Irish Regiment Celebrates 60 Years in Sudbury with City Honour

The 2nd Battalion of the Irish Regiment of Canada celebrated its 60th year stationed in Sudbury by receiving the Freedom of the City on September 6, 2023. This traditional honour allows the regiment to march through the streets with bayonets fixed, colours flying, and drums beating, symbolizing the strong relationship between the regiment and the City of Greater Sudbury.

Mayor Paul Lefebvre presented the honour during a parade that took place one month before the regiment’s 110th anniversary. “We wanted to honour that and to welcome and to just reiterate the relationship between the regiment and the City of Greater Sudbury,” Lefebvre remarked. He emphasized the value placed on the contributions of the men and women serving in the community.

The significance of the event was underscored by Lt. Col. Kirk Langdon, who noted the historical roots of the tradition dating back to the War of the Roses in England. “It goes from that and we still carry on that tradition today. We’re not attacking castles or anything, but it is important to have that support from the city,” he stated.

The route of the parade spanned approximately 1.7 kilometres, beginning at the Irish Regiment base on Riverside Drive and concluding at city hall. 2nd Lt. Dave Deloye highlighted the importance of the Freedom of the City, marking it as the third time the regiment has received this honour, with the last occasion being in 2015 under former mayor Brian Bigger. “It’s a huge part of showing our commitment to the community,” Deloye said.

Typically, the chief of police participates in such ceremonies, but Chief Sara Cunningham, an honorary member of the regiment, received special permission to attend in her Irish Regiment colours. Cunningham expressed her appreciation for the community’s respect for the soldiers, stating, “We currently have serving members over in Latvia, and our community should recognize that we have members locally willing to serve on our behalf.”

During the ceremony, Mayor Lefebvre inspected the parade before officially granting the Freedom of the City. The soldiers then marched back to their base, embodying the pride of their service. Langdon remarked on the supportive response from the community, noting that many residents paused to capture the moment on their phones. “Everybody’s been polite, everybody’s been so supportive of our unit and us. We’re really appreciative of it,” he added.

The event not only celebrated the regiment’s long-standing presence in Sudbury but also highlighted the commitment and sacrifices of its current and former members who call the city home.