Captain Bill Annand, our Remembrance Day speaker, was introduced by Brian Street. Capt Annand is with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. He was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and grew up in the nearby city of St. Catharines. The oldest of three children, he first acted on his life-long interest in soldiering when he joined the Royal
Canadian Army Cadets as a young teenager. He Joined the Canadian Armed Forces on completing high school in 1980.
Captain Annand started his career as a Private soldier with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). On completion of his basic and Infantry training, he was posted to 1 st Battalion (Bn) PPCLI in Calgary Ab. In the 1st Bn, he progressed through the junior Non-Commissioned ranks and held various positions, including positions within the Bn’s rifle companies and in Combat Support Company, primarily in the Bn’s Anti-Tank platoon.
On promotion to Sergeant in 1988, he was posted to the PPCLI Battle School, in Wainwright, Ab, where he would spend the next four years teaching leadership and infantry training.
In 1992, Captain Annand transferred to 3rd Bn PPCLI in Esquimalt BC. He would stay with 3rd Bn until 2005, in both Esquimalt BC and Edmonton Ab, filling various roles in the bn including that of the Anti-Armour Platoon Commander in Bosnia, as a Warrant Officer, the Second in Command of Direct Fire Support Platoon in Afghanistan, and in senior positions within the battalion’s airborne component.
In 2008, Capt Annand was promoted to Master Warrant Officer, and appointed as Company Sergeant-Major of A Company, 1 PPCLI – the rifle company he first started with as a private soldier. In 2010, he commissioned from the ranks to his current rank. While with PPCLI, Captain Annand filled various extra-regimental appointments in both Ottawa (2005 –2007) and Vancouver (2007/2008 then 2009 – 2015). His duties in Vancouver included Operations Officer, then Adjutant of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, then Adjutant of 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters.
In 2015, Captain Annand moved to Canadian Forces Recruiting Group as a Military Career Counsellor at Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Pacific, Detachment Vancouver. After a year or so, he was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer of Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Pacific.
As you most likely presume, the Remembrance Day ceremonies will be greatly affected this year due to COVID-19. Given the restrictions on numbers that can safely gather civic services have been suspended. Whenever the situation allows, 2 minutes will be taken to remember those who have already made the greatest sacrifice for our country but also those who are currently actively working for our country.
Capt. Annand spoke about the current operations that Canada is involved with globally. With approximately 100,000 members in the armed forces (approx. 56K regular members and 30-40K reserves), there are many roles being filled to keep us and our allies safe and secure.
Capt. Annand provided some information about the many and varied operations currently underway around the world. The type of work done on the various operations is diverse, as are the number of people deployed to each operation. It ranges from one person to dozens depending on the need. Most are supporting local governments and armed forces in improving local military skills, securing Canada’s global interests, and essentially helping to make the world a safer one.
What operations are active is decided upon by our government. They issue the where, what, and how -- the requirements and restrictions. The armed forces take those directives and develop an implementation plan on behalf of our government. The funding for the operations primarily comes from Global Affairs Canada, who direct the missions and give a large portion of the money to support them.
We are not as involved with the UN as in the past. There are a number of factors for this, one being that peace keeping has changed significantly since the 90s. The UN becomes a little less effective at times; they have different rules and restrictions from other forces. This is primarily because of significant changes in the way peace keeping is looked at globally.
Here in Canada sees a number of operations as well. The armed forces provides services keeping our resources and citizens safe. Some examples of the work they do: search & rescue, forest fire fighting,
For a list of current operations, both in Canada and globally,
CLICK HERE.
To read 10 quick facts about the Canadian Armed Forces,
CLICK HERE.
Brian posted on the Rotary Club of Vancouver Facebook page: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Liberation of the Netherlands. To mark this momentous occasion, you may enjoy watching this documentary “75 Years Later: The Sounds of Freedom.”
CLICK HERE to view.
