A Canadian Army Reservist group based in Calgary held their first open house in Edmonton to attract those interested in becoming part-time soldiers.

The 41 Canadian Brigade Group has about 1,200 reservists from across the province who are always keen to show off what they do, officials explained.

“They are certainly very eager to show people what it is that they do. They are very eager to have colleagues that are eager to do what they’re doing,” Lt. Col. Dan Beauchamp told CTV News.

Saturday’s event served to showcase the trades of those in the Brigade.

“We supply bullets, bacons, beans to soldiers in the field.  Sometimes soldiers break things so we fix it,” Lt. Col. Beauchamp said.

“When the solider comes in initially we start with a lot of imposed discipline. As they have been with us for a while that discipline moves to self-imposed discipline.

“Once the soldier knows their trade we start developing their leadership skills and abilities.”

Those skills are appreciated by civilian employers, Cpl. David Weppler said.

Cpl. Weppler said he initially joined up as a reservist when he was in university 12 years ago and has managed to stay involved while working as a civilian.

“I have luckily been very supported by those employers to give me occasionally some time off to do these on-reserve kind of things. They see the benefit too when I get leadership training as well as some practical hands-on training as well.”

Part of the attraction for Cpl. Weppler has been the challenge.

“You are putting yourself into situations you might not normally and I think a lot of people are amazed by the strength that they have inside them.”

Cadet Makayla Henderson said the open house gives people a good idea of what life as a reservist is like.

“This helps you get a better understanding. Even a better understanding of what field you want to go into, if you are unsure of where you want to go in the military.”

Lt. Col. Beauchamp said they were looking for 16-57-year-old Canadian citizens who are, or will be, high school graduates.

According to the Canadian Forces website many of the soldiers in the 41 Canadian Brigade group are used to augment the Regular Force on international missions.

They are also used in domestic operations like the British Columbia forest fires.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith