Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment welcomes new commanding officer
As the regiment prepares for deployment training, the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) will be under new command by a familiar face.
Lt.-Col. Eric Angell took the reins as commanding officer of the 3rd Canadian Division armoured regiment during a change of command parade Wednesday morning at CFB Edmonton.
“As we begin the adventure of the road to high readiness, I can’t wait to soldier alongside you,” Angell said during his address to the soldiers and crowd in attendance. “You inspire me on a daily basis and you make me fiercely proud to be a Strathcona. Persevere.”
Angell joined the regiment in 2004 and served in several roles including battle captain and second-in-command of A squadron.
As the motto for the regiment, perseverance was the theme of the parade ceremony — which kept reminding the speakers of the outgoing commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Mark Lubiniecki.
“Thank you for your leadership,” Angell said as he prepared to step into Lubiniecki’s shoes. “I promise to do my best to live up to the high standard.”
Lubiniecki joined the Strathconas in 2000 and rose to commanding officer in 2016. During his leadership, the Strathconas deployed to Ukraine. Brig. Gen. Trevor Cadieu of the 3rd Canadian Division highlighted the regiment’s efforts both on the battlefield and in responding to domestic emergencies on the home front.
Lubiniecki said he had a successful career because he only remembers the positives and doesn’t leave with any, “I wish I would haves.”
He thanked his three young children and his wife, who also serves as a commanding officer, before the family was congratulated and whisked away in two tanks.
The tanks saved for the guests of honour were an exception to a surprisingly tankless Strathcona parade, Cadieu said.
“This is not normally what we see. Normally what we see is much louder and a lot more metallic,” he said of the parade.
Due to road restrictions, Cadieu said most of the machines couldn’t make the trip for the ceremony and are still in Wainwright, but that the marching was just as impressive.
The Lord Strathcona’s Horse, based in Edmonton, is made up of front line soldiers and provides tanks and reconnaissance forces.
“You are the ones we count on to deal a knockout blow to the enemy on the field of battle,” Cadieu said to wrap up his address to the soldiers. “The bad guys cannot hide from you and I know they tremble in fear when they hear the rumble of the tanks approaching.”