Military parade marches down Brandon streets
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BRANDON — A military spectacle rolled through the streets of Brandon Thursday.
The Freedom of the City of Brandon parade showcased about 100 soldiers from the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, who were equipped with scoped rifles and attached bayonets.
Starting at Brandon University and following a route down 18th Street and Victoria Avenue to Ninth Street, the parade included the marching Royal Canadian Artillery Band from Edmonton.
Band members beat drums and played a number of horns and wind instruments, with songs such as The Voice of the Guns.
The march stopped between two M777 howitzer artillery cannons in front of city hall, where the soldiers were inspected by Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett.
The mayor and the 1RCHA commander spoke about the purpose of the event.
“Today, we reacknowledge the enduring connection we have with the city of Brandon,” the regiment’s commander, Lt.-Col. Jordan Beattie, said during his address.
Fawcett welcomed the parade and reaffirmed the “integral” part played in the Brandon community by CFB Shilo, which is 30 kilometres east of Brandon.
City councillors, as well as regional politicians and leadership from Brandon Police Service, were among the dignitaries in attendance.
The event, which has roots in medieval Europe, is intended to emphasize the trust between the military and the city. The parade represents the highest civic honour a city can bestow upon a military unit — entrusting the unit to pass through the city without disarming itself.
The regiment presented Fawcett with a mounted 105-millimetre casing as part of the ceremony, and saluted him.
Following the parade, Beattie told the Sun he was pleased with how the parade unfolded.
“I think it went really well. The weather was great, and the soldiers were happy to be on parade.”
The last time the Freedom of the City ceremony took place was in 2017. It was conducted by the base unit at that time, and has been conducted by 1RCHA, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and HMCS Brandon.
— Brandon Sun