Land Force Western Area
# Land Force Western Area

Land Force Western Area (LFWA) was a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for operations in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. LFWA was headquartered at CFB Edmonton. The command was formed in 1991. In 2013 it was announced that LFWA would be renamed 3rd Canadian Division. This change took place in the summer of 2014.

## History

LFWA was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously Prairie Militia Area, Pacific Militia Area, and the Regular Force Army units and formations in western Canada from the northern lakehead region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean. At that point in time, the Militia Areas ceased to exist, and the seven subordinate Militia Districts were reorganised into four: British Columbia District, Alberta District, Saskatchewan District, and Manitoba-Lakehead District.

Later that decade, the four reserve force districts were again reorganized into three Canadian Brigade Groups.

In 2014 LFWA was renamed 3rd Canadian Division. With this change of name, the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage to the division that fought in the two world wars.

## Commanders

* Major-General T.F. de Faye (1991–93)
* Brigadier-General Beare, CD (2004–2005)
* Brigadier-General Jorgensen, OMM, MSM, CD (2008 −2010)
* Brigadier-General P.F. Wynnyk, OMM, CD (2010–2012)
* Brigadier-General J.C.G. Juneau (2012–2014)

## Units

Land Force Western Area had four brigade groups (one Regular Force and three Reserve Force), and an Area Support Group.

There were also five units are under direct command of LFWA that did not operate under the brigade or area support groups. They were:

* Land Force Western Area Headquarters – (CFB Edmonton)
* 6 Intelligence Company
* 1 Area Construction Troop, 4 Engineer Support Regiment – (CFB Edmonton)
* 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group – (Group HQ in Victoria, BC. Ranger Company HQs in Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg, plus Junior Canadian Ranger Company HQ also in Victoria. 42 Canadian Ranger Patrols (platoon size) across the four western provinces)
* Land Force Western Area Training Centre – (CFB Wainwright)

The LFWA maintained an official military band until 1998.

### 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group was a Regular Force brigade group based out of CFB Edmonton.

| 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group | | CFB Edmonton |
| - | - | - |
| 1 CMBG Headquarters & Signal Squadron | | CFB Edmonton |
| 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery | Artillery | CFB Shilo |
| Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) | Armoured | CFB Edmonton |
| 1 Combat Engineer Regiment | Combat engineers | CFB Edmonton |
| 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Mechanized infantry | CFB Edmonton |
| 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Mechanized infantry | CFB Shilo |
| 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Light infantry | CFB Edmonton |
| 1 Service Battalion | Logistic Service and Support | CFB Edmonton |

### 1 Area Support Group

1 Area Support Group was headquartered out of CFB Edmonton. The Support Group was responsible for providing service and support to the units of Land Force Western Area.

| 1 Area Support Group | CFB Edmonton |
| - | - |
| 1 Field Ambulance | CFB Edmonton |
| 1 Military Police Regiment | CFB Edmonton |
| CFB/ASU Edmonton | |
| CFB/ASU Shilo | |
| CFB Suffield | |
| CFB/ASU Wainwright | |
| ASU Calgary | |
| ASU Chilliwack | |

### 38 Canadian Brigade Group

38 Canadian Brigade Group (38 CBG) was a Reserve Force brigade group based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It's composed of units in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastwards into Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

| 38 Canadian Brigade Group | | Winnipeg |
| - | - | - |
| 38 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | | Winnipeg |
| The Saskatchewan Dragoons | Armoured reconnaissance | Moose Jaw |
| The Fort Garry Horse | Armoured reconnaissance | Winnipeg |
| 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Regina and Yorkton |
| 26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Brandon and Portage la Prairie |
| 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA | Artillery | Kenora |
| 38 Combat Engineer Regiment | Combat engineers | Saskatoon, Winnipeg |
| 38 Signals Regiment | Communications | Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay |
| The Royal Winnipeg Rifles | Light infantry | Winnipeg |
| The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment | Light infantry | Thunder Bay |
| The North Saskatchewan Regiment | Light infantry | Saskatoon and Prince Albert |
| The Royal Regina Rifles | Light infantry | Regina |
| The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada | Light infantry | Winnipeg |
| 38 Service Battalion | Service and support | Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay |

### 39 Canadian Brigade Group

39 Canadian Brigade Group (39 CBG) was a Primary Reserve brigade group based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. All of the units of the brigade are from the province of British Columbia.

| 39 Canadian Brigade Group | | Vancouver |
| - | - | - |
| 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | | Vancouver |
| The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) | Armoured reconnaissance | Vancouver |
| The British Columbia Dragoons | Armoured reconnaissance | Kelowna and Vernon |
| 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Victoria and Nanaimo |
| 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Vancouver and Aldergrove |
| 39 Combat Engineer Regiment | Combat engineers | Vancouver, Chilliwack and Trail |
| 39 Signal Regiment | Communications | Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo |
| The Rocky Mountain Rangers | Light infantry | Kamloops |
| The Royal Westminster Regiment | Light infantry | New Westminster and Aldergrove |
| The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada | Light infantry | Vancouver |
| The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) | Light infantry | Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox |
| 39 Service Battalion | Service and support | Richmond and Victoria |

### 41 Canadian Brigade Group

41 Canadian Brigade Group (41 CBG) was a Reserve Force brigade group based out of Calgary, Alberta. The units forming the brigade group are from the province of Alberta, as well as a company based out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

| 41 Canadian Brigade Group | | Calgary |
| - | - | - |
| 41 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | | Calgary |
| The South Alberta Light Horse | Armoured reconnaissance | Edmonton and Medicine Hat |
| The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) | Armoured reconnaissance | Calgary |
| 20th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Artillery | Edmonton and Red Deer |
| 20th Independent Field Battery, RCA | Artillery | Lethbridge |
| 41 Combat Engineer Regiment | Combat engineers | Calgary and Edmonton |
| 41 Signal Regiment | Communications | Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer |
| The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) | Light infantry | Edmonton and Yellowknife |
| The Calgary Highlanders | Light infantry | Calgary |
| 41 Service Battalion | Service and support | Calgary and Edmonton |

## Museums

| Name | Town/City | Regions | Type | Summary |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum | Edmonton | Edmonton Metropolitan | Military | website, history of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment |
| 5th (BC) Regiment Museum | Victoria | Capital | Military | website, history of coast artillery and associated units from 1861 to the present day |
| Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) Regimental Museum | Victoria | Capital | Military | |
| Regimental Museum of the BC Regiment | Vancouver | Metro Vancouver | Military | History and artifacts of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) |
| Royal Westminster Regiment Historical Society and Museum | New Westminster | Metro Vancouver | Military | |
| Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives | Vancouver | Metro Vancouver | Military | |
| 12th Manitoba Dragoons Museum | Brandon | Westman | Military | website, history of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery |
| Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regimental Museum | Winnipeg | Winnipeg Capital | Military | website, history of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles |

## Acronyms

* Canada portal
* ASU: Area Support Unit
* CFB: Canadian Forces Base
* RCA: The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
* RCAC: Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
