Regimental Association

The Queen’s York Rangers Association was created in 2010 to raise the profile of The Queen’s York Rangers Regimental family and support the morale of the Regiment. It does this by serving as the coordinating point for the various organizations associated with the Rangers and for Association members, former military members, currently serving military members, civilians associates, and enthusiasts.

The Association strives to add dimension beyond day to day work by connecting Rangers across time and space through both community outreach and internal initiatives.

The Association does the following:

Promoting, maintaining and fostering the traditions, customs, spirit and well-being of The Queen’s York Rangers and its members;
Uniting those who have an interest in the Regimental family, including current and former serving members of the Regiment, affiliated cadet corps, re-enactors, their families, and members of the broader community;
Assisting in fund-raising on behalf of The Queen’s York Rangers’ non-public activities;
Undertaking activities to build the profile of The Queen’s York Rangers; and
Sponsoring benevolent initiatives to directly help the serving soldiers of the Regiment.

Please see “Join” for information on becoming a member of the Association.

Council

The Regimental Council for The Queen’s York Rangers is composed of volunteers who give their time to preserve the history and traditions of the Rangers and ensure its longevity. The Council’s primary aim is to promote, support and assist in the maintenance and development of the unit and the welfare of the soldiers of the Regiment.

Council assists the Regiment by providing:

Governance of the Regimental museum and stewardship of the memorabilia;
Advice and counsel to the Commanding Officer, when asked, on any aspect of Regimental life especially traditions, customs and Regimental – specific dress;
Support and assistance to the Regiment through fund raising, at major events or with special projects;
Assistance in the liaison with Allied and Associated Regiments;
Support for the Regimental Band and sponsored Cadet Corps;
Liaison with governmental entities and non-governmental organizations concerned with defence issues and the regimental system;
Specific support for soldiers on deployment; and
Awards and other recognition for the members of the unit.

Regiment

The Queen’s York Rangers,
(1st American Regiment)
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

The Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) is a Reserve armoured reconnaissance unit of the Canadian Forces, with elements located both in Toronto and Aurora. The Regiment is a part of 32 Canadian Brigade Group, the Army Reserve formation in the Greater Toronto Area. Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron along with Assault Troop (60) are based at Fort York Armoury, with A Squadron based at Aurora Armoury.

The Regiment is proud to be a part of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, along with the other Regular and Reserve force armoured units across Canada.

Composed of Reserve and Regular force personnel, the Regiment is primarily made up of citizen-soldiers who train one night a week, several weekends a month, and several weeks or months each summer. Parades and training occur each Wednesday evening, from 7 pm to 11 pm.

The Queen’s York Rangers Regimental motto is Pristinae Virtutis Memores. This translates to Mindful of our Ancient Valour, and was inherited from The Queen’s Regiment, a predecessor to our present allied regiment, The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment. The second, unofficial motto of the Regiment, inherited from the 12th York Rangers, is “Celer et Audax”, or Swift and Bold.

Old Guard / Re-enactors

The Northern Brigade: a group of living history re-enactment units. (The Queen’s Rangers inclusive)
http://www.northernbrigade.hoplologia.org

Bands

An important part of the Regimental Family, The Queen’s York Rangers Band often provides marching music for the Regiment during parades, and other military music for various Regimental events. It also represents the Regiment in various parades in Aurora, Toronto and elsewhere.

Pipes and Drums of The Queen’s York Rangers

The Streetsville Pipes and Drums are pleased and honoured to have become involved with The Queen’s York Rangers, adding their musical presence these past couple years.

The Streetsville Pipes and Drums was formed in 1986 thanks to the interest and generosity of Branch 139, Royal Canadian Legion, Streetsville. Several years later, the Band incorporated as a not for profit entity, and became independent of the Legion. Many of the members of the Streetsville Pipes & Drums have served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and some of their children are presently serving.

A Highland presence as well as the bagpipe is an old one in the Regiment, and dates back to its origins during the American Revolutionary War. The Highland Company, along with a Piper, was raised in Philadelphia after the success at the Battle of Brandywine, September 11th, 1777.

After initial discussions and a formal contract, the Pipes and Drums were issued dress blue tunics to be worn on parade with the kilt and Scottish accoutrements which completed the uniform.

The Pipes and Drums perform at a number of formal regimental functions which include the annual Brandywine Parade in September, the Remembrance Day Parade in Aurora (where the Regiment exercises its freedom of the City of Aurora and parades along Yonge Street), and the Christmas and May stand-down parades. In addition, the Pipes and Drums may perform at less formal functions from time to time. The Streetsville Pipes & Drums had their initial Parade with the Regiment on September 12, 2009 at Old Fort York.

David R. Sanderson, Pipe Major, notes that “We are extremely proud to bring back the sound of the Pipes and Drums to The Queen’s York Rangers after a long absence, and are thankful for the warm welcome we have received this past year.”

Cadets

The Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps is a youth movement managed by the Army Cadet League of Canada. The units within the Cadets often share ceremonial aspects with units of the Canadian Forces, such as insignia and uniform accoutrements. There are two Cadet Corps that are affiliated with The Queen’s York Rangers.

2799 Royal Canadian Army Cadets (Aurora)

337 Royal Canadian Army Cadets (Toronto)

Allied and Affiliated Regiments

It is customary for Regiments from allied nations to form professional ties, and this is true of many Canadian Forces units which have Regimental alliances with units from other countries, and affiliations with other Canadian units. The Queen’s York Rangers are allied with two Regiments of the British Army, and affiliated with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s).

Allied Regiments

The Queen’s Regiment, amalgamated into The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment on 09 September 1992.
http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/3479.aspx

The Green Howards, amalgamated into The Yorkshire Regiment on 6 June 2006.
http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/
http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/3474.aspx

Affiliated Regiment

8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s)
http://8chassociation.com/