MOTION

At the Council meeting of April 18, 2000, Notice was called on the following Motion and recognized by the Chair:

The British Columbia Regiment File: 1263
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,

WHEREAS The British Columbia Regiment is the senior Militia regiment in British Columbia, having served continuously since 1883, three years before the incorporation of this City;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment is associated with The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) and affiliated with HMCS Vancouver and is an integral part of the life and times of this City;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment received the Freedom of the City on 26 April 1983 in recognition of its long and courageous service, from the Boer War to Kosovo, including thirty-six battle honours, five Victoria Crosses and over 7000 casualties, of whom 2173 died;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment has had its headquarters, continuously from 1901, at the historic Beatty Street Drill Hall in the heart of the City, and participates fully in the life and times of the City, primarily by offering a positive, healthy, multi-cultural environment to young citizens from the age of twelve;

AND WHEREAS it is evident that developments which may be planned to the immediate South and East of the Drill Hall can be so ordered as to complement, and indeed enhance, the operations of the Regiment and the physical integrity of the building;

AND WHEREAS the Department of National Defence has withdrawn all Regular Force army units from British Columbia, making this the only region of Canada so denuded and leaving the province in general, and Canada's third largest city in particular, dependent on the Militia in the event of any local disaster;

AND WHEREAS there are plans in preparation in Ottawa for the further restructuring of the Army, which will affect the Militia directly;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver express full support for the retention of the British Columbia Regiment in the Beatty Street Drill Hall and, further, recommend strongly that the Militia in British Columbia be strengthened and properly equipped to fulfil its role in aid to the civil power in an emergency.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver