St. Albert salutes the Strathconas

The City of St. Albert will bestow one of the most prestigious and time-honoured decorations upon the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Saturday to recognize the importance of the military in the community and help celebrate the city's 150th anniversary.

Starting at 10:50 a.m., a column of 14 tanks, 14 Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicles, an honour guard of 100 foot soldiers, several antique military vehicles, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band (RCAB) and the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums will depart its staging grounds at Father Jan school. They will make their way toward St. Albert Place where the Strathconas will receive the Freedom of the City, a tradition dating back to Roman times when friendly military units were permitted to march through a city armed and in formation.

"It's considered a huge honour to be given the Freedom of the City," said organizer Gareth Jones. "It's the city's tribute to the military during its 150th anniversary."

The entire city is invited to witness the event outside St. Albert Place, which will be followed by a parade to the Kinsmen grounds at Riel Park where military vehicles will be on display, the Strathcona's Mounted Troop will perform and the St. Albert Gazette will serve free hot dogs and pop from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Strathconas are the second military unit to be granted Freedom of the City in St. Albert. The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were granted the honour in 2004.

"The military has provided a significant role in our community for decades," said Mayor Nolan Crouse, who will take part in Saturday's ceremony. "For us it's a combination of two things — the military families that have lived here for decades and the 150 years the city has been here."

The ceremony

The tanks, vehicles and troops will actually begin their journey from Edmonton Garrison at 8 a.m. Saturday. They will muster at Father Jan school, leaving for the cenotaph on St. Anne Street at 10:50 a.m. Upon arriving at approximately 11 a.m., the column, with its commanding officer (CO) riding in the lead tank, will be met by a decorative barrier consisting of the city's "Road Closed" signs with fabric draped across them, symbolizing the walls that surrounded ancient cities. The CO will be met by St. Albert RCMP detachment commander Insp. Warren Dosko and two other officers dressed in red serge.

"My role will be to meet [the column] as the parade progresses. My involvement is we go to meet the unit commander at the cenotaph and escort him to where the mayor is," Dosko said.

The CO will dismount his tank and, under Dosko's escort, knock on the front doors of St. Albert Place, reminiscent of knocking on the gates of a walled city. Crouse will meet the CO and present him and the unit with a scroll granting them Freedom of the City. Both will wear microphones so the public can listen to the exchange.

"I have a scroll I'll be providing. As well they will be receiving a key to the city," Crouse said.

While the Strathconas will subsequently be able to march armed and in formation through St. Albert, the declaration also comes with a historical yet humorous caveat.

"It's more kind of a commentary. You're allowed freedom but please take care of our city and make sure you behave yourselves while you're in town," Crouse said.

Both the CO and Crouse will make short speeches and Crouse will be asked to inspect the troops from a reviewing platform.

The parade

Once the ceremony is over, the column will move past the barriers up St. Anne Street. Upon reaching Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, half the column will turn left to return to the garrison while the remaining soldiers and vehicles will turn onto Riel Drive and proceed to the Kinsmen grounds.

From 1 to 3 p.m., the public will be able to peruse the unit's vehicles, like the Leopard 2 tank and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle, as well as the regiment's collection of vintage vehicles. The Strathcona's Mounted Troop will perform its Musical Ride on the second field at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club, working their horses through a series of maneuvers dating back to the Middle Ages.

The RCAB and Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums, joined at the park by the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Drumline, will perform small concerts. Anyone hungry should stop by the St. Albert Gazette tent for free hot dogs and pop.

All of the events, from the ceremony outside St. Albert Place to the events at Riel Park, are open to the public and free of charge. Dosko, Crouse and Jones all hope the community will turn out to help honour the military in our community.

"By giving the Freedom of the City to the regiment, we are recognizing the importance of the military in our lives in Canada, in St. Albert. It's also to recognize the bravery the regiment has brought in battle. It's recognizing the battle honours they've earned, all of that is in there," Jones said.

"We have over 600 military families that live in St. Albert. They are a part of our community. It's our way of honouring them as part of the 150th anniversary."