62nd (Shawinigan) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

The 62^nd (Shawinigan) Field Regiment, RCA ( _fr. 62^e (Shawinigan) Régiment d'artillerie de campagne, ARC) is a militia unit of the Canadian Army, that has its own military band and is located in Shawinigan, Quebec. It recruits primarily in Shawinigan, Joliette and Victoriaville. [J.J. Bellemare, 60 ans d'artillerie en Mauricie, Shawinigan]

Origin

Its oldest and most notable subunit is the 81^st Field Artillery Battery, which was founded in the Eastern Townships in 1912 and relocated in Shawinigan, Mauricie in 1936.

World War II

The battery was called to active duty during World War II. Its members were trained in Ontario and the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1944. In 1944-45, the 81^st Battery contributed to the Allies' effort in the Normandy Landings, which led to the Liberation of France.

Anti-aircraft Unit

In 1946-48, members of the Shawinigan-based C Company of the Régiment de Joliette joined those of the 81^st Battery to form the 62^nd Regiment. From that moment until 1961, the newly formed unit served in an anti-aircraft capacity.

Field artillery

Since 1961, the regiment has been a field artillery unit. Its equipment consists of 105 mm towed howitzers. Its armoury is currently located at 5315 Boulevard Royal, Shawinigan. [ [http://www.artillery.net/English/units62rac.htm 62e Régiment d’artillerie de campagne, Shawinigan, Quebec, The Royal Regiment of Artillery] ]

A substantial number of the 62^nd Regiment reservists attend Collège Shawinigan.

Every year on Remembrance Day weekend, members of the regiment gather near the Monument des Braves cenotaph and conduct a ceremony to commemorate soldiers who died on the field of honour. They also parade in the streets of downtown Shawinigan and Grand-Mère.

Contributions since World War II

Even though the 62^nd Regiment has not served in active duty since World War II, it provided personnel for a number of operations, including: [ [http://www.lhebdomekinacdeschenaux.com/article-203765-Un-bel-hommage-aux-soldats-du-62e-RAC-de-retour-dAfghanistan.html Un bel hommage aux soldats du 62e RAC de retour d'Afghanistan, L'Hebdo Mékinac des Chenaux, April 20, 2008] ]

* United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP);
* the Oka Crisis in Montérégie;
* United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Former Yugoslavia;
* the War in Afghanistan.

Well-Known Members of the Regiment

Well-known members of the regiment are:

* Gabriel Chrétien, brother of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien;
* Jacques Duchesneau, Chief of Police of the Montreal Urban Community from 1994 to 1998 and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment since 2005;
* Gérard Dufresne, Mayor of Shawinigan from 1963 to 1966 and Honorary Colonel of the regiment from 1966 to 2005;
* Yves Duhaime, Provincial Cabinet Member from 1976 to 1985;
* Antonio Lamer, Chief Justice of Canada from 1990 to 2000 and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment from 1992 to 1998;
* Ben Weider, Co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB), Jewish businessman from Montreal and Honorary Colonel of the regiment since 2005.

Footnotes

ee also

* List of units of the Canadian Army