Canadian military history on display at Whoop-Up Days

In 1900, Canadian military history was shaped by the recruitment of a new regiment, the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). The unit, formed by Canadian financier Donald Smith, was composed of police officers, cowboys, and frontiersmen who all shared a common skill: horse training. Originally a cavalry unit, the regiment has remained a vital part of the Canadian Armed Forces, despite no longer training troopers on horseback.

Master Corporal Brennan Maddison of the LDSH(RC) emphasizes the importance of preserving the regiment's heritage: "Just like most of history, if you don’t talk about it, it’s lost. Before tanks and bullets, it was horses and swords." The Strathcona Mounted Troop has been bringing that heritage to families across Canada and the Commonwealth since the 1970s.

In Lethbridge, the regiment participated in Whoop-Up Days, a first-time visit in several years. The Musical Ride, a traditional aspect of the unit, was showcased during the event. Maddison explains the rationale behind this choice: "We try to get ourselves into actual rodeo events. The reason for it is it’s more local, more our bread and butter and really taps into the roots of the people that originally came with the Strathcona’s."

For Whoop-Up Days organizers, the regiment's participation was a natural fit. Paul Kingsmith, director of event development at Excite Lethbridge, says, "They said they hadn't been to Lethbridge in a long time and would like to come back and that Whoop-Up Days would be the perfect opportunity to get in front of crowds. We were like, this is a perfect fit for us, too."

The regiment's members are active duty soldiers trained at the modern armoured regiment. However, even for those without prior horse experience, the historic troop offers a meaningful opportunity: "I joined because I wanted to give back to my community," said Corporal Andy Vu. "It's nice being able to come here, put on a show for the local population and seeing the kids smile, the parents coming up asking questions, kids coming up to us, it's an amazing time."

The regiment's visit to Lethbridge lasted from Tuesday to Wednesday. Whoop-Up Days continues until Saturday.