Visitors to the grounds of Rideau Hall this summer will not see the normal changing of the guard. Nor will they see any of the ceremonial guards that wear red uniforms and iconic bearskin hats. Read MoreThe Canadian Armed Forces blamed ‘limited resources’ for the end of the long-standing tradition.
The Canadian Armed Forces blamed ‘limited resources’ for the end of the long-standing tradition.
Article content
Visitors to the grounds of Rideau Hall this summer will not see the normal changing of the guard. Nor will they see any of the ceremonial guards that wear red uniforms and iconic bearskin hats.
Article content
Andrew J. McLaughlin, a public affairs officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, confirmed that there will be no ceremonial foot guards conducting the ceremony at Rideau Hall as there have been in years past because of “limited resources” of personnel.
Article content
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The decision to not hold the ceremony at the Governor General’s residence ends a tradition of designated soldiers ceremonially guarding Canada’s representative of the Crown.
Article content
The Evening Citizen
Article content
The work of the ceremonial guard was temporarily disrupted during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed at a reduced capacity in 2023 and 2024 when the band, without parading soldiers, played on Parliament Hill. There were also ceremonial guards stationed outside Rideau Hall during those years.
Article content
“The Ceremonial Guard will conduct that changing of the guard parade on Parliament Hill but will not mount daily sentries at Rideau Hall for summer 2025,” McLaughlin said in an emailed statement.
Article content
The ceremony historically has taken place on Parliament Hill as well as a daily stationing of ceremonial guards on the grounds of Rideau Hall.
Article content
Article content
McLaughlin said that the changing of the guard parade will take place ever day at 10:00 a.m. on Parliament Hill until Aug. 20.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The full parade including band and soldiers will take place on Wednesdays to Sundays, while the band will perform without parading soldiers on Mondays and Tuesdays, McLaughlin added.
Article content
Read More
-
Governor General David Johnston inspects the Ceremonial Guard
-
Who forms the Canadian military’s ceremonial guard?
-
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
Article content
McLaughlin called the model a “new and hybrid-type event structure” that will “still provide the key aspects of this important historical ceremony to Canadians.”
Article content
The changing of the guard ceremony was first held on Parliament Hill in 1959 when Queen Elizabeth II visited Ottawa. Members of a regular Canadian army infantry conducted the ceremony. In the 1970s, the responsibility for the ceremony was given to two reservist regiments.
Article content
Since 2016, the ceremonial guard has been made up of both reservists and regular soldiers.
Article content
The Governor General’s office acknowledged the importance of the tradition of the ceremonial guard at Rideau Hall, but referred questions about the changing of the guard to the Canadian Forces.
Discover more from World Byte News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
