2010 TORONTO GARRISON OFFICERS’ BALL

The Toronto Military community hosts an Annual 'Garrison Ball', which dates back to the original British/Canadian Garrison at York established in 1793. This year's Garrison Ball will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on 6 March 2010, organized by The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, currently celebrating 150 years of service to Canada.

The Toronto Garrison Officers' Ball is one of Canada's premier military events, held in Canada's largest region.  For over a hundred years, the Ball has provided a social occasion for Officers of the Garrison, Government representatives and diplomats, as well as distinguished business leaders and members of the City of York. This year, the theme traces the earliest links between the City of Toronto and the modern Canadian Forces: Celebrating Our Service Together.

Your host is the Commander of Joint Task Force (Central)/Land Force Central Area, Brigadier General J.C. Collin, OMM, CD, who will welcome our Patron, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the head of Canada's Armed Forces, the Commanders of Canada's Land, Air and Maritime Forces, as well as several other General and Flag Officers, and Senior officers from Regiments, Squadrons and formations in Ontario.

The modern Toronto Garrison is represented by 32 Canadian Brigade Group, the Reserve Army in south central Ontario, which numbers over 2,500 soldiers, as well as Her Majesty's Canadian Ship 'York' and 400 'City of Toronto' Tactical Helicopter Squadron.  The bulk of the Garrison comprises part-time 'citizen-soldiers'; many with operational experience in Afghanistan and Bosnia, and UN missions such as Sierra Leone, the Congo and Darfur.  In addition to serving with the Canadian Forces, these soldiers are students or have full-time civilian employment, many of them professionals and business leaders in their own right.

The organizers of this year's Garrison Ball, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, are one of Canada's oldest regiments, serving continuously since 1860.  2010 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Regiment's service to Canada, beginning with the earliest Fenian incursions into Canada and including the capture of Vimy Ridge, the leading wave onto Juno Beach on D-Day, and current day service with the UN and NATO. The Garrison Ball will be a highlight of the Regiment's commemorative activities.

The Toronto Garrison Officers' Ball has an attendance of approximately 1,000 persons, including Veterans, serving and retired officers, distinguished guests and dignitaries, selected representatives of Canada's business community and Government leaders, gathering together to celebrate this fine tradition.

For more information, please email qorpmc@paratus.ca