The annual Saint Barbara's Dinner by the 38 Canadian Brigade Artillery Tactical Group was held in Yorkton Saturday.
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Dalal, the commanding officer of the group based in Winnipeg, explained the dinner is an annual affair held in honour of the Patron Saint of the artillery.
Saint Barbara's Day, December 4, is celebrated by the British (Royal Artillery, RAF Armourers), Australian (Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, RAAF Armourers), Canadian (Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technicians (EOD), Canadian Air Force Armourers, Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Military Field Engineers), New Zealand (RNZAF Armourers, RNZA, RNZN Gunners Branch) armed forces. She is also traditionally the patron of armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder.
Dalal said there are several reasons to hold the dinner, starting first and foremost with the chance for "camaraderie," he said, adding Saint Barbara Dinners, in spite of being formal affairs, are short on speeches, and more focused on interaction.
"It's a way to involve the spouses in a military event," added Dalal, something he admitted is something of a rarity.
In the case of the Yorkton event, Dalal said it was also an opportunity to induct two citizens as honourary Majors.
The recipients of the honourary ranks were Vianne Timmons, president of the University of Regina, and Harvey Linnen, a businessman in the Queen City.
"Both are pillars of the community in Regina," said the Lt. Col., adding "they are staunch supports of the Canadian military."
Timmons said the honour is one she was proud to receive.
"I'm very humbled," she said, adding "I have a very strong connection with the military."
Timmons explained her husband was in the military for 20 years.
"So I know the sacrifice people make serving their country," she said.
With her connection to the Canadian Armed Forces, Timmons said she has always done whatever she can in support of the military, and in particular the reserve forces.
Linnen said being chosen as an Honourary Major was another chance "to show my proud support of the military," adding it is certainly a "huge honour" for him to be chosen.
Linnen said he has always felt it was important "to stand up and be counted," in regards to the military and the reserves.
For Dalal the dinner was also a chance to take a closer look at the local reserve unit.
"I hadn't been here in a couple of years," said Dalal, who added he "grew up through the unit," to finally head the group which includes reserve units in Kenora, Ont., Portage la Prairie and Brandon MB., and Regina and Yorkton in Saskatchewan. " I try to make the rounds to see the training that is going on."
