Parade affirms military’s ‘integral’ role in city
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The Freedom of the City of Brandon parade rolled through the streets on Thursday morning, attracting onlookers for the military spectacle.
The parade showcased about 100 soldiers from the 1st Regiment, Canadian Horse Artillery at CFB 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 also 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 in the Brandon community that CFB Shilo plays.
City councillors, as well as regional politicians and leadership from Brandon Police Service, were among the dignitaries in attendance.
The event is held to emphasize trust between the military and the city, with its roots in medieval Europe. 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 that he was pleased with how the event 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 previously been conducted by 1RCHA, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and HMCS Brandon.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com
