3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div) is one of four operational commands of the Canadian Army, responsible for the administration, training, and operational readiness of army forces in Western Canada, spanning from the Pacific Ocean to Thunder Bay, Ontario.[1] Headquartered at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton in Alberta, it oversees approximately 5,800 Regular Force soldiers, 5,300 Primary Reserve soldiers, 3,000 Canadian Rangers, and 1,000 Department of National Defence civilians, totaling around 15,100 personnel.[1] The division supports domestic operations, international missions, and force generation while promoting resilience and high readiness across its area of responsibility, which excludes the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright, Alberta.[1] With over a century of service, the 3rd Canadian Division traces its origins to December 1915, when it was formed in France during the First World War from Canadian units already deployed to the Western Front.[2] It distinguished itself in key battles including Mount Sorrel, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Amiens, and the Pursuit to Mons, earning a reputation for combat effectiveness before being disbanded after the war.[2] Reconstituted as the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during the Second World War, it played a pivotal role in the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and subsequent campaigns to liberate Caen, the Channel ports, the Scheldt Estuary, the Rhineland, and the Netherlands, before demobilization in June 1946.[2] In the post-war era, the division was re-established in the early 1990s as Land Force Western Area (LFWA), encompassing Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, and incorporating formations such as 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and the 38th, 39th, and 41st Canadian Brigade Groups.[2] On June 6, 2014—marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day—it was officially renamed the 3rd Canadian Division, reviving its historic title and adopting the French Grey shoulder patch worn by its World War predecessors as a permanent insignia.[2] Today, under the command of Brigadier-General L.W. Rutland and Division Sergeant-Major Chief Warrant Officer R.J. Clarke (as of July 2025), it continues to evolve as a versatile force focused on rapid deployment and integrated operations.[1]History
World War I
The 3rd Canadian Division was initially formed in December 1915 in France, comprising the 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Brigades, each consisting of four battalions. The 7th Brigade included the Royal Canadian Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), and 49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), while the 8th Brigade was composed of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Supporting arms at formation included the 8th and 9th Canadian Field Artillery Brigades, each with multiple batteries equipped with 18-pounder guns, along with machine gun companies attached to each infantry brigade, the 3rd Canadian Divisional Engineers (comprising the 7th, 8th, and 9th Field Companies for bridging, road-building, and fortification tasks), and medical units such as the No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance for casualty evacuation and treatment.[3][4][5] In March 1916, the division was reinforced in France with the addition of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, bringing the total to three brigades and establishing the standard structure for Canadian divisions within the Canadian Corps; the 9th Brigade consisted of the 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), 52nd Battalion (New Ontario), 58th Battalion, and 60th Battalion (later replaced by the 116th Battalion before the Battle of Vimy Ridge). The command hierarchy was led by Major-General Malcolm Mercer as the inaugural divisional commander, overseeing brigade-level leadership that included figures such as Brigadier-General T. L. Tremblay among the brigade commanders. Artillery support expanded with the 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade, and other elements like signals and train units (for logistics) were integrated to handle supply lines.[6][7][8] The structure evolved through 1916–1918 to adapt to trench warfare demands, with the addition of the 3rd Canadian Divisional Cyclist Company in February 1916 for reconnaissance and dispatch duties (later amalgamated into the Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion in May 1916), and tank support in 1918 via attached companies from the British Tank Corps for assault operations. Machine gun elements consolidated from individual brigade companies into the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps in March 1918, enhancing firepower concentration. By mid-1917, artillery was reorganized, reducing the number of brigades from four to two (8th and 11th) while increasing gun numbers per battery from four to six, reflecting broader British Expeditionary Force changes. The division's total strength fluctuated but typically ranged from 15,000 to 18,000 personnel, including combat, support, and administrative roles. Following Mercer's death in action on 2 June 1916, Major-General Louis Lipsett assumed command and led the division until his own death in 1918, maintaining the integrated structure under the Canadian Corps.[3][4][9]World War II
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during World War II was organized as a standard British Commonwealth infantry division, comprising three infantry brigades supported by artillery, engineering, machine gun, and armoured elements. Authorized on 24 May 1940, it mobilized in England and adopted a mechanized structure by 1943, emphasizing mobility and combined arms integration.[10] The division's order of battle centered on the 7th, 8th, and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades, each consisting of three rifle battalions and a machine gun battalion in the case of the 8th.[10]| Brigade | Key Regiments |
|---|---|
| 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade | Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Regina Rifle Regiment, 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment |
| 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade | Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, Le Régiment de la Chaudière |
| 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade | North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Highland Light Infantry of Canada |
Postwar Reorganization
Following the end of the Second World War, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, including its occupation force elements, was fully disbanded by June 1946, with authorization under General Orders 162/46, 201/46, and 283/46.[13] Its units were absorbed into the Canadian Infantry Corps, perpetuating their traditions within the Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) as reserve formations without maintaining divisional organization.[2] This demobilization aligned with broader postwar reductions in the Canadian Army, transitioning active wartime structures to a smaller permanent force supplemented by reserves focused on home defense.[14] In the immediate postwar period, former 3rd Division units served as reserve components within Military District No. 12, encompassing Alberta and Saskatchewan, contributing to regional militia training and administration but lacking any cohesive divisional status.[15] During the 1940s and 1950s, ongoing efforts to integrate and streamline Canadian forces, including the establishment of a unified command structure under the Canadian Army, emphasized reserve augmentation over divisional reactivation, with limited impacts from early integration proposals.[16] For the Korean War mobilizations beginning in 1950, personnel from these reserve units provided individual reinforcements to the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, but no intact divisional elements were deployed as a unified formation.[17] The 1968 unification of the Canadian Armed Forces, enacted through the National Defence Act amendments, dissolved traditional service branches and reorganized land forces under Mobile Command, scattering former 3rd Division reserve units across western Canadian Militia brigades such as those in Alberta and Saskatchewan for decentralized training and readiness.[14] Key administrative milestones in the 1970s included the 1971 White Paper on Defence in the 70s, which reviewed reserve roles amid budget constraints and reduced force levels, leading to further emphasis on supplementary rather than combat-ready structures without restoring an active divisional headquarters—a status that persisted until 1991.[16]Modern Operations
The 3rd Canadian Division was re-established on 1 September 1991 as Land Force Western Area (LFWA), a reserve formation headquartered at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Alberta, as part of a broader reorganization of the Canadian Army's reserve forces to enhance regional command structures.[2][18] LFWA assumed responsibility for the mobilization, training, and administration of army reserve units across western Canada, encompassing Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, most of British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.[2][1] Since its reformation, the division has played a key role in domestic operations, providing support for disaster relief and security tasks. Reserve and regular personnel contributed to the response during the 1997 Flood of the Century along the Red River in Manitoba, where units like the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada assisted with sandbagging, evacuations, and infrastructure protection amid widespread flooding that affected over 28,000 people.[19] In 2010, elements from the 39 Canadian Brigade Group, including the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, deployed for security operations during the Vancouver Winter Olympics, helping secure venues and infrastructure against potential threats. Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, the division has repeatedly supported wildfire responses in provinces like Alberta and British Columbia under Operation LENTUS, with soldiers from units such as 41 Canadian Brigade Group providing structural firefighting, evacuation assistance, and logistics in events like the 2023 Alberta wildfires that displaced thousands.[20][21] Internationally, personnel from the division have contributed as individual augmentees and in formed units to peacekeeping and combat support missions. In the 1990s, soldiers from units like Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) deployed twice to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of NATO-led stabilization efforts under the Implementation Force and Stabilization Force, focusing on patrols and mine clearance.[22] During the 2000s, reserve members served as individual augmentees in Afghanistan, augmenting regular force units in roles such as logistics and medical support amid the International Security Assistance Force mission.[2] The division also participates in multinational NATO exercises, including annual iterations of Maple Resolve at the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre in Wainwright, Alberta, where reserve and regular forces practice brigade-level operations with allies to enhance interoperability and readiness.[23] Following the 2011 Strategic Review and subsequent army restructuring, LFWA evolved into a more integrated command emphasizing high-readiness reserves capable of rapid deployment for both domestic and international tasks. On 6 June 2014, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of D-Day, it was officially renamed the 3rd Canadian Division, restoring its historical title while incorporating modern priorities like Arctic sovereignty through oversight of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, which patrols remote northern territories.[2][1] In recent years up to 2025, the division has supported humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying personnel to assist with medical logistics, community vaccinations, and aid distribution in remote western communities, including First Nations reserves in Manitoba. Amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, soldiers from the 3rd Canadian Division have contributed to Operation UNIFIER, providing military training to Ukrainian forces in the United Kingdom and Canada, including tactical and leadership instruction that has prepared over 45,000 Ukrainian personnel since 2015 as of 2025, with ongoing rotations.[24][25][26]Organization and Structure
World War I
The 3rd Canadian Division was initially formed in December 1915 in France, comprising the 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Brigades, each consisting of four battalions. The 7th Brigade included the Royal Canadian Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), and 49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), while the 8th Brigade was composed of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Supporting arms at formation included machine gun companies attached to each infantry brigade, the 3rd Canadian Divisional Engineers (comprising the 7th, 8th, and 9th Field Companies for bridging, road-building, and fortification tasks), and medical units such as the No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance for casualty evacuation and treatment; artillery support was initially limited and provided by attached British units due to shortages.[3][4][5][2] In March 1916, the division was reinforced in France with the addition of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, bringing the total to three brigades and establishing the standard structure for Canadian divisions within the Canadian Corps; the 9th Brigade consisted of the 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), 52nd Battalion (New Ontario), 58th Battalion, and 60th Battalion (later replaced by the 116th Battalion before the Battle of Vimy Ridge). The command hierarchy was led by Major-General Malcolm Mercer as the inaugural divisional commander, overseeing brigade-level leadership that included figures such as Brigadier-General T. L. Tremblay among the brigade commanders. Artillery support expanded with the 8th, 9th, and 10th Canadian Field Artillery Brigades, each equipped with 18-pounder guns, and other elements like signals and train units (for logistics) were integrated to handle supply lines.[6][7][8] The structure evolved through 1916–1918 to adapt to trench warfare demands, with the addition of the 3rd Canadian Divisional Cyclist Company in February 1916 for reconnaissance and dispatch duties (later amalgamated into the Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion in May 1916), and tank support in 1918 via attached companies from the British Tank Corps for assault operations. Machine gun elements consolidated from individual brigade companies into the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps in March 1918, enhancing firepower concentration. By mid-1917, artillery was reorganized, reducing the number of brigades from four to two (9th and 11th) while increasing gun numbers per battery from four to six, reflecting broader British Expeditionary Force changes. The division's total strength fluctuated but typically ranged from 15,000 to 18,000 personnel, including combat, support, and administrative roles. Following Mercer's death in action on 2 June 1916, Major-General Louis Lipsett assumed command and led the division until his own death in 1918, maintaining the integrated structure under the Canadian Corps.[3][4][9][27]World War II
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during World War II was organized as a standard British Commonwealth infantry division, comprising three infantry brigades supported by artillery, engineering, machine gun, and armoured elements. Authorized on 24 May 1940, it mobilized in England and adopted a mechanized structure by 1943, emphasizing mobility and combined arms integration.[10] The division's order of battle centered on the 7th, 8th, and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades, each consisting of three rifle battalions and a machine gun battalion in the case of the 8th.[10]| Brigade | Key Regiments |
|---|---|
| 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade | Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Regina Rifle Regiment, 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment |
| 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade | Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, Le Régiment de la Chaudière |
| 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade | North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Highland Light Infantry of Canada |