Ceremonial Guard

The Ceremonial Guard (CG) is an ad hoc military unit in the Canadian Forces that used to draw principally from two Primary Reserve (militia) regiments of Foot Guards: The Governor General's Foot Guards from Ottawa and the Canadian Grenadier Guards from Montreal. However, since 2007 the Ceremonial Guard has been manned by a more pan–Canadian Forces approach: Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel. Every summer, the Ceremonial Guard performs the Changing the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill and posts sentries at Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governor General of Canada, and the National War Memorial.

As any guard unit in the Canadian Forces, uniforms originate from the Queen's Guard.

Unit composition

When the Guard comes together it comprises the Public Duties Company, the Headquarters Company and the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, which also includes a full pipes and drums. The total strength is about 420 people.

The uniforms worn represent both infantry guards regiments: the Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) and the Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG). The colours carried on Parliament Hill are also from these regiments.