Strathcona Welcome Home Family Celebration

 

When A Squadron returned from Afghanistan in November 2010, it appeared that the Strathcona’s would have a temporary reprieve from operations.  In the months that followed, however, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) was tasked to generate nearly 100 soldiers and leaders for Task Force Afghanistan, the Mission Transition Task Force and Operation ATTENTION.  So, with the return of these troops to Edmonton in March 2012 marking the first time in nearly a decade that the entire team was out of harm’s way, there was cause to celebrate.

On the 9th of June, 1200 Strathcona soldiers and their loved ones gathered to party at the Edmonton Northlands.  After a terrific meal and tribute video commemorating the hard work of Strathcona soldiers this past year, Major Chaos – a local band featuring the Strathcona’s own Warrant Officer Rick Allen – took to the stage and rocked Northlands for a great set of hard rock.

Primed up from the opener, the 1000 celebrating Strathcona’s raised the roof of the venue when Our Lady Peace – four time Juno and 10 time Much Music Video Award winners unexpectedly took the stage.  Before performing one of their hit songs, Innocent, lead singer Raine Maida thanked the Strathcona soldiers for everything they have done for Canada, and he said the band was in awe at the dedication and support of the families.  In addition to playing their greatest hits from over the years, Our Lady Peace unveiled songs from their newest album, Curve.

The celebration continued into the early morning as Skratch Bastid, an internationally renowned DJ spun tunes for the Strathcona’s.  Even a young reconnaissance soldier, Trooper Ramdean, rapped on stage to the excitement of his peers.   

The Strathcona Welcome Home Event would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the Strathcona Society and many generous Canadian business leaders and companies to include Slaight Music; BioWare; Waterloo Ford; Diversified Transportation; Enbridge; All Star Productions; Sonic 102.9; Edmonton Northlands; Northern Blizzard; The Village Grocer; TransCanada; Big Rock Brewery; Katch Kan; Aztec Inspection; Flatlander; Western Pontiac Buick; and Critter Solutions. 

According to the unit’s command team, “The 2012 Strathcona Welcome Home Event was a chance for grateful Strathcona leaders to thank the unit’s soldiers for their extremely hard work not only on expeditionary operations, but throughout the year at multiple training exercises and domestic operations as well.  Equally important, it was our chance to thank their great families, without whom we couldn’t do our jobs.”