Regimental Society Newsletter - Lord Strathcona's Horse

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Museum 2008Warrant Offi cer D.E. MacLeodIn the last year our Museum staff has been busy. The expansion plan for the Museum of the Regiments (now called“The Military Museums”) has been going full-bore for over a year. At time of writing, we are about a week fromtaking possession of an expansion of the building that will double the exhibit space. The new space will see theinclusion of the Naval Museum of Alberta (moved from their current location a few blocks North on Crowchildtrail) and will also include a new Airforce Museum. This new expanded facility will allow the public to exploreCanada’s military heritage from the point of view of all three services. While the expansion doesn’t affect ourgallery or displays, it will provide us with a new, properly conditioned storage and research space for our archives.Currently we are preparing to move our archival holdings into the new area.For the past few months one of our volunteers, Jim Adams, has been working toward the completion of thecataloguing of our artifact collection with Sgt Giberson. He has been doing stellar work and it seems that SgtGiberson is constantly hustling to keep up to him. Our Gallery Host volunteers, Dave Cathcart, Doug Cooper,and Bob Wallace have given countless tours, sharing our proud history with over 30,000 guests. Whether currentlyserving or retired, it seems the pace is the same, flat out with your hair on fire. (For those that still have hair.)In the Archives we have started digitally copying our more prized possessions. The University of Calgary hasgraciously agreed to do the scanning of our unique history documents. They provide us with a digital copy and returnthe original material. This is a unique project that, when we originally estimated the cost, had numbers ranging upto $120k and a three to four year time line. Currently the University is doing the work for free and keeping copiesfor use in their library. We are getting what we needed to preserve our archival heritage and are spreading the wordof our predecessor’s sacrifices on a wider front by making it more accessible.More gallery upgrades are in the works for the near future as we have recently gathered the final bits of moneyto allow the installation of our Wall of Honour. The Wall will display our Honour Role engraved in stone in acentral location in the gallery. This is a costly project and it took a bit of time to gather the funds (it’s okay 2IC it’smostly other people’s money.) but, we now have the lion’s share with the rest on the way and will start installationshortly.Our future plans include the finalization of our storyboard upgrade project, continuing the digital copying of ourArchives, the continuation of our artifact cataloguing and preservation work, and the production of an Afghanistandisplay.As always, it’s good to be a Strathcona, Perseverance,Strathcona Message Boardwww.strathconas.ca/boardSomeone wants to know how you are doing. Have you checked outthe Strathcona Message Board lately? Some of the Old Guard and notso Old Guard are involking some interesting reading, while others arelooking to connect with old friends. With over 10000 posts and 750members, you are sure to come across a familiar name.Check it out today.Strathconas NewsletterPage 12www.strathconas.ca
Continued from Page 5Regimental Association Alberta Branchwho are all anxious to get on withthe job. Rev. Bob Green is ourhonorary padre and Dave Cathcartwill remain as our hospital rep. Davehas been doing this job for years andI’m very grateful to him agreeingto stay and help out .Clair Lane,SliderWelch and Ron Howardhave stepped up to look after thedifferent portfolios. Howe Owenwill be a great help as this year’sVice President. Retired RSMsCady, Shadbolt and Wonderhamhave offered to return as part of ouradvisory CommitteeThis past year’s observations arefrom a personal point of view, andnot as the President, however I didfind the year to very full and busyfor our members.Some of the highlights were theannual golf tournament here inCalgary; this should be re-named theOwen Invitational Golf Tournamentbecause the Owen family seems towin everything including the randomprize draws. What’s this all about,Howe? We had approx. 30 to golf,then all returned to RCL #285 forthe presentations and a light lunch.It was a good day and we all had agreat time. I think even the team theRegiment sent down to join us wouldagree. To Pete Wonderham, Jimand Deanna Deighton, my teammates, thanks for your patience.In late Sept. a group of us fromCalgary traveled to Ok Falls BC toattend the BC group annualdinner/get together. The gang theredid a great job of hosting the partyas well as organizing things for usto do the whole weekend. Tours,golfing and just plan old visiting. Theentire weekend was enjoyed by all.The Col of the Regiment. Col. JohnRoderick (ret’d) also managed tofit this event into his busy schedule.I know the BC group appreciatedthe extra effort that he made to bethere. The update on the CompleteFamily’s Activities that he talkedabout was very interesting and wellreceived by the audience.The golf in BC isn’t any betterthan in Calgary but I did receive afree lesson on the proper way toplay the game, as did my playingpartner Jim Deighton , from the oldtimer, Bob Bartlet. He is 84 yearsyoung and frankly showed us youngwhipper snappers just how it’sdone … Well done Bob and thanks.We all want to thank, the Ellards,MacDougalls, Salmons, Reeds,Armstrongs, and the rest, it was afun day. Unfortunately Bill Finchtook ill while traveling to Ok Falls.He had to spend the weekend in theirhotel room, confined to bed. Withhis wife’s help Bill made it hometo Calgary and has since made afull recovery. Maybe next year Bill!Finally to the group that organizedthe weekend Wes Westerguard,Bill and Pat Wood, Al and MaryKaatz, and others -well done.Please invite the Calgary bunch tonext year’s event.Back to Calgary where the pace neverseems to slow down much. It is niceto let you know that the ID MacKayLuncheons are still a success. Thereis generally 25 to 30 people show upas well as a generous number drivein from the Regiment. They range inrank from the Col. of the Regiment(Ottawa/Kingston), CO, 2IC, RSM ,SSMs all the way to 2 nd Lt .and Tprs.It is really great to get such a diversecrowd all in one room. The lies toldget better as the lunch progressesof course, but isn’t that the way it’salways been. I think ID, himself,might be the best example of this, aswe have all heard the stories once ortwice but he does make them moreinteresting each time he tells them.I hope you’ll forgive me ID as it’syour good sense of humour that hasgone a long way to making theselunches the success they are today.The lunches are generally held ona date between the Association’sgeneral meetings, so basically thereis a Strathcona get together once amonth. Listening to most peoplethey think this is super. The nextluncheon is scheduled for 31 Jan 08.Everyone is welcome to attend.The dates for the Associationmeetings this year are:Mar. 11 th . 08May. 6 th .08Sept. 9 th .08Nov. 4 th . .08Jan. 13 th . 09These will be held at the RoyalCanadian Legion # 285 Horton Rd.South West Calgary.AB.Call to Order at 1900 hrs.Sandwiches and coffee offered atconclusion of all meetings.I’d like to congratulate and wishthe Regimental Society and theRegiment all the best on hostingReunion 2010. I’m looking forwardto coming to Edmonton to visit withall the old friends. Please, if I or theAlberta Branch can be of any help,just give us a call.In conclusion let me say again IT’SGOOD TO BE BACK.The next letter I write will andshould be a little more structuredor formal but I said earlier this isjust some observations from an oldZipper head.PerseverancePresident 2008Strathconas NewsletterPage 13www.strathconas.ca
Page 2 and 3: Commanding OfficerBy Lieutenant-Col
Page 4 and 5: Continued from Page 2Commanding Off
Page 6 and 7: How many do you remember?This is in
Page 8 and 9: Sadly Imust onceagain passon the ne
Page 10 and 11: The StrathconaMounted TroopBy: Lieu
Page 14 and 15: The Genesis of a RegimentSubmitted
Page 16: Last Trumpet CallBINNY, Vic 19 Sept

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