Canadian Ranger Deployment Continues in North
THUNDER BAY – There are a lot of “unsung heroes” during the past weeks. Across Northern Ontario, the Canadian Rangers are currently engaged in the longest deployment in their history. The Rangers are part-time army reservists who are proving in many ways to be the “Swiss Army Knife” for the Canadian Armed Forces in Northern Canada. They seem to be capable of adapting and working in every situation they are asked to perform.
The 3rd Canadian Rangers Patrol Group were deployed on April 10, 2020.
“The Rangers are the Canadian Armed Forces’ initial response capability to the virus in Northern Ontario,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Shane McArthur, the commanding officer of 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (3CRPG), which commands almost 600 Rangers in 30 First Nation communities. “They are prepared, on order, to perform tasks under Operation Laser (the military response to the pandemic) and their traditional tasks.”
NetNewsLedger has covered many of the duties and training exercises that the Canadian Rangers have performed. Now is where all of the training kicks in and makes a real difference for the people in the communities where there are Canadian Ranger detachments.
Working in the communities across the North the Canadian Rangers provide a unique and much-appreciated connection with the communities they serve.
The Canadian Rangers are not only deployed in Northern Ontario, but also in Northern Quebec as well. In Quebec it is the 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group who are working in the region.
Right now, across the North, the break-up of ice on rivers is starting. This has in recent years led to problems in remote northern Ontario First Nation’s communities.
The Rangers have, in the past been front and centre in evacuations. This year, however, due to COVID-19, evacuations are less likely to happen to southern communities many of which are already at full capacity in their emergency resources dealing with the pandemic.
This is likely to present new challenges to the Canadian Rangers, but if history is any guide to the future, the talents and efforts of the Canadian Rangers will shine through.
