Seaforth Highlanders Homecoming

The Seaforth Highlanders will host a Highland Homecoming on September 24th. This day of celebration will include a parade and ceremonies as the Regiment returns home to the Seaforth Armoury at 1650 Burrard Street, after four years away.

1936: Seaforth Armoury on Burrard. Photographer: Stuart Thomson. Archives # CVA 99-4876.

The day’s festivities will begin with a march led by the Seaforth Pipes & Drums, from the Jericho Garrison, where the Seaforth Highlanders have been stationed for the past four years, to the refurbished Seaforth Armoury. The official ceremony to reopen the Armoury will be followed by a formal parade and a Drumhead Ceremony. The afternoon will end with an entertaining and spirited military tattoo with musical performances.

Seaforth Highlanders Homecoming

Where: Seaforth Armoury (1650 Burrard St at W 1st)
Admission: Free for all to attend
When: Saturday, September 24, 2016

• 10:30am: Parade to exercise the Infantry Regiment’s Right of Freedom of the City lead by the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums. Route: Regiment and Cadets will depart Jericho Garrison, 4050 West 4th Avenue, march down West 4th to McDonald, left on McDonald, right on Cornwall and finally right on Burrard. The parade concludes at 1650 Burrard Street.
• 11:30am: Canadian flag raising ceremony at the Seaforth Armoury doors, 1650 Burrard St.
• 1:00pm: Parade and Drumhead Ceremony on the parade square. In honour of having the Afghanistan Battle Honour emblazoned on the Regimental Colours, veterans of the Afghanistan Campaign, from across the Lower Mainland, have been invited to parade with the Regiment.
• 2:00pm – 3:45pm: Highland Homecoming Military Tattoo connecting Vancouverites to the Military through music and Military exercise. Bands, singers, and highland dancers will entertain. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada will provide training exercises, equipment demonstrations, and a broad sword set demonstration.

Approximately 250 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada members, Cadets and Regimental Association Members will participate in the day. Music and entertainment will be provided by the Seaforth Highlanders Pipes and Drums, the Band of the 15th Field Regiment, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band, Shot of Scotch Vancouver Highland Dancers, male vocal choir Chor Leoni, along with many others.

“Before”. My photos from when I had a tour of the building four years ago before renovations began.

During the past four years, the Seaforth Armoury has undergone extensive seismic upgrades and had its building services modernized to allow the Seaforths to continue to respond to domestic emergencies such as earthquakes, wildfires, and floods as well as train to serve overseas in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The Armoury was originally opened in August 1936, and is the home of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and two Cadet Corps.

“Before”. My photos from when I had a tour of the building four years ago before renovations began.

Vancouver’s Infantry Regiment, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2010. Formed in 1910 by members of the local Scottish community, the Seaforths have served as volunteer soldiers, supporting Canada in every major Canadian Forces overseas mission, including the two World Wars and most recently Afghanistan.

For more information about the Homecoming event, follow Seaforth Highlanders on Twitter and Instagram.