THE POWDER HORN

Written By Steven Ye

Monthly Newsletter
September 2025

COMMAND TEAM UPDATE

It is difficult to quantify how much the Regiment has accomplished over summer months.

Since the beginning of 2025, the Command Team and senior leadership within the unit was heavily engaged in leading the planning for the Infantry Battalion Group sequence of Exercise STALWART GUARDIAN. All efforts culminated in the deployment of over 1,200 personnel from 32 and 33 Canadian Brigade Groups to Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in mid-August, of whom approximately 100 were members of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. This represented the single largest unit contribution within 4th Canadian Division within any collective event..

Over the course of ten days, Riflemen participated in platoon- and company-level advance to contact, fighting patrols and deliberate attacks. The Infantry Battalion Group conducted airborne and airmobile operations, and eventually the entire training audience participated in a battalion-level combined arms attack against a heavily defended urban objective. It was an exhausting but extremely worthwhile endeavour, while set the tone for future Army Reserve activity and a successful formula for 2026.

 The exercise served as a poignant backdrop for an austere badging ceremony conducted in the bivouac site, for personnel who had recently graduated their infantry trade course. Further, we were able to celebrate awarding maroon berets for seven new members of Parachute Company, who had earned their wings on the Basic Parachutist course just prior completing a full-equipment descent on STALWART GUARDIAN.

The unit continued to provide mentoring experience for a broad range of soldiers, as Captain Filatow and Warrant Officer Humphrey both deployed to Latvia for short-term taskings during Exercise OAK RESOLVE for Operation REASSURANCE.

As usual, the Band rose to the occasion throughout the stand-down period, including providing another stirring performance as part of the Warrior’s Day parade at the Canadian National Exhibition. Master Corporals Conquer and Laquerre represented not only the Regiment, but the Canadian Armed Forces, with professionalism and poise, as Band Majors for the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa.

Riflemen past and present should be immensely proud of the work of this generation of soldiers.

In Pace Paratus

Chris Boileau
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer

Justin Thorn
Chief Warrant Officer
Regimental Sergeant Major

18th annual qor of c golf tournament

The 18th Annual Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Golf Tournament was held on September 5th, 2025 at the Cardinal Golf Club (West Wing)—it was a fantastic day on a beautiful course. This year’s tournament celebrated the 80th Anniversary of V-E Day and the Liberation of the Netherlands. The tournament consisted of 18 holes, followed by dinner, a raffle, team prizes, and sponsor recognition. 

Volunteer Team

Dave Lavery, Brian Budden, Brenda Butt, Ann Ward and Linda Di Felice

And finally, thank you to all our golfers for a successful tournament!

QOR DAY AT CASA LOMA

Saturday, November 8, 2025 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

A great family day event which showcases the long and dedicated military heritage of the QOR and the regiment of today!

Program includes:

  • Soldiers from the Regiment in various current uniforms that our members wear;

  • Displays with tac-vests, rucksacks, winter kit, mountain ops kit, parachuting equipment;

  • Displays by the Vintage Signals Team;

  • Re-enactors with uniforms and equipment representing various QOR eras;

  • Temporary QOR Badge tattoos; and

  • Members of the Regimental Band Quintet will give performances in the Great Hall at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum program is included in your Casa Loma admission fee. You can also find directions and parking information on the  Casa Loma website .

Free admission for serving soldiers in uniform, veterans in regimental blazers, former members (with ID), and cadets in uniform.

QOR Association Update Greetings QOR Regimental Family,

After the summer months, we welcome the fall. The Association participated in numerous events over the summer:

  • July 27th – Laying of wreath at Korean Wall Memorial in Brampton;

  • Aug 9th – Participation, laying of wreath, and parade at Peacekeeper Park in Angus;

  • Aug 16th – Marching contingent at the 104th Warriors Day Parade with Regimental Band (the Band placed third in the Canadian Brass, Trumpet, or Bugle Band category);

  • Sept 5th – 18th Annual QOR Golf Tournament with 144 Golfers; and

  • Sept 19th to Oct 3rd – 15-day Tour of the UK & Ireland.

As President of the Association I would like to express my thank you to those members that assisted and took command on the various events.

The QOR Association (Toronto Branch) is now on the 1860 Club platform; just click the link below to find information and events of the Association!

Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association | Support & Events — 1860 Club

Upcoming Dates

  • November 7th – Officer’s Mess Dinner - RCMI

  • November 9th – QOR Remembrance Day Parade (Regimental Blazer/Medals; Association to form up at 10:30 at Hayden Street);

  • November 11th – Remembrance Day; and

  • December 10th – Soldiers' Holiday Dinner.

To the members currently dealing with health issues - we wish you all the best!

In Pace Paratus

CWO (Ret'd) Brian Budden, CD
President & Health & Welfare Chairman
QORA (Toronto Branch)

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 Ontario 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 Associations 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.

We appreciate your help in getting this information out and encouraging membership. Should you have any questions please feel free to respond to this email or call me at 905-321-5462.

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)   

November 7th, 2025
Officer’s Mess Dinner

November 8th, 2025
QOR Day at Casa Loma

November 9th, 2025
QOR Church Parade

November 11th, 2025
Remembrance Day

December 7th, 2025
Family Holiday Party

December 10th, 2025
Soldiers' Holiday 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

Maroon Beret Newsletter (Sept 2025) — 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

Steven Ye
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THE POWDER HORN