Lac Seul gets Ranger patrol

A graduation parade Feb. 4 marking the opening of northern Ontario’s newest Canadian Ranger patrol was “a very proud day for us,” said Chief Clifford Bull of Lac Seul First Nation.
“I think it’s awesome that we now have this patrol here in our community,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve always wanted and feel we have needed. It is a tremendous day for us.
“These Canadian Rangers will be setting an example and acting as role models for our young people, who will be looking up to them. It’s exciting to hear that we can look forward to getting the Junior Canadian Ranger program established in our community, too.”
The Lac Seul patrol brings the number of communities with Ranger patrols in northern Ontario to 19 and the total number of Canadian Rangers in the province to 550.
“The graduation parade was great,” said Major Guy Ingram, commanding officer of the Canadian Rangers in northern Ontario. “Everyone seemed to have a family member here or a friend and there was great support from the community. It was good to see them taking pictures and getting involved.”
Brig.-Gen. Fred Lewis, the reviewing officer and commander of the army in Ontario, told the graduates they would be a valuable addition to the Canadian Forces resources in Ontario’s Far North. He presented Sgt. Brad Ross, the new patrol leader, with his sergeant’s stripes.
“It feels great being the new patrol sergeant,” Ross said. “I was very honoured and excited at the same time.”
He is a Lac Seul band councillor and auxiliary police officer. He was formerly a Canadian Ranger with the nearby Muskrat Dam patrol.
Sgt. Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden. See www.canadianrangers.ca.