Page 7 - Demo

COMMANDING OFFICERS’ MESSAGE
By Lieutenant-Colonel Bruno Plourde, CD (Former) & Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Roy, CD
Many things have happened since you were last informed you about our unit. Winter was in progress and we were completing our mandated operational readiness training. In January we celebrated the Regiment’s 158th Anniversary and got ready for the last part of our training cycle. What started as an uneventful beginning of a new decade quickly changed drastically and dramatically for the planet.
The global COVID-19 pandemic struck the world without much warning and communities were dramatically affected in ways that had not been experienced in the past century. As part of the Government of Canada’s answer to the crisis, our soldiers were deployed in support of the Quebec healthcare system to seniors’ residences across the greater Montreal area where they were hard hit by the virus and in dire need of support. True to its tradition of service, the Black Watch deployed 81 members of the unit to support the operation named OP LASER. Up to 70 percent of the members that answered the call of duty were deployed in the front line. Under the supervision of healthcare professionals, they provided direct support to the elderly living in seniors’ residences. It was a true unit effort. Our infantry men and women, service support soldiers and staff, and pipers and drummers all put shoulder to the wheel to help our society’s most vulnerable. All were trained in basic healthcare, bio security protocols, and proximity care and then assigned to a task.
Nobody in the unit, or in the Canadian Armed Forces, would have thought when they joined the Army that they would be entrusted to a mission like this one. Our soldiers rose to the challenge as only Black Watch soldiers do, they took decisive action and displayed exemplary professionalism, adaptability, and discipline in the conduct of their mission. There is no more noble and unselfish mission than taking care of our nation’s builders in need and providing them a little comfort during this time of crisis and uncertainty and our troops did it with empathy, generosity, and care.
During this operation we were kindly and generously supported by the branches of our Regimental associations and organisations. Care packages were distributed to all troops deployed, including our colleagues from the health services group that were deployed with us. This sign of appreciation proved to be a great morale booster and a clear demonstration of the strength of our Regimental family.
We were also delighted to receive correspondence from our Colonel- in-Chief, HRH Prince Charles, inquiring on the Regiment’s health and status during the pandemic. His inquiry was followed by a letter presenting his personal encouraging words, a thank-you for our Regiment’s service, and wishes of good health to the soldiers, their families, and of the members of the Regimental family.
While almost all of the unit was deployed on the home front, we were still able to provide reinforcement to various international missions. We welcomed back Capt Cooke and Cpl Etang from Latvia, Sgt Thompson from Iraq, and Cpl St James from Mali, while WO McAran-Bourque and Sgt Best deployed respectively to Mali and Egypt (Sinai). Our expeditionary contribution carried on over the next few months with the deployment of Sgt Qualizza to Mali and Maj Baldock to the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are very fortunate to be able to send our leaders to these multinational operations as they will bring back invaluable expertise and share it with the other members of the unit.
If the pandemic
had completely
transformed
and challenged
our operational
posture, it is also
the case for our
ability to conduct courses and prepare for operations. New or adapted ways to do our recruiting and individual training are currently being assessed on an almost weekly basis as we are constantly seeking to maintain our operational readiness while keeping our troops healthy and safe. The current situation is so unique and challenging that we are all, just like the whole country, trying to understand what the “post-pandemic normal” will be and how we will accomplish our mission in this new reality.
Our Regimental activity calendar was also turned upside down. The celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Netherlands and Second World War and the Regimental and WW2 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade commemoration trip were re-scheduled for 2021. Our May Regimental gathering, dinners, functions, and parades were all cancelled. The first event that was adapted to the new social and public health situation was the change of Honoraries of the Regiment. On May 1st, 2020, a virtual ceremony was conducted via videoconference and later posted on various social media sites where Honorary Colonel Daniel O’Connor passed on the responsibilities of his appointment and the Loomis dirk to Honorary Colonel Bruce Bolton. The appointment of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel to Mr. Jonathan Birks was symbolized by his receiving the Knox dirk. Our unit expresses sincere wishes to the newly appointed Honoraries and appreciation to Col O’Connor for his unselfish and exemplary service in both Honorary appointments over the past decade.
Later that week, the annual Regimental Church Parade was conducted in the virtual realm. The congregation of the Church of Saint Andrew & Saint Paul decided to broadcast the service on their YouTube channel. This initiative provided the Regiment with a means to perpetuate one of its cherished traditions and was welcomed by all members of the Regimental family. It also shows the strength of the relationship between the Regimental Church and the Black Watch.
The next significant Regimental event was the Change of Regimental Sergeant-Major and Change of Command of the unit. On September 12th, 2020 RSM Stephen Campbell and LCol Bruno Plourde handed over their respective duties to CWO François Mamen and LCol Francis Roy. A special thanks goes out to CWO Campbell for his dedication, good counsel, and professionalism and to Bruno Plourde for his outstanding leadership during his two terms as Commanding Officer. We are very fortunate to be able to count on the experience and dedication of LCol Roy and MWO Mamen to lead the Black Watch in a very challenging future.
The next few months will be a clear test of our resilience and capacity to adapt. The Black Watch has the good fortune and privilege to have a solid group of exceptional and dedicated leaders at all levels, as well as outstanding professional soldiers, that will help the unit to adapt and continue to serve.
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT 7