Military paratroopers celebrate 'brotherhood' at Edmonton reunion
More than 500 people attended a paratroopers reunion this weekend at the Airborne Social Club of Edmonton.
Every five years, parachuters from all across the country gather to commemorate 81 years of Canadian military operational parachuting with this year’s theme being “Paratrooper’s Reunion – Edmonton the Airborne Story.”
Retired Col. Bill Fletcher, co-chair of the reunion committee, tells CTV News that the first parachute descent occurred in 1945 by the Canadian Air Force search and rescue group.
Parachuters also worked with the 2nd Battalion and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry of Griesbach Barracks, which became the home of the Airborne Regiment in 1968.
“We are commemorating all parachuters, all military parachuters this year in our reunion and have opened it up in that respect,” said Col. Fletcher.
“The Airborne family is a brotherhood. It’s a close-knit brotherhood and once you’re accepted into the family, it remains. That link remains, that relationship remains,” he added. “Every five years [the reunion] allows us to renew acquaintances with many of those that we serve with and others that have come before or even after us."
The Canadian Airborne Cairn will hold a memorial service in Perron Berger Park in Griesbach on Sunday at 11 a.m. and unveil a monument in honour of the Canadian soldiers and Airborne soldiers who have passed away.
For more information about the Airborne Social Club of Edmonton, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.