war. Of particular significance to QOR members is imagery depicting the Fenian Raids on Panel 2 of the Pre-First World War pillar, as well as reference to the QOR in the virtual memorial.
Complementing this physical memorial is a virtual memorial with profiles for each of the 120,000 fallen, with the aim of gathering additional information and stories over the coming years. NWORA also supports four other programs to help honour the fallen: the Community Memorials Programme, which provides funding for communities to repair or build local monuments; the Education Outreach Programme, which helps educate Canadian youth about the sacrifices of the fallen; a new Scholarship Programme; and the Flag Programme.
For more information on the physical memorial, virtual memorial, and NWORA programs, please visit CanadianFallen.ca.
Cassandra de Bartok, MA
Board of Directors, National Wall of Remembrance Association
QOR Association Update
On behalf to the QOR Association, we would like to share the dates for upcoming Association events:
QOR Association (Toronto) AGM
Saturday, May 16th, 2026 (10:00)
RCL Branch 258
End of Year Barbecue
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026
Moss Park Armoury
160th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway
Sunday, May 31st, 2026
Ridgeway, ON
We look forward to seeing you at these events!
In Memoriam
James Donaldson
James Donaldson served for many years with the Regimental Band and participated in multiple deployments and regimental visits to Europe. Following his retirement to Minden, he remained a committed supporter of the Regiment and the Sergeants’ Mess. He will be remembered for his longstanding service and dedication, and his obituary can be found here.
Jim Lutz
Jim Lutz was a dedicated member of the Regimental Senate and Trust, and contributed significantly to both the Regimental Museum and the Cadet program. His commitment and counsel over many years were highly valued, as well as his warmth, generosity, and incredible gift for conversation. Numerous members of the serving regiment and Museum Board attended a Celebration of Life on March 29th. Jim will be dearly missed, and his obituary can be found here.
Scott Patterson
On Sunday, February 15th, 2026, a small group of friends came together to remember Chief Warrant Officer Scott F. “Paddy” Patterson, CD on the 10th Anniversary of his passing at Posticino Restaurant in Etobicoke. It was a dinner done the way he would have wanted it; a roast beef meal with Yorkshire Pudding followed by toasts, stories and laughter and a few Labatt 50s. Paddy served Canada for 37 years. Most of that time was with the QOR, however, he also held positions as RSM of the 32 CBG Battle School and 32 Service Battalion.
Maron Beret Newsletter
The new issue of the Maroon Beret newsletter is now available: https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca/maroonberet
If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please let me know.
We are on Facebook and Instagram as @canadianairborneforces as well as LinkedIn.
Scott Moody
Communications Director, Canadian Airborne Forces Association
https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca
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 26th, 2026
Regimental Birthday
May 1st, 2026
1860 Club Founder Appreciation Cocktail Reception, Casa Loma
May 16th, 2026
QOR Association AGM, RCL Branch 258 (10:00)
May 27th, 2026
End of Year Barbecue, Moss Park Armoury
May 31st, 2026
160th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway Ceremony
June 3rd, 2026
D-Day Dinner at Casa Loma
September 24th, 2026
19th Annual QOR of C Golf Tournament, Cardinal Golf Club
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
Maroon Beret Newsletter (March 2026) — https://www.canadianairborneforces.ca/maroonberet
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/
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