Canadian Army Formally Changes Divisions as Military Readies for Future of Combat

Canada’s Army is making one of the biggest changes to its structure in decades today, shifting from divisions based on geography to ones that are built around specific purposes.

CFB Edmonton is holding a signing ceremony and parade to stand up the 1st Canadian Division, which will serve as the main force responsible for deploying on large-scale combat operations and responding to crises.

Headquartered in Edmonton, the division will bring many capabilities together under one roof, such as tanks and other armour, artillery, light infantry, paratroopers and engineers.

Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the new 1st Canadian Division, says it’s a big administrative change that required a lot of work over the past year.

He says the threat environment has changed and the world is returning to large-scale combat operations like the ones in Ukraine, involving the deployment of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

The 3rd Canadian Division—which traces its history to the First World War—is being retired to the supplementary Order of Battle, which happens when a regiment is powered down but continues to exist on paper in case it needs to be returned to duty.