The SouthAlberta Light Horse reserve regiment is set to be amalgamated its other units in the province, according to officials, who say the renamed regiment would still be located in Medicine Hat at the Patterson Armouries (pictured). -- News Photo Collin Gallant, March 7, 2024
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A move to reorganize the local South Alberta Light Horse regiment under a Calgary-based reserve regiment is not sitting well with Hatters, but is being done as part of a larger reorganization to boost recruiting and won’t result in local job loss, a military spokesman said Friday.
This week, local reservists were informed of changes at their regularly scheduled parade on Wednesday night at Patterson Armouries.
Effective in April, the local contingent would become a squadron under the headquarters of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment. The “South Alberta Light Horse” unit, badge and headquarters would remain centralized in in Edmonton.
“By reorganizing the two armoured regiments within 41 Canadian Brigade Group the units will be able to maximize their force generation capacity, while remaining as two distinct regiments preserving their proud histories and heritage,” read a statement from brigade public affairs.
Local common history of regiment traces its roots to the North West Rebellion, and through several reorganizations to some of the great battles of the First and Second World Wars.
The idea of losing the more localized name, coat of arms featuring a pronghorn and dry prairie and sky blue colouring, is garnering pushback.
“I think it’s an insult,” one former senior officer, now retired, told the News this week.
The office of Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright, the UCP government’s dedicated liaison with the Canadian Forces, told the News the issue, calls from citizens and veterans, has taken up most of the week. They had hoped to prepare a statement by press time on Friday.
Brigade officials say they are working to allay fears about the change, which stems from orders in October 2022 to reorganize toward boosting recruiting efforts. Commanding officers visited Medicine Hat to personally discuss the changes and mayors in each city have been briefed.
“Our members in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat will continue to remain integral parts of their communities, simply under the name King’s Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC),” the statement read.
The SAHL is currently headquartered in Edmonton currently consists at three locations: Medicine Hat, Edmonton, and more recently Lethbridge, with reservists there travelling to Hat.
Senior officials said local reservists will continue to train locally at the armoury, but moving “vacant” positions from Medicine Hat to Edmonton will help recruiting efforts
“Centralizing the rest of the command to one city will allow them to work more effectively as a team to grow and generate more soldiers in support of domestic and international operations,” read the statement.
The “SALH” designation dates back to its formation in 1905, in Calgary, according the official history on the Canadian Forces website, while the “South Alberta Horse” were formed in 1908 in Medicine Hat as part of the Alberta Mounted Rifles.
They were joined with the other similarly named unit in the 1920s reorganization.
A regimental museum is located at Patterson Armouries was created in 2005.
