Royal Regina Rifles hold ceremony for new honorary Lieutenant Colonel

Monique Goffinet was sworn in at the Regina Armoury as the new honorary lieutenant colonel of the Royal Regina Rifle Regiment.

The Royal Regina Rifles held a ceremony Thursday night at the Regina Armoury to welcome a new honorary Lieutenant Colonel.

Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. Kevin Barry presented a sword to incoming honorary Lt. Col. Monique Goffinet during the ‘Badging In’ Ceremony, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years to the British Army.

The honorary Lt.-Col. is traditionally an esteemed person drawn from the local society, with a role of advocating for the regiment and carrying on their traditions.

Goffinet said wearing the uniform of the regiment in an honorary role means the world to her and said she’d proud to be a part of the Royal Regina Rifles family.

“It is incredible what the Riflemen are doing with the Royal Regina Rifles. The awareness should be up. It is time for Regina to understand just how incredible this regiment is. The legacy and the history behind it,” she said.

Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. Barry spoke highly about what the role entails.

“They advocate tirelessly on behalf of their regiment, in this case the Royal Regina Rifle Regiment. Not just promoting the traditions of today’s regiment, the Royal Regina Rifles, but also the war-time regiments, the Regina Rifle Regiment that stormed the beach at D-Day, and took the most ground,” he said.

The Royal Regina Rifles continue to seek new recruits and hold open houses at the Regina Armoury several times a year.

- With files from Gareth Dillistone