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Aug 17

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RUSI Regina is honoured to support Operation Pilgrimage. What is Operation Pilgrimage, you ask?

The Up the Johns! Association is composed of citizens in Normandy who have dedicated themselves to preserving the memory and legacy of the soldiers of the Regina Rifles affectionately known as the ‘’Johns”-who landed on D-Day and played a crucial role in the liberation of their communities during the Second World War.

In September 2026, the Association will travel to Saskatchewan — many for the first time — to visit the hometowns, loved ones, and farms of the soldiers who landed in France during the war.

The pilgrimage will be both historically meaningful and deeply human. It offers a rare opportunity to tell the story of remembrance not from the battlefield alone, but from the enduring relationships that emerged in its aftermath-relationships that continue more than eighty years later.

Together, the RUSI Regina partners Royal Regina Rifles and the RRR Trust Fund recognize the value in organizing this pilgrimage. It honours our veterans, strengthens international ties, and advances public understanding of the living legacy of the Second World War.

To learn more visit www.rrrtrust.org

#operationpilgrimage #reginarifles #rrrtrust #normandy #militaryhistory

Aug 14

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This exhibit is going on tour! And we would like to add YOUR space to the itinerary!

If you have or know of a place in the province of Saskatchewan that would like to host this 100th Anniversary History of the Regina Legion exhibit - made up of large, medium, and small sized banners/poster boards and corresponding artifacts - please

1. Share this post or tag them below
2. Contact our Executive Director Kelsey Lonie at
➡️ executivedirector@rusiregina.ca

Want to see the exhibit right now? The Regina Legion museum will have it up and running pre-your until early September. The museum is open Monday to Friday 10 AM to 2 PM and admission is free.

#rusiregina #reginalegion #touringexhibit #saskatchewan #royalcanadianlegion

Aug 13

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On this day, the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) was founded in 1941. Women across Canada had been itching to join the Canadian Army long before this though. Many travelled overseas to sign up in Britain! Finally, Prime Minister Mackenzie King could no longer deny it - he would lose all his women to England if he didn't start organizing something on Canadian soil.

Women took on roles including office personnel, dental and medical technicians, telephone operators, vehicle maintenance workers, and even worked on secret decoding projects. More than 21,000 of these women served overseas in Britian, Europe, and Italy.

After the war, the women were asked to return to the home to become a housewife - a hard pill for many to swallow. We thank the women of the CWAC today for their service and for paving the way for future generations of women!

Image:
No 22 Coy CWAC, Regina, August 18, 1945, RCL0032, Regina Legion Museum & Archives

Aug 12

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What an honour to have this level of support for our Who Wears The Uniform? exhibit running at the @rcmphc until August 30.

From the desk of The Honourable Jill McKnight, P.C., M.P.

“As Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, it is my honour to extend warm greetings in recognition of this powerful initiative by RUSI Regina.

This exhibit brings forward deeply personal accounts of modern military and public service. From deployments in Afghanistan to leadership at sea — these stories reflect courage, resilience, and dedication. They
highlight the many ways service continues beyond the battlefield through mentorship, community leadership, and preserving history for future generations.

The contributions of these participants — shared through oral histories, photographs, and treasured mementos — ensure that the experiences of those who have served are remembered and celebrated. Making this bilingual exhibit accessible across Saskatchewan, and throughout the country online, strengthens that impact and invites all Canadians to connect with these important stories.

Our government is proud to support this meaningful work through the Commemorative Partnership Program. Initiatives like this play a vital role in honouring service, fostering awareness, and preserving the legacy of those who have worn the uniform.

Thank you to everyone involved in bringing
this project to life.”

Aug 10

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You are invited to join us for a special event honouring Regina College members and alumni who served during World War II, in celebration of the enduring legacy of the Royal Regina Rifles.

The event will feature the unveiling of a scale model of the memorial statue located in Place des Canadiens, Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, France, (seen here) which commemorates the Royal Regina Rifles and their role in the liberation of Normandy, as well as the dedication of a plaque recognizing the contributions of Regina College and its community during the war.

We are also pleased to welcome 20 guests from Normandy representing the Up the Johns! Association, visiting Saskatchewan as part of Operation Pilgrimage, hosted by the Royal Regina Rifles.

This occasion provides an opportunity to mark this important chapter in our history, to remember the sacrifices of those who served, and to recognize the lasting connection between Regina College, its members and alumni, and the Royal Regina Rifles.

September 9, 2026
Reception 10:30 a.m. Unveiling Ceremony 11:30 a.m.
University of Regina, College Avenue Campus
Room CB 112
2155 College Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan

This tribute and celebration have been made possible through a generous donation from the University of Regina Alumni Association.

We hope you will join us as we honour the service and sacrifice of Regina College community and commemorate the legacy of the Royal Regina Rifles for future generations.

➡Please RSVP your attendance by August 20, to events@uregina.ca

#reginarifles #uofregina #uofralumni #yqr #yqrevents

Aug 8

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It’s #internationalcatday and we’re sharing this image from the Regina Legion digital collection! Even 80 years ago, cats brought a smile to a weary soldier’s face.

See this image and 3,000 others on Memory Sask in the Regina Legion collection! https://memorysask.ca/image-29-4

Aug 7

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RUSI partner @reginalegionbranch001 would like to invite you to visit their exhibit created for their hundredth anniversary. It will be standing at the Regina Legion Museum until early September. The museum is open 10 AM to 2 PM Monday to Friday at 1820 Cornwall St.

This exhibit is also going on tour! And we would like to add your organization to the itinerary. If you have or know of a place in the province of Saskatchewan that would like to host this exhibit - made up of large, medium, and small sized banners/poster boards and corresponding artifacts - please contact our Executive Director Kelsey Lonie at
➡️ executivedirector@rusiregina.ca

Please share with any town, library, museum, community center, school, etc that you think would enjoy having this exhibit - as much or as little of it as fits their space - come for a visit.

#rusiregina #reginalegion #royalcanadianlegion #saskatchewan #touringexhibit

Aug 6

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THROWBACK THURSDAY - Just added to the Legion Museum! Pte George Vincent’s mother, Eliza Ann Vincent, designed this hair wreath and it was donated by the family along with his military photograph

George Stanley Vincent enrolled with the 210th Overseas Battalion, CEF at Eyebrow, Saskatchewan on 22 May 1916. On that date he attested he was born 04 October 1896 in Bracebridge, Ontario. George Henry and Eliza Ann Vincent were listed as his parents and immediate next of kin. Pte. Vincent was sent to Camp Hughes, Manitoba for basic military training. He was discharged on a medical release on 05 May 1917. George married Myrtle May McCord and had two children. He passed away 28 July 1961 and is buried in the Riverside Memorial Park.

During the Victorian period (1837-1901) European and North American societies believed that a middle- or upper-class woman should demonstrate her talents through art and homemaking. Victorian hair art was one of the most popular forms of “fancywork” at the time.

Hair wreaths were constructed almost entirely of human hair which was manipulated to resemble a variety of flowers, floral sprigs, and leaves. The flowers were placed together in a horseshoe shaped wreath - a common Victorian symbol of good luck. Often, a woman collected hair from friends, family members, and loved ones to use in her work. A large hair wreath like the one displayed here could have samples of hair from as many as 50 to 75 individuals.

Hair wreaths went out of style around the beginning of the First World War, and it is very uncommon to find them made after this time.

This hair wreath and portrait were generously donated to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 001 Museum & Archives by the George Stanley Vincent family.

#rusiregina #reginalegion #militarymuseum #hairwreath #militaryhistory

Aug 5

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With only three weeks left to take in our dual exhibits Who Wears The Uniform? and Mission:Afghanistan running at the RCMP Heritage Centre until August 30, why not bring the whole family? It’s an interactive way to educate and inspire the younger generation…

…and they can use their 📲phones to scan the QR codes🤳 and hear the interviews with the Saskatchewan women and men who have served our country.

Come on Sunday and also take in the free film Fallen Heros at 1pm! We truly hope you get a chance to see these incredible exhibits before it’s too late!

#rusiregina #missionafghanistan #militaryhistory #saskatchewan #canadá

Aug 3

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On this Saskatchewan Day, let us remember these admirable Saskatchewan men who were awarded the British Victoria Cross for their service.

The British Victoria Cross was the most prestigious honour awarded to Canadians for valour and conspicuous bravery “in the presence of the enemy” during wartime. It was awarded to a person of any military rank, in any service, and to civilians under military command. Instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, it was the highest honour awarded in the British Commonwealth armed forces.

The valiant individuals pictured here were all citizens of the Province of Saskatchewan. The people of Saskatchewan and Canada are forever grateful for their service and sacrifices that preserved our freedom. We are eternally in their debt.

This memorial which resides at the Legislature is a joint project of the Government of Saskatchewan and the Royal United Services Institute of Regina. All images of Victoria Cross recipients provided courtesy of the Canadian Department of National Defence or Imperial War Museum. ©IWM

To read more about each of their stories, please visit www.rusiregina.ca

#saskatchewanday #victoriacross #militaryhistory #veterans #rusiregina

Jul 30

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THROWBACK THURSDAY: As we celebrate RUSI partner Royal Canadian Legion's 100th anniversary, we think back to what part sport as played in their membership.

The Royal Canadian Legion has spent over 45 years organizing the National Youth Track and Field Championships with the help of dedicated volunteers. Its youth athletics program is widely recognized as one of the best in Canada, producing athletes who have gone on to achieve international and Olympic success.

Legion Dominion Curling Championships were introduced in 1957, followed by the Dominion Darts Championships in 1975 and the Dominion Cribbage Championships in 1989, each bringing members together from across Canada. Eight-ball pool became a Dominion-level competition after being approved at the 2010 convention in Winnipeg. In addition, many branches and provinces host bowling and golf tournaments, further expanding opportunities for participation and friendly competition.

Key milestones include the launch of national training camps and clinics in 1957, the first nationwide track meet in 1975, and ongoing annual investment since 1977 to support high-level training and competition for young athletes.

📸: Black athlete receives trophy for Royal Canadian Legion Track and Field Championships, 1960-1975 // Un athlète noir reçoit un trophée lors des championnats d'athlétisme de la Légion royale canadienne, 1960-1975, RCL1997, Regina Branch 001 Museum & Archives

Regina district No. 1 Legion Curling champions, 1960s // Les champions de curling de la Légion du district n° 1 de Regina, années 1960, RCL2206, Regina Branch 001 Museum & Archives

1963 Juvenile Champs, Legion Baseball Team // Champions juniors de 1963, équipe de baseball de la Légion, RCL2348, Regina Branch 001 Museum & Archives

#royalcanadianlegion #saskhistory #saskatchewan #ᴛʜʀᴏᴡʙᴀᴄᴋᴛʜᴜʀsᴅᴀʏ

Jul 29

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Mission: Afghanistan is a comprehensive look at Canada’s experience of the war in Afghanistan… from the perspective of those who were there. Running until August 30 at the RCMP Heritage Centre, this is the first time this exhibit has visited Saskatchewan.

Canada entered the war on terror after the attacks on 9/11. An event that shocked the western world and spurred both the United Nations (UN) and NATO into action. On 12 September 2001 the UN approved Resolution 1368 to eradicate Global Terrorism and on 4 October NATO invoked for the first time, Article 5; an attack on one NATO nation is an attack on all NATO Nations. Canada was one of the first countries to step up to defend her neighbour and best friend. Canadians served with distinction in the war on terror in Afghanistan from October 2001 until March 2014 including leading the largest operation in the history of NATO, Op Medusa. Our mission was to establish peace and security for the people of Afghanistan and bring aid to those in need. This mission had been achieved until a devastating political turnover in the summer of 2021.

This exhibit is designed to help Canadians understand the Canadian experience in Afghanistan. Through artifact displays and touch screen interviews of the people who were there we allow the viewer to come to a better understanding of what it was like for Canadians to serve in Afghanistan and to share in their pride of mission. The men and women who served in Afghanistan carry the memories and, in many cases, the scars from that experience. 162 families have lost loved ones to this war.

💙💚As you explore the stories in this exhibit, we hope you will get a glimpse of the amazing experiences, the incredible challenges, the heart breaking sacrifices, the tremendous accomplishments and gain insight into the Canadian experience in Mission: Afghanistan.

#rusiregina #militaryhistory #yqrevents #rcmpheritagecentre #missionafghanistan

Our Patron
The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan

Sponsors & Partners

RUSI Regina is proud to be a formal institutional partner of the University of Regina.