Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia In July 1994, Carignan was posted to 5th Combat Engineer Regiment at CFB Valcartier, Quebec as adjutant and then as officer commanding 51 Engineer Squadron she moved into a construction engineering appointment at Base Valcartier Between March and October 2002, Carignan deployed on Operation Palladium as chief engineer for NATO’s Multinational Division Southwest in Bosnia, part of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) Carignan returned to NDHQ after her SFOR deployment and was employed in the chief of staff J3/director general military plans and operations She returned to 5th Combat Engineer Regiment in July 2003 as the unit’s deputy commanding officer In June 2008, Carignan was once again posted to 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, this time as commanding officer. This marked the first time a Canadian combat arms unit was commanded by a woman. During her time in command, Carignan deployed to Afghanistan between November 2009 and September 2010 where she commanded the Task Force Kandahar Engineer Regiment she became deputy commander of 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Valcartier On 28 June 2018, Carignan was appointed commander 2nd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force East, with headquarters in Montreal. In April and June 2019, she led the CAF response to spring flooding in Quebec. (See The Canadian Armed Forces and Natural Disasters.) Carignan was promoted major-general on 1 August 2019 and deployed on Operation Impact between November 2019 and November 2020 as commander of the NATO mission in Iraq Carignan became the first female full general in Canadian history as well as the first female chief of the defence staff A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada in Engineering General Jennie Carignan was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1990 she commanded two Combat Engineer Regiments Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the 2nd Canadian Division where she led more than 10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during the flood relief efforts in the spring of 2019 in Quebec she led NATO Mission Iraq from November 2019 to November 2020 Gen Carignan participated in three previous expeditionary operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina Gen Carignan was appointed Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture.  Gen Carignan earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Université Laval and a second Master’s degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies She is also a graduate of the National Security Studies Programme from Canadian Forces College in Toronto and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Huntington University Gen Carignan has been invested as Commander of the Order of Military Merit and is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross She received the prestigious Gloire de l'Escolle medal which recognizes graduates from Université Laval who have distinguished themselves professionally and in service to their communities She was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Université Laval Gen Carignan was promoted to her current rank in July 2024 and appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Carignan is the mother of four children two of whom proudly serve in the Canadian Armed Forces This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Canadian military ushered in a new era with its first female assuming command of the Canadian Armed Forces In a historic change of command ceremony held at the Canadian War Museum now the first female Chief of Defence Staff in Canadian history “I am deeply honoured to assume the role of Chief of the Defence Staff and to lead the dedicated members of the Canadian Armed Forces I am committed to continuing our mission of defending Canada and contributing to global peace and security I extend my heartfelt thanks to General Eyre for his exceptional leadership and service,” said Carignan The ceremony on Thursday was presided over by the Right Honourable Mary Simon Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada NATO’s Chair of the Military Committee Rob Baue ambassadors from various countries and many more attended Carignan has been known to shatter glass ceilings for women After commissioning into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1990 she spent the course of her career trailblazing into leadership roles She commanded two Combat Engineer Regiments According to her official Department of National Defence biography she participated in multiple international and domestic deployments and most recently held the position of Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture She is also the recipient of Commander of the Order of Military Merit and an honorary doctorate Carignan will be responsible for advising the government and ensuring military readiness and effectiveness for missions abroad and at home “To be called upon to serve as Chief of Defence Staff within this great Canadian institution is an honour and privilege that comes with an enormous responsibility which humbles me I intend to carry out these duties with fortitude and unwavering commitment but also flexibility and the curiosity to continue learning and listening from those who have committed their service to the defence of Canadians and those outside our organization who share our commitment to a strong and secure Canada,” commented Carignan Eyre is set to retire after his decades of distinguished service Eyre joined the Army Cadets at the age of 12 and went on to spend the greater part of his role taking on various roles of leadership within the military During his speech at the change of command ceremony Eyre thanked Trudeau and previous ministers of National Defence We have an institution filled with great people who have a greater purpose You are the greatest foreign policy instrument of this country,” said Eyre acknowledging that Carignan is prepared for the challenging nature of the job He also touched on his “surreal” experiences while in office such as Iran and Israel’s recent exchange or the balloon flying over Canada “Thank you for the opportunity to experience history at this level,” said Eyre You must be logged in to post a comment Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989 By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. 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Or sign-in if you have an account Jennie Carignan takes the helm of the Canadian Armed Forces on Thursday during one of the most tumultuous periods faced by the military in recent memory Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Carignan will be promoted to the rank of general as she becomes the first woman to become Canada’s chief of the defence staff In making the announcement about the appointment Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted Carignan’s leadership qualities her role in combating sexual misconduct and her achievements when she became the first woman to lead a combat force in the Canadian military as Canada’s new Chief of the Defence Staff more secure and ready to tackle global security challenges,” Trudeau said in a July 3 statement By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of The Evening Citizen will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Carignan will have her work cut out for her Besides concerns about a lack of funding and multibillion-dollar equipment purchases that have fallen years behind schedule and over budget Carignan will also have to deal with the military’s ongoing recruiting and retention crisis which has become so dire that in March Defence Minister Bill Blair described the situation as a “death spiral.” Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann warned that soldiers were leaving because of toxic military leadership “This is one aspect that we need to address if we are going to support our members better as they serve,” McCann said during a virtual town hall with mid- to high-level military staff Carignan is also facing upheaval among some in the senior officer corps who have raised allegations about political machinations and their corrosive effect on leadership Carignan and other senior officers were named in a lawsuit filed by lawyers for Lt.-Gen Military prosecutors dropped service offence charges last year that claimed Whelan had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate Whelan’s lawyers are accusing the senior military and civilian leaders at National Defence of destroying the officer’s career for political purposes The claim filed with the court paints a picture of a toxic environment and vicious infighting at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa National Defence and the Canadian Forces have declined to comment because of the pending litigation who has described himself as the “accidental CDS” and whose tenure came in the midst of allegations of sexual misconduct against fellow senior officers Eyre was named acting defence chief in February 2021 after it was revealed that military police were looking into misconduct allegations against then Chief of the Defence Staff Adm The Liberal government named Eyre as full-time chief on Nov 25 of that year even though no charges were ever laid against McDonald This newspaper asked Eyre to comment on what he thought were the highlights of his tenure as CDS and what his greatest accomplishments were in that job he angered Canadian Forces personnel when he blamed the military’s sexual misconduct crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic for an exodus of personnel “We need our mid-level leaders to dig deep and do this for the institution but to advance forward and face the challenges head-on,” Eyre stated then The general’s comments generated an immediate and largely negative response on social media Military personnel said that Eyre was out of touch and that the exodus of personnel had started long before the pandemic or the sexual misconduct crisis Poor leadership and concerns about quality of life were among common issues cited by those who left Others criticized Eyre for admonishing soldiers who had committed a large part of their lives to serving in the military noting they had the right to decide when they should leave Eyre later acknowledged his comments created anger among military personnel A decision by Eyre that was even more divisive involved changes to military dress and deportment regulations in 2022 which brought in a gender-neutral dress code and allowed military personnel to have coloured or long hair were welcomed by some and denounced by others in the Canadian Forces Eyre faced much criticism for what his critics saw as an attempt to bring a “woke” agenda to Canada’s military Eyre eventually had to retreat on that policy to some degree the Canadian Forces announced it was tightening its dress standards regulating the length of hair among troops while the initial changes had many positive effects there had been what it called an “inconsistent interpretation and application.” Eyre has also faced lawsuits from his fellow generals Dany Fortin filed a lawsuit naming Trudeau Eyre and other senior government and military officials for their alleged roles in Fortin’s removal from command and a military police investigation into allegations of sexual assault Fortin was ultimately acquitted of the charge at the behest of Eyre as well as “political actors,” the investigation against him was “rushed flawed and did not follow the usual or ordinary course of a (military police) investigation.” He also later alleged that the senior leadership was breaking the law by withholding material needed for his legal defence Eyre declined to comment on the lawsuit and Fortin settled it out of court in 2023 Eyre has not commented on Whelan’s lawsuit But Eyre maintains the military that Carignan is taking over has a bright future During a April 23 town hall meeting with military personnel the defence chief said the Canadian Armed Forces was “an institution on the upswing.” Trudeau had promised more money for the Canadian Forces and a military team is working on moving new projects forward who plans to spend part of his retirement writing a book on leadership transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content 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Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account What was once one of the most planted grape varieties in France, Carignan was overtaken by international varieties such as Merlot at the end of the 20th century A grape known by many names including Cariñena Carignano in Italy and Carignane in the United States this red grape variety is characterised by thick-skinned berries and high-yielding vines which can retain acidity Syrah and Mourvèdre are common blending partners The wine was described by the judges as utterly superb and stylish with a delicate texture and lustrous tannins Chile also saw success with two Gold medals awarded; Italy and France too with a selection of 90+ point varietal wines and blends to seek out Carignan Day is held every year on the last Thursday in October. To celebrate, we highlight 10 awarded Carignan-dominant wines from DWWA 2024 to try., with more to search at awards.decanter.com HeadlinesLatest NewsPodcasts (new window)EnglishENHomePoliticsLt.-Gen Jennie Carignan chosen as next chief of the defence staff Jennie Carignan arrives the the Prime Minister's Office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday Photo: (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) PM Trudeau expected to appoint first female head of the military next week Jennie Carignan has been named the next chief of the defence staff CBC News and Radio-Canada have learned — making her the first woman to serve as the top commander of the Canadian military Wayne Eyre as leader of the Canadian Armed Forces CBC News is keeping the name of the source confidential because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the announcement Canada has had 21 full-time defence chiefs since the role was created in 1964 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to formally announce her appointment next week The source said Carignan was offered the position on Wednesday and has accepted Carignan is currently the military's chief of professional conduct and culture — a newly-created position she's held since April 2021 when she was tasked by the federal government with combating sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces and changing the military's culture International fugitive returned to B.C. after being arrested in Middle East International fugitive returned to B.C. after being arrested in Middle East. 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Flip-flip follows CBC News report and grievance filed by some in the workers' union RCI NEWSLETTERWherever you are in the world Radio Canada International is CBC/Radio-Canada's multilingual service that allows you to explore and understand and gain perspective about the reality of Canadian society as well as its democratic and cultural values All rights reserved © Radio Canada International 2025 CBC News is keeping the name of the source confidential because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the announcement The source said Carignan was offered the position on Wednesday and has accepted Carignan is currently the military's chief of professional conduct and culture — a newly-created position she's held since April 2021 when she was tasked by the federal government with combating sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces and changing the military's culture VPD say Cody Casey disappeared in 2022 after removing his ankle bracelet while on bail CBC News obtains travel details through Freedom of Information request 40-year-old man charged with assault and assault causing bodily harm Flip-flip follows CBC News report and grievance filed by some in the workers' union 'It was all just a joke to them,’ complainant tells London Tory House leader says party will stand with Carney in U.S Cybersecurity expert warns Air Canada customers could be ‘sitting ducks’ after couple’s travel credit stolen Officials discuss Gaza plans on condition of anonymity as Israeli military calls up reservists Country is making co-ordinated push to work with Canada amid uneasy U.S Revised result close enough to be subject to automatic recount As the Liberal Party prepares for its fourth consecutive term and its first under Prime Minister Mark Carney The airline says it dropped the case because court hearing her recollections of night that led to charges against 5 accused 1980198197988119796041979103197637119760791974871 1958921195892119372951937286193577619286831924669188794118643221811249181121218111761810939181066118103401810035180957318093741808813 say they lived in dirty housing and were underpaid Prime Minister Mark Carney says he'll call a byelection quickly: 'No games' Building on the announcements made in 2024 revealed more General/Flag Officer promotions “I offer my congratulations and sincere best wishes to those taking on new appointments and responsibilities,” said the CDS in CANFORGEN 013/25 The CANFORGEN is an amendment of CANFORGEN 125/24 announcing the initial crop of General/Flag Officer promotions for 2024 The updated CANFORGEN announced the following promotions in 2024: Brodie was promoted Major-General (acting while so employed) and appointed Chief of Staff Canadian Joint Operations Command Hanrahan was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and Commander Morrison was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Chief of Staff Ursich was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander The CDS also acknowledged the CAF General and Flag Officers who released in 2024 Carignan announced several General/Flag Officer promotions Some notable appointments announced include MGen Boivin’s appointment as Lieutenant-General and appointed Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa The new Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture was also announced who has also been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General the new commander of the Canadian Army was announced Wright was also promoted to Lieutenant- General for this appointment You must be logged in to post a comment. Canada’s outgoing defence chief hit back at his critics and those questioning the appointment of the first female general to lead the Canadian Forces by claiming they were aiding Russian president Vladimir Putin who handed over command of the military to Gen has faced intense criticism for his efforts to change the military culture including his decision to ease dress and deportment standards but denounced by others in the defence community Retired and serving military personnel complained Eyre was bringing a “woke” agenda to the Canadian Forces Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also recently vowed to put an end to the “woke” culture in the military The appointment of Carignan as the first female in history to lead the Canadian military has also led to criticism in some defence circles on social media Included were complaints about Carignan’s role in changing the culture of the military and questions about the quality of leadership on foreign missions Eyre pointed to the criticism the military But he claimed those questioning diversity policies and the future direction of the Canadian Armed Forces were helping Russians undermine Canada “Our own institution is being targeted every day as we see pro-Kremlin trolls tailoring their insidious propaganda to cause maximum harm in many cases with fabricated personal attacks,” Eyre said Even if they don’t see themselves consciously aligned with hostile states their ends are the same: They are Putin’s useful idiots “This is a real issue that lures those who would drag us into the culture wars,” he added Eyre provided no evidence that those former Canadian military personnel or others who objected to the military’s diversity changes were linked to Russia didn’t address the attacks that circulated about her on social media but I also feel very well supported,” she said in her speech Concerns about Russian and Chinese disinformation have reached a fever pitch in western nations in recent years spy agencies and government-funded think tanks sounding the alarm over such activities But western militaries and governments have also used claims of Russian disinformation in attempts to undercut media reports or viewpoints they don’t like When asked by the CBC in 2022 about reports in the New York Times and Global News that revealed Canadian special forces were operating in Ukraine Eyre claimed the media was helping Russian disinformation efforts Eyre was asked by this newspaper to produce evidence that CBC Global News and New York Times journalists had aided the Russians Defence insiders who have worked with Eyre say he is very sensitive to any criticism of his initiatives and policies The comments on Eyre’s official government X account were shut down earlier this year because of criticism he received about the changes to the dress and deportment policy But Eyre eventually had to retreat on his original policy changes to some degree the Canadian Forces announced it was back to tightening some of its dress standards while the initial changes brought in by Eyre had many positive effects Besides concerns about a lack of funding and multi-billion-dollar equipment purchases that have fallen years behind schedule and over budget Carignan will also have to deal with the Canadian military’s ongoing recruiting and retention crisis She said Thursday that dealing with the recruitment issue was her No “The priority is to make sure we welcome a whole range of Canadian expertise and quality people,” she added Carignan is also facing upheaval among some in the senior officer corps who have raised allegations about political machinations and interference that they allege have had a corrosive effect on leadership Eyre and other senior officers were named in a lawsuit filed by lawyers for Lt.-Gen Whelan’s lawyers accuse senior military and civilian leaders at National Defence of destroying the officer’s career for political purposes The claim filed with the court painted a picture of a toxic environment and vicious infighting at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa Dany Fortin filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the behest of Eyre and “political actors,” the investigation against him was “rushed flawed and did not follow the usual or ordinary course of a (military police) investigation.” Eyre declined to comment on that lawsuit and Fortin settled it out of court in 2023 While these are fine works of art in themselves and deserve to be preserved the exhibit also sends a strong message that wars are not fought just by men either as camp followers tramping around battlefields behind their spouses and children through to the social revolutions caused by the First and Second World Wars in the 20th century saw massive change with the recruitment of separate women’s units for the navy These were women who served in uniform and held actual rank that had to be recognized by their male colleagues Women have served in the Canada’s army since the First World War when many held  medical roles it was not until 1989 that they were finally allowed to serve in combat great strides were made in recent years as women rose into the senior ranks and were finally accepted into combat roles The war museum exhibit identifies Carignan as the first woman to lead a combat unit in the army was commanding officer of 5 Combat Engineering Regiment She has served as a peacekeeper in the Golan Heights commanded the Task Force Kandahar Engineering Regiment in Afghanistan and served as commandant of Royal Military College Saint-Jean That goal is unlikely to be met at this late date Outside the Lines shows women as being continually active with the military in Canada, from the earliest arrivals of Europeans in the New World. Most of that time they were delegated to auxiliary roles. The exhibit shows their greater acceptance in the last century and into our own. It also deals with the frustration and disappointment that progress is so slow. Artists as usual are often on the forefront of identifying these issues and speaking up for minorities suffering injustice. Action on these demands can only come from commands and commanders who set an example to those who do sign up for service. Carignan’s appointment sends a signal that should be heard. Tom MacGregor writes about veterans and military heritage. @MacGregorTom. Correction: The painting references Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan’s time in Iraq. Incorrect information appeared in the original version. the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be led by a woman Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan as the next Chief of the Defence Staff of the CAF on Wednesday “I congratulate Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan on her upcoming appointment and dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces and ready to tackle global security challenges,” said Trudeau The Change of Command ceremony will take place on July 18 as she takes up the mantle as the first female CDS “As we prepare for a new chapter in the leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan on her appointment to succeed me as the incoming Chief of the Defence Staff,” said Gen currently the Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture steps into the role with over 35 years of trailblazing experience “LGen Carignan’s distinguished career and unwavering commitment to our nation make her an excellent choice to lead the Canadian Armed Forces Her leadership at every level has been marked by integrity and a profound understanding of our mission,” noted the current CDS According to the Department of National Defence she has commanded two combat engineer regiments and the 2nd Canadian Division During her charge of the 2nd Canadian Division she led upwards of  10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during flood relief efforts in Quebec Being the first female is familiar to Carignan she became the first woman in CAF to command a combat arms unit Her deployments have taken her to Afghanistan she was promoted to her current rank and has served as the Chief she is in charge of leading the systemic culture change within the military I can attest to her exceptional leadership qualities Her deep operational experience around the world and at home and institutional experience handling some of the most difficult challenges will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the complexities of our increasingly dangerous security environment,” added Gen Carignan is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross the CAF will also bid farewell to the current CDS and his 40 years of military service as he retires from the military Eyre for his service as the CDS since 2021 Eyre stepped onto the path towards Canada’s military at age 13 as an Army Cadet Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry climbing the ranks until his current position as the military’s only general and CDS the CDS ensured he will be working with LGen Carignan to ensure “a seamless and deliberate transition of responsibilities.” He also took the opportunity to reflect on his time as CDS “I am immensely proud of the accomplishments of all of you I continue to be heartened by the quality of people we have in the CAF We have been through a challenging period together but I am confident that our institution is on a road to greater readiness and continued operational excellence As I prepare to pass the torch to LGen Carignan I know she will successfully lead the Canadian Armed Forces through this period of significant change.” Carignan takes on her new role this month she will be promoted to general and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the CAF This includes overseeing the military’s ongoing operations at home and around the world and continuing work on institutional cultural change the CDS is responsible for military strategy with the release of the new DND strategy: Our North Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence LGen.Carignan will have her work cut out for her to embark on the vision outlined in the strategy The strategy calls for an investment of $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over 20 years to boost CAF capabilities “The selection process for the Chief of the Defence Staff is being led by the Privy Council Office It is open to senior ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces.” states that the Governor in Council (GIC) appoints a CDS makes the GIC appointments on the advice of the Cabinet “Candidates for the position will undergo a rigorous assessment and vetting process The Selection Committee includes the Minister of National Defence as well as senior officials from (the) Privy Council Office and the Department of National Defence,” said Shank in an email You must be logged in to post a comment. How major parties are feeling about the election resultsCBC News |May 4Video19:23 What to expect when Carney goes to Washington?CBC News |May 4Video6:14 Carney’s hockey teammate on journey from rink to PM’s officeCBC News |May 4Trending NowVideo2:17 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video11:28 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video1:19 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Jennie Carignan receives an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from Huntington University Huntington University has conferred an honorary degree upon Gen the first woman to lead Canada’s armed forces We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentGen Carignan has received an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters – the highest honour of achievement bestowed by Huntington University “Huntington University has a proud history of recognizing illustrious leaders whose determination and dedication build better communities for all,” Mary-Liz Warwick “Gen Carignan has dedicated much of her life to the Canadian Armed Forces heading up missions on Canadian soil and in conflict zones around the world accomplished as a commander and leader who inspires others and someone who consistently strives for excellence in all that she does On behalf of the Huntington University Board of Regents Carignan our sincerest congratulations and give thanks for her enduring service to Canada.” Start your days with the latest local news The next issue of Sudbury Star Morning Briefing will soon be in your inbox Carignan said she was grateful to Huntington and its board of regents. “I am deeply honoured to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from one of the first post-secondary establishments in Northern Ontario which, more than 60 years later, is creating a name for itself internationally while forging strong partnerships with universities and organizations across the globe. “As someone who has dedicated much of my own life to the Canadian Armed Forces, this recognition holds even greater meaning, knowing Huntington is led by Dr. Kevin McCormick, a senior and highly respected Honorary Colonel in the Canadian military, whose longstanding and substantial support has greatly benefited Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans and their families.” A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada in Engineering, Carignan was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1990. Since then, she commanded two combat engineer regiments, the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the 2nd Canadian Division, where she led more than 10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during the flood relief efforts in the spring of 2019 in Quebec. More recently, she led the NATO mission to Iraq from November 2019 to November 2020. Carignan also participated in three previous expeditionary operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Golan Heights and Afghanistan. From 2021 to 2023, Gen Carignan was appointed Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture. She was promoted to her current rank in July and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff. Along the way, Carignan earned a master’s degree in business administration from Université Laval and a second master’s degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies. She is also a graduate of the National Security Studies Programme from Canadian Forces College in Toronto. Carignan has been invested as Commander of the Order of Military Merit and is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross. She received the prestigious Gloire de l’Escolle medal which recognizes graduates from Université Laval who have distinguished themselves professionally and in service to their communities. She was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Université Laval. Married, Gen Carignan is the mother of four children, two of whom also serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. “Huntington University is tremendously privileged to welcome Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, to the ranks of esteemed individuals who hold honorary degrees from our institution,” McCormick said. “Her outstanding and distinguished military career, spanning nearly four decades, is a testament to Gen, Carignan’s exemplary leadership, unwavering professionalism, and selfless dedication in service to others. “On a personal level, it has been a profound honour to play a part in bestowing the honorary degree from Huntington upon such a prominent and distinguished member of our Canadian Armed Forces.” The Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters was presented earlier this month during a convocation ceremony held in Sudbury. Gen. Carignan is the second individual this year to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from Huntington. In May, Roberto Rodríguez Arnillas, the former Ambassador of Peru to Canada and a career diplomat with more than three decades of exemplary service in the Peruvian Foreign Service. He was presented with the honour in recognition of his many outstanding career accomplishments and contributions, as well as his unwavering support of the Peruvian Canadian Institute – an international centre of excellence at Huntington University. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy We have team plans available for companies, organizations, classes, Parliament Hill offices and more. Fill out this form and find out if your team is eligible for a discount. Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper. Jennie Carignan officially took over command of the Armed Forces in a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during the change-of-command ceremony after being chosen by the federal government to become Canada’s first female defence chief We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentShe’s no stranger to firsts Carignan was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military and her career has included deployments to Iraq she has been the chief of professional conduct and culture a job created as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal in 2021 poised and supported to take on this manifold challenge,” Carignan said at the ceremony with dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov “So I embark on my tenure as your chief of defence staff with confidence Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox She added: “My expectation of you as CDS is straightforward: to always do your best to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and work together and to be an influence for good within our institution My promise to you in return is that I will always do the same.” Wayne Eyre is set to retire from the Armed Forces later in the summer after leading the military for about three years Carignan thanked him for a “renewed sense of purpose” the forces have found under his leadership — and the “well-lit path” that he left for her Eyre closed out his tenure earlier in the ceremony with his own remarks “You know it’s time to go when the majority of the platforms you’ve served on are here in a museum,” he said Eyre said the circumstances when he came into the position were “not ideal,” and recalled Trudeau describing what he inherited as a “turd sandwich.” He said his rejoinder to the prime minister at the time was: “Yes he thanked leaders for the opportunity to serve and witness history at the highest level of the Canadian military “The security situation out there is not getting any better and we will continue to face many crises often stacked one upon the other,” said Eyre emphasizing the massive threats that war in Ukraine and online disinformation continue to pose we need to be at our own peak capability and readiness It will take the whole of government and the whole of society to support the military’s urgent mission Carignan brings “highly relevant experience” to her role He told her in French: “You are ready for this role saying he was “the exact right person to help lead Canada through incredibly difficult times.” He praised Carignan as someone of the right calibre to take over and pointed out she is the first woman to lead the military of any G20 country “You’ve demonstrated time and time again the ability to lead with both strength and flexibility,” Trudeau said “You’ve shown a tremendous sense of agility This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Above images: LGen Jennie Carignan over the last eight years Carignan being promoted to Brigadier-General LGen Carignan Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Command and when she was a Major-General and the Commander of NATO Mission Iraq According to reports from many Canadian media outlets Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has been named the next chief of the defence staff of the Canadian Armed Forces The story broke early Friday evening when the CBC reported that “Lt.-Gen Jennie Carignan chosen as next chief of the defence staff.” “CBC News is keeping the name of the source confidential because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the announcement,” reported the news site “The selection process for the Chief of the Defence Staff is being led by the Privy Council Office It is open to senior ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces.” who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Canada “Candidates for the position will undergo a rigorous assessment and vetting process The Selection Committee includes the Minister of National Defence as well as senior officials from Privy Council Office and the Department of National Defence,” said Shank in an email LGen Carignan was promoted to Brigadier-General in 2016 making her the world’s first female combat arms general providing strategic staff support to the Commander of the Canadian Army to direct She was also in charge of managing the Army Staff on behalf of the Commander of the Canadian Army and as the Commanding Officer of the Task Force Kandahar Engineer Regiment She also commanded the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the 2nd Canadian Division she was appointed Commander of NATO Mission Iraq the Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre announced Carignan’s current post in a CANFORGEN She was promoted to LGen and appointed to the then-new Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Command position She is married to Eric Lefrançois and the couple have four children CBC noted that the prime minister is expected to formally announce the appointment next week You must be logged in to post a comment You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Jennie Carignan salutes during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy Carignan was the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military Jennie Carignan was a little emotional on Thursday as she spoke to reporters about what it means to take over command of the Canadian Armed Forces It’s an honour that felt like the natural next step in her career something she’s worked toward for the last 38 years “This is actually what my parents used to tell me: ‘Anything is possible You can do anything,’” she said “But I realized in 1986 that that was not necessarily true for everybody Carignan became chief of the defence staff in a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday morning who is set to retire after three years in the job poised and supported to take on this manifold challenge,” Carignan said at the ceremony “So I embark on my tenure as your chief of defence staff with confidence There are some big challenges ahead for the Armed Forces and its new leader Carignan said her first priority is recruiting more Canadians to join the military There are more than 16,000 vacant positions in the military with shortfalls throughout its various ranks and professions more than 70,000 people applied to join the Armed Forces in the last year — but just over 4,300 actually got in The government’s defence policy says modernized recruitment processes are aimed at rebuilding the military by 2032 Carignan said she will start gathering her team to figure out how to make that happen faster “Recruiting personnel is a complex affair,” she said “If we can get the momentum and get more people in then sometimes it has a contagious effect.” Carignan led the office of professional conduct and culture which was created as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal in 2021 Culture change is still “at the heart of everything we do,” she said her office set a course to create “irreversible change” over five years Carignan said she believes the military is still well on track to meet that target “We will always deal with misconduct but it’s how we navigate,” she said There is another five-year timeline she’s thinking about Carignan told reporters that based on talks with allies she believes Canada has about five years to get ready to face a new set of threats — conventional military threats from adversaries like China as well as emerging threats like disinformation “I think Canadians need to understand that if we are not ready we might not be able to react appropriately in defence of them,” she said Defence Minister Bill Blair said his government feels a sense of urgency to get the Armed Forces the equipment it needs His department has pledged to overhaul the notoriously slow and bureaucratic procurement system “We have to be ready to meet the moment,” he said cautioning that building new ships and planes is not a quick process In his comments at the ceremony Eyre spoke about “what could be existential threats,” and said Canada has a history of being unprepared at the outset of wars “The security situation out there is not getting any better and we will continue to face many crises often stacked one upon the other,” he said Carignan brings “highly relevant experience” to her role He told her in French: “You are ready for this role She was the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military saying he was “the exact right person to help lead Canada through incredibly difficult times.” “You’ve demonstrated time and time again the ability to lead with both strength and flexibility,” Trudeau said “You’ve shown a tremendous sense of agility This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account "It honestly is surreal," said Langley mom Kelsey Carignan as she was heading to the concert Sunday night in Vancouver with husband Ryan and sons Noah and Holden is pretty spectacular," Carignan told the Langley Advance Times back when the Vancouver concert was announced "I had found out that my cancer came back last year about around the time that the tickets went on sale And I remember being apprehensive of buying them because I truthfully didn't know if I would be around to go."  the presenting sponsor of the Eras Tour in Vancouver recognized the Langley-based yoga instructor and mom for all she's done for others by gifting her family tickets to the final concert of tour in Vancouver this weekend praised Carignan for living life to the fullest while inspiring her community through her yoga practice describing it as an “extraordinary story." "Her commitment to kindness is a testament to her strength and determination," she said noting that Rogers is "thrilled" to give the family of four the chance to attend this unique concert She received the tickets through Rogers  because "we were so inspired by her story," said Crochetiere.  The day before the concert, Carignan was collecting donations for her annual "Vibrant Yogi" toy drive at Planet Ice in Coquitlam for kids at BC Children's Hospital telling the Langley Advance Times she wanted to thank Sea to Sky Couriers for delivering the toys on Monday a delighted Carignan said “We had the most incredible time!" the appeal of Taylor Swift is "the fact that she gives so much kindness to the people around her and she makes everyone else around her feel seen."  where all of the people whose lives she touches go and share kindness it's this ripple effect that I really try and emulate within my own life." About the Author: Langley Advance Times Staff Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines in her office at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa Canada’s top soldier says the military is prepared to deploy helicopters or surveillance equipment to help secure the border with the United States if asked U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 25-per-cent tariffs on goods from Canada as early as Feb 1 over his concerns the country has failed to stem illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling into American territory Ottawa has announced more than $1.3-billion over six years of new border-security spending to address Mr. Trump’s grievances. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has since said Canadian officials are willing to talk with the Americans about what more can be done said in an interview Wednesday that the Canadian Forces are available if needed We could do surveillance – that’s about what we could bring to it,” she said Gen. Carignan said the military is only there to support organizations responsible for border security such as the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency if required and that “there is no intention to militarize the border.” Defence spending in Canada came under an international spotlight in 2024, as Ottawa faced pressure from allies including the U.S. to commit to raising defence expenditures to the equivalent of 2 per cent of annual economic output Trudeau last year pledged Canada would hit this mark by 2032 Carignan said she believes Canada will be to able to reach the 2-per-cent target faster than 2032 but she couldn’t say whether it would happen during her tenure Canada has placed orders for new fighter jets as well as drones and combat vessels that will take years to arrive The Forces are currently understaffed with a regular force that falls about 7,000 people short of its target for 71,500 regular forces and more than 6,800 short of the 30,000 target for primary reserve forces the Forces also anticipate requiring a further 14,500 members to “implement current and future capabilities.” In Canada’s Arctic, armed forces face evolving challenges securing the critical – and contested – Northwest Passage Canada falls short on NORAD obligations, military readiness, report says Internal projections from a 2024 “State of the CAF – Personnel” document distributed by National Defence suggest it would take another 15 years to grow the Forces by this additional 14,500 Asked what she would wish for if she could wave a magic wand adding that Canadians don’t automatically consider a career in the military for Canadians at the forefront of a career that people are thinking of,” she said “We are not necessarily present in all the communities across Canada.” The military has loosened conditions of service requirements for recruiting to attract more people an allergy might have rendered an applicant ineligible before but today the Forces consider whether it would really be a barrier “Whereas before an allergy would immediately kick someone out of the process Ammunition constraints remain serious. Fifteen months ago, her predecessor, Wayne Eyre, warned MPs that Canada’s supply of munitions were so limited that if the country were to be required to fire big artillery guns at the same rate as they are being consumed in Ukraine Carignan said “we are still in about roughly the same condition” today in Canada She said there has been progress in efforts to ramp up production but it has nevertheless been a challenge “We are managing the ammunition we have for training and we are also making sure that our troops have what they need in Latvia President Donald Trump says he wants to make Greenland a part of the United States renewing an interest first expressed in 2019 when he offered to buy the sprawling Arctic island from Denmark - and was rebuffed She questioned whether Canada really needs supplies to sustain the kind of consumption of munitions by Kyiv: “What the Ukrainians are using at the moment is is far from anything we’ve known since the Second World War.” Canada is making plans to boost its military readiness in the North through a series of five “operational support hubs” that include warehoused supplies and will accommodate Forces activities in the region Carignan said Canada is extending the landing strip in Inuvik as part of an effort to accommodate the new U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets that Ottawa is buying The return of Mr. Trump to the White House has the potential to shake up international politics and endanger existing alliances. The newly inaugurated U.S. President has spoken repeatedly of his interest in purchasing Greenland – despite a clear rejection from Denmark – and explicitly refused to rule out using military force to acquire the territory Canada’s top soldier had no answer to the question as to what this country would do if the U.S acknowledging others have asked her as well “This is definitely a political decision as to what would be Canada’s posture to respond to that.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Steven Chase is a senior parliamentary reporter for The Globe and Mail He has covered federal politics in Ottawa for The Globe since mid-2001 He previously worked in the paper's Vancouver and Calgary bureaus and originally joined The Globe and Mail in 1998 he reported on Alberta politics for the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun He’s had ink-stained hands for far longer though having worked as a paperboy for the (now defunct) Montreal Star the Vancouver Sun and the North Shore News In four instances, Mr. Chase has been part of a Globe team that won a National Newspaper award. In 2023, he was a recipient of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Charles Lynch Award for outstanding national affairs coverage. In 2024, he and colleague Robert Fife won the Sidney Hillman Prize for their work on foreign interference again for their work on foreign interference Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Jennie Carignan as the country’s newest defence chief Carignan arrives the the Prime Minister’s office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday Carignan is currently the military's chief of professional conduct and culture a position created following the sexual misconduct crisis Carignan is currently the military’s chief of professional conduct and culture OTTAWA - A woman will finally hold the Canadian military’s top job after the federal government named Lt.-Gen Jennie Carignan as the new defence chief on Wednesday Several high-ranking leaders were forced to step down from their posts after they were accused of sexual misconduct in 2021 The resulting scandal prompted a damning external report by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour that made a series of recommendations to change the toxic culture within the Armed Forces Carignan has been the face of the efforts to reform that culture providing updates to the public about efforts to implement those recommendations and has commanded combat engineer regiments and led troops responding to floods in Quebec she became the first woman to lead a combat force in the Canadian military She received the Meritorious Service Medal and the Governor General’s Order of Military Merit She led a yearlong NATO mission in Iraq that ended in late 2020 Her official biography also notes that she has four children including two who are members of the Armed Forces a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute said the appointment is “fantastic news,” noting Carignan is taking over command 35 years after women were first allowed to serve in combat roles in the Armed Forces She also warned that there may be pushback or resistance particularly because the appointment comes from the Liberal government “A lot of people have seen and perceived the Trudeau government efforts toward inclusivity and gender parity as performative,” Duval-Lantoine said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Montreal on Wednesday that naming the new defence chief was an “extraordinarily important choice.” “Particularly in these moments of complicated geopolitics and increased threats particularly to our Arctic,” he said “Making sure that we have the right person to lead our Armed Forces in this pivotal time was something that I think Canadians appropriately felt that we needed to take seriously Carignan takes over a military in transition amid the ongoing culture change efforts and the urgent task of trying to rebuild its ranks after years of declining recruitment and poor retention The Armed Forces is short of around 16,000 troops and for several years it has failed to recruit more members than it has lost to retirement or release something that Defence Minister Bill Blair called a “death spiral” back in March That has been a source of tension between the government and military leadership because it comes at the same time as increased demands on the Armed Forces to respond to weather-related emergencies in Canada and boost the country’s presence in eastern Europe as war rages in Ukraine a professor of political and women’s studies at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax training and retention of troops has to be the top priority — and argued that goes hand-in-hand with making the military’s culture more inclusive Carignan certainly has gained a lot of insight into culture change and reconstitution it will be a challenge for any (defence chief) to keep culture change on the list of priorities even if it is absolutely necessary in order to address recruitment and retention issues,” she said the outgoing defence chief said the military is “starting to sense a turnaround” in recruitment Wayne Eyre said Canada’s allies are facing similar challenges in recruiting for their militaries He cited the “very tight labour market” as one challenge Eyre said there are also issues with Canadians’ readiness to serve with “increased incidence of medical challenges The Armed Forces is experimenting with changes to its medical admissibility for people with certain conditions like allergies or those who are taking medication for ADHD “We have started a pathway for significant change across the institution,” he said adding that an upcoming internal strategy will detail efforts to improve the military’s overall readiness Art McDonald stepped down weeks into his tenure as defence chief after being accused of sexual misconduct He said stabilizing the organization amid that scandal was the top priority and so that’s what I leave for my successor: unfinished work but work that will never be finished because it continues to evolve,” he said Carignan is set to officially take over command of the Armed Forces in a ceremony on July 18 who was the first woman to be named vice-chief of the defence staff also plans to retire this year and will be replaced in an early August change-of-command ceremony This report from The Canadian Press was first published July 3 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Montreal Wednesday that naming the new defence chief was an “extraordinarily important choice.” It comes at the same time as increased demands on the Armed Forces to respond to weather-related emergencies in Canada and boost the country’s presence in eastern Europe as war rages in Ukraine PoliticsNewsCanada’s new top soldier says ‘absolutely possible’ to accelerate defence spending timelineBy Spencer Van DykOpens in new windowPublished: January 21, 2025 at 6:29PM EST Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved HeadlinesLatest NewsPodcasts (new window)EnglishENHomePolitics“Time is crucial now” warns Canada’s defence chief of Arctic threats “We must quickly make these transformations to have a defence that has a deterrent effect on our enemies the door is open for engagement,” says General Jennie Carignan In response to a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the country’s Arctic defence and modernize technology during a panel discussion in front of a Montreal audience on Tuesday We have processes and structures that are based on a state of peace where we have plenty of time to develop files and contracts and we have a lot of time ahead of us to implement the new capabilities we need General Jennie Carignan remarked during a Montreal Council on Foreign Relations conference Continental and Arctic Defence: Responding to Today’s Global Challenges Carignan noted that Canada’s Arctic was historically protected by its remote geography as climate change transforms the region’s environment shifting global dynamics—especially with the growing influence of Russia and China—are raising new security concerns Outdated infrastructure and growing threats NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) has played a central role in Canada’s defence strategy since it was formed in 1958 originally to protect North America from Soviet aerial threats NORAD’s mandate includes both aerospace and maritime warning with an emphasis on detecting and responding to emerging threats in the Arctic these systems are struggling to detect newer missile technologies but by integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and have stressed how far Canada is behind its adversaries The situation is further complicated by Russia and China’s growing presence in the Arctic and rapid development of weapons technology has advanced its capabilities with long-range cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons that can completely evade detection by current radar systems in the North American Arctic all that’s missing right now is the intent to use these weapons We must quickly make these transformations to have a defence that has a deterrent effect on our enemies speaks to reporters in Montreal on Tuesday North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said increasing partnership between Moscow and Beijing is rapidly transforming the security landscape in the Arctic but now we see more and more maritime and air cooperation between them and we’re concerned about how that is going to develop As Russia and China push further into the Arctic other Arctic countries are stepping up their efforts to address the growing security challenges Scandinavian nation have responded quickly further solidified by the recent NATO membership of Sweden and Finland Recent military exercises have practised moving military equipment across the Arctic (new window) to demonstrate their ability to rapidly mobilize against threats While Canada hasn’t yet rolled out similar large-scale initiatives in the North American Arctic General Carignan pointed out that the Arctic environments in Canada and Scandinavia are extremely different meaning Canada must tailor its response to its geographical reality The Arctic in the Scandinavian countries is fundamentally different than the environment we have in Canada in the Arctic she said talking to reporters after the event Canada’s recurring Operation Nanook—an annual exercise in the country’s Far North—demonstrates Canada’s ability to operate in the Arctic We have a series of exercises that we conduct in the Arctic—Operation Nanook—where we have an overlay of personnel deployed pretty much consistently throughout the year and we are using a Joint Task Force North operating out of Yellowknife to coordinate all of this We also have included different allies and partners as part of Operation Nanook offering various deterrent postures but also exercising in the North and all the various capacities Canada: Alberta Premier Smith pitching joint Canada-U.S. Norad military base in Arctic (new window) Finland: US in Greenland could improve Arctic security, Finnish defence minister suggests (new window) Denmark: Faced with Trump’s Greenland threats, Denmark seeks support from EU partners, (new window) The Associated Press Greenland: Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the United States, poll shows (new window) Norway: Norway’s Finnmark brigade to boost Arctic border defence, reevaluate training limits (new window) Russia: New radars sharpen Russian air defence over northern Finland, Norway (new window) Sweden: Swedish PM on Trump comments: Only Denmark and Greenland decide (new window) United States:Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal (new window) Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic (new window) @arctic_eq (new window) Lieutenant-General Blaise Frawley, Deputy Commander North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said increasing partnership between Moscow and Beijing is rapidly transforming the security landscape in the Arctic but now we see more and more maritime and air cooperation between them and we’re concerned about how that is going to develop, Frawley said.  Recent military exercises have practised moving military equipment across the Arctic Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca  Related stories from around the North:  Canada: Alberta Premier Smith pitching joint Canada-U.S. Norad military base in Arctic Finland: US in Greenland could improve Arctic security, Finnish defence minister suggests, Yle News Denmark: Faced with Trump’s Greenland threats, Denmark seeks support from EU partners, The Associated Press Greenland: Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the United States, poll shows Norway: Norway’s Finnmark brigade to boost Arctic border defence, reevaluate training limits Russia: New radars sharpen Russian air defence over northern Finland, Norway Sweden: Swedish PM on Trump comments: Only Denmark and Greenland decide United States:Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic @arctic_eq This article was published more than 6 months ago Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has selected Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan as the next chief of the defence staff the first woman to head the Canadian Armed Forces who is retiring after 40 years of service and has held the top military job since 2021 who will be promoted to the rank of general will officially take up her duties during a change-of-command ceremony on July 18 at the Canadian War Museum and dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces,” the Prime Minister said in a statement Wednesday and ready to tackle global security challenges.” Carignan is a three-star general with a reputation for excellent service She has commanded troops on a NATO mission in Iraq served as chief of staff of army operations and held senior roles at National Defence headquarters The Prime Minister has spoken often about the need to promote women to important positions in government Carignan became the first woman in Canadian Armed Forces history to command a combat arms unit Her most recent post was as chief of professional conduct in the military where she was charged with the task of combatting sexual misconduct and overhauling the culture of the Armed Forces the Forces have been hampered by recruitment shortfalls and procurement delays that have put force readiness at risk and pushed back critical equipment upgrades Although there is no timeline for equipment purchases the government’s recent military update pledges to look at options to replace Canada’s aging submarines purchase new light armoured vehicles and tanks and acquire ground-based air-defence systems Jennie Carignan has served Canada with great distinction both at home and abroad she has had a proven track record of excellence on difficult operations,” Defence Minister Bill Blair said “Her extensive experience makes her the right person to lead the Canadian Armed Forces through emerging security challenges – and I am confident in the future of this crucial institution under her leadership.” including demands from Canada’s allies to significantly beef up military spending In a recent interview, Gen. Eyre said the $8.1-billion committed by the government to defence spending over the next five years still falls short of the NATO spending target of 2 per cent of annual economic output The defence policy update calls for a fleet of early-warning aircraft and tactical helicopters maritime sensors to detect missiles and ships as well as a satellite ground station in the Arctic and expanded runways and port facilities in the region Last August, Russia and China conducted joint exercises in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. Russia has been building modern military bases and has nuclear submarines and a fleet of 13 polar icebreakers. China, which has declared itself a near-Arctic state has two medium-strength icebreakers and is building an even larger Beijing wants to use the Northern Sea Route through Russia’s Arctic to import energy and export goods a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Carignan “has significant and very diverse experience very blunt and generally viewed as effective.” director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba said the appointment is in keeping with the Liberal government’s brand “The first female chief of the defence staff – that’s certainly important for Canada.” She said it will be interesting to see who is appointed as vice-chief because that’s “an office where all the problems end up.” Charron said she expects the new defence chief will continue with the primary goal of improving readiness because recruitment and retention is such a problem.” Other Western countries have been working to promote women to higher ranks Britain recently promoted the most senior female officer in its armed forces to the post of vice-chief of the defence staff Between Boxing Day and the New Year join us as we share our 25 Most Viewed Articles of 2024 (Top 25 of 2024) the CAF unveiled more of its ambitions to reshape the promotion process the new plan involves using promotion pools to determine the promotions of certain NCM ranks such as master warrant officer and chief warrant officer Only weeks after stepping into her new role as Chief of the Defence (CDS) Jennie Carignan has named the recruitment and retention of personnel her top priority Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Chief Warrant Officer “We have had the privilege of working alongside many of you witnessing your dedication and professionalism This spirit defines the CAF and makes us a respected institution at home and abroad we are confident in our collective ability to navigate them and emerge stronger Open communication and collaboration are key and we value your insights and experiences “Let us move forward with a shared sense of purpose and dedication to our mission and each other,” read a joint statement from both the CDS and CWO Carignan and CWO McCann noted the need for an effective and ready CAF which is increasingly important as security concerns increase on a global scale “International conflicts continue to shape our strategic landscape while the impacts of natural disasters create additional pressures on our operational readiness and humanitarian response capabilities The rapidly evolving nature of global threats requires us to remain resilient and forward-thinking in our approach to defence,” read the statement who are the “heart” of the organization “Without a strong and dedicated workforce our number one priority is the recruitment and retention of skilled personnel across all branches of the military,” the statement continued To ensure that the CAF has a strong and capable force military leadership will use four pillars as their support the CAF plans to ensure adequate support to CAF personnel and their families who are the backbone of the Canadian military “Supporting and caring for them means leading in a respectful manner inspiring innovation and contributions so our people can grow and thrive professionally and personally.” Operational Readiness encompasses everything from ensuring adequate equipment and materials to fostering an inclusive culture It also goes down to the personnel level to ensure they are mentally and physically ready for any global concerns they must respond to “Fostering an inclusive culture is essential Building a healthier and more inclusive workplace is the essential ingredient to developing innovation The new CAF Ethos and Fighting Spirit: The Profession of Arms Canada are the guiding principles to ensure the advancing professionalism pillar “Upholding the highest standards of conduct and performance in all our endeavours is vital.” Enhancing capabilities will ensure the CAF is up-to-date with its counterparts in the areas of modern technology and training Read full message here You must be logged in to post a comment Governor General Mary Simon presided over the ceremony marking the Change of Command of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Chief of the Defence Staff from General Wayne Eyre to General Jennie Carignan the Governor General received military honours and inspected a guard of honour She also participated in General Carignan’s promotion ceremony Her Excellency signed the change of command certificates and presented the CAF Ensign to General Carignan the newly appointed chief of the Defence Staff The Governor General also addressed CAF members and guests This page has been archivedThe information is provided for reference or research purposes It has not been altered or updated since it was archived today announced the upcoming appointment of Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan She will be promoted to the rank of General and will replace the current Chief of the Defence Staff who is retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Lieutenant-General Carignan will be the first woman in our country’s history to lead the CAF Her military career in service of Canada and Canadians spans over 35 years and includes commanding two Combat Engineer Regiments and the 2nd Canadian Division where she led more than 10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during flood relief efforts in Quebec Lieutenant-General Carignan became the first woman in CAF history to command a combat arms unit She deployed to Afghanistan the following year and also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Syria helping to strengthen Iraqi security institutions and forces to fight terrorism and stabilize the country She was promoted to her current rank in 2021 and has served for the past three years as Chief leading efforts to transform the culture of the CAF Lieutenant-General Carignan has received numerous accolades in recognition of her dedicated and exceptional service including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross In the face of new and evolving security threats from defending our continent – including in the Arctic – and providing life-saving assistance to Canadians affected by natural disasters to strengthening NATO’s collective defence and providing military support to Ukraine In her new role as Chief of the Defence Staff Lieutenant-General Carignan will oversee the CAF’s ongoing operations while continuing to advance our efforts to build a respectful and inclusive environment for members of our Armed Forces The Prime Minister reiterated his thanks to General Eyre for his leadership as Chief of the Defence Staff since 2021 following 40 years of distinguished military service General Eyre will continue to serve in his role until the appointment of the new Chief of the Defence Staff takes effect at a Change of Command ceremony to be held on July 18 “Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has served Canada with great distinction both at home and abroad she has had a proven track record of excellence on difficult operations Her extensive experience makes her the right person to lead the Canadian Armed Forces through emerging security challenges – and I am confident in the future of this crucial institution under her leadership I extend my sincere congratulations to Lieutenant-General Carignan on her appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff and look forward to our continued work together.” Prime Minister of Canada  @CanadianPM please join us in welcoming General Jennie Carignan as Canada’s new Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).  On behalf of the entire Department of National Defence (DND) we are delighted to welcome General Carignan to her new role General Carignan brings a wealth of exceptional operational and leadership experience to the table including her most recent critical work as Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Her experience will serve Canadians and the Defence Team well into the future we want to take the opportunity to sincerely thank General Wayne Eyre General Eyre has served with unwavering commitment and distinction and has been an inspiring and exceptional leader since his appointment as CDS in 2021 We have been truly fortunate to have had a leader of his calibre in service to our country for so many years As we enter this new period of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) leadership in a time of new and evolving security threats we know we can count on the Defence Team to continue the critical work you all do in support of DND and the CAF by Jessie Tu | July 1 Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has been appointed as Canada’s chief of defence making her the first woman to serve as the top commander of the Canadian military According to CBC News and Radio-Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to formally announce Carignan’s appointment tomorrow (July 2) ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit next week.  Carignan will succeed Gen. Wayne Eyre as leader of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who announced his plans to retire earlier this year Canada has had over twenty full-time defence chiefs — all of them men Carignan has had a long and illustrious career in the military for over three decades beginning in 1986 when she enlisted in the Royal Military College of Canada — six years after the college first began admitting female candidates.  she was the Commanding Officer of the Task Force Kandahar Engineer Regiment leading a task force of engineers during the Taliban insurgency in the restive Afghan province becoming the world’s first female combat arms general and the first woman from a combat arms trade to rise to such ranks.  She took on the role of Chief of Staff and Army Operations providing strategic staff support to the Commander of the Canadian Army she was deployed overseas including to the Golan Heights Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Carignan takes on her new role as the Canadian Armed Forces continues to grapple with accusations of a toxic culture of sexual misconduct.  In 2021, former Supreme Court Justice, Madame Louise Arbour conducted a review of the policies and culture within the CAF in a response to allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct within its organisation.  In her report Arbour linked the problem of sexual misconduct specifically to the incomplete and troubled integration of women into the military’s historically male-dominated and masculine institution.  Arbour saw the military’s “toxic and sexist culture” as the “root cause” of sexual misconduct and identified sexual misconduct as one of the main reasons for the military’s continued failure to significantly increase the number of women recruits She included a list of 48 recommendations many of them highlighting the need to address women’s underrepresentation in the military.  In May 2023, Carignan responded to allegations of widespread sexual misconduct saying that a wholistic approach was being deployed to identify the root causes of the misconducts.  “Our culture is informed by four pillars,” she said, including leadership, team work, service and identity. “What we found was that nothing is bad everywhere all the time. It is cyclical.”“We really want to improve character development [in our leaders] ” she said “We are working towards developing inclusive behaviours…and evaluating our leaders on inclusive behaviours.”According to CBC News Carignan will be officially promoted to the top job on July 18 during a change-of-command ceremony.  by Jessie Tu Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); New research has revealed that women who out-earn their male partners in heterosexual households report lower relationship satisfaction. Events like the After Dark Tour matter. They are important opportunities for women to reclaim public spaces at night, step (or run) into their physical power and lift each other up in the process. The uselessness of most DEI measures may be a feature, not a bug, of the contemporary system, writes Hannah Forsyth. Linda Reynolds has labelled her party’s election loss a “comprehensive failure” and said the Liberal Party needs to look at quotas or targets for women. During the election, when asked about his legacy, the Prime Minister didn’t hesitate: universal, affordable early childhood education and care. At the election, a sweep of female politicians took over safe Liberal seats in WA, Qlds and Tasmania. Women’s Agenda is published by the 100% women owned and run Agenda Media. Advertising and partnerships support our independent journalism. © Women's Agenda 2025. All rights reserved. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Gen. Jennie Carignan responded to comments made by Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch who said women in combat create unique situations that have to be dealt with. Risch was asked Friday whether Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, should retract comments that he believes men and women should not serve together in combat units. FILE - Gen. Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defense Staff, participates in a media availability after a change of command ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Attendees applaud Canada’s Chief of Defense Staff at The Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. (AP Photo/Rob Gillies) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — The first woman to command Canada’s military called out a U.S. senator on Saturday for questioning the role of women in combat. “I think it’s delusional for anybody to not agree that women in combat creates certain unique situations that have to be dealt with. I think the jury’s still out on how to do that,” Risch said during a panel session at the Halifax International Security Forum on Friday. Carignan, Canada’s chief of defense staff and the first woman to command the armed forces of any Group of 20 or Group of Seven country, took issue with those remarks during a panel session on Saturday. “If you’ll allow me, I would first like maybe to respond to Senator Risch’s statement yesterday about women in combat because I wouldn’t want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that women are a distraction to defense and national security,” Carignan said. “After 39 years of career as a combat arms officer and risking my life in many operations across the world, I can’t believe that in 2024, we still have to justify the contribution of women to their defense and to their service, in their country. I wouldn’t want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that this is that it is some kind of social experiment.” Carignan said women have participating in combat for hundreds of years but have never been recognized for fighting for their country. She noted the women military personnel in the room. “All the women sitting here in uniform, stepping in, and deciding to get into harm’s way and fight for their country, need to be recognized for doing so,” she said. “So again, this is the distraction, not the women themselves.” Carignan received a standing ovation at the forum, which attracts defense and security officials from Western democracies. Hegseth’s remarks have generated a barrage of praise and condemnation. Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during the change-of-command ceremony this past summer, after being chosen by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to become Canada’s first female defense chief. Carignan is no stranger to firsts. She was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military, and her career has included deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Syria. For the last three years, she has been the chief of professional conduct and culture, a job created as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal in 2021. Her appointment this year comes as Canada continues to face criticism from NATO allies for not spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense. The Canadian government recently said that it would reach its NATO commitment by 2032. Risch said Friday Trump would laugh at Canada’s current military spending plans and said the country must do more. OTTAWA — More Canadians have expressed an interest in joining the military since U.S 20 — but the Canadian Armed Forces isn’t attributing that spike to Trump and his talk of annexing Canada “In the last month we had about 1,000 more applicants than we did this time last year but it’s not attributable to any specific incident that we can track so far,” said Cmdr head of the military’s personnel generation group Belhumeur said the military won’t have data to explain the spike for some time said the Armed Forces is on track to meet its recruitment goal of enrolling 6,496 members this fiscal year The turnaround follows three years when more people left the military than signed up — a trend Defence Minister Bill Blair described as a “death spiral” last March While the numbers have stabilized — Carignan said there was a net gain of 1,300 members this year — the military is still short more than 13,600 troops “It means more than just changing how we recruit but it also means changing who we recruit,” Carignan said the federal government announced it would allow permanent residents to join the military for the first time with more than 21,000 people applying in the first year some 14,000 permanent residents expressed interest in joining the Armed Forces About half of them completed the application process but only 455 have actually put on a uniform The vast majority of those — 357 — were enrolled in just the last three months we decided to bring in permanent residents but we didn’t put the enablers in place in order to do that,” Belhumeur said The Armed Forces is now working with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada to share information that will help speed up security screenings and has a new process to allow applicants without what the military calls “high-risk foreign implications” to join up under the same process used by citizens Another pilot project will end the blanket ban on applications from people with certain medical conditions and instead assess recruits to see whether they’re “fit to the task.” “We’re able to accept folks with a whole host of different conditions,” said Maj.-Gen new recruits have been starting their training under a probationary period while their security clearance processes are still underway The decades-old aptitude test has been replaced with a new application form and an online portal is being built to track the process The military’s goal is to reach its approved strength of 71,500 regular forces members and 30,000 reserve members by April 2029 he has repeatedly threatened Canada with debilitating tariffs and has taken aim at Canada’s military spending He has long been critical of Canada’s failure to meet the NATO target for alliance members’ defence spending: the equivalent of at least two per cent of GDP because they have a very low military cost They think we’re gonna protect them with our military “I think Canada is going to be a very serious contender to be our 51st state.” When asked whether the military sees Trump’s annexation comments as posing a security threat “The relationship with our American military colleagues is very stable and very strong,” she added Between Trump’s threats and the looming prospect of a federal election in the next two months the issue of Canada’s military spending is getting increased attention Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged last summer to reach the two per cent target by 2032 Blair more recently mused about moving that date up to 2027 but has not explained how that would happen Top Liberal leadership contenders have rolled out their own pledges saying they’ll boost spending by offering a significant pay raise to the troops Carignan said the discussion highlights why recruitment must be the top priority “My job is to make sure that I convert those investments into actual military capabilities,” she said Dean Carignan leads AI innovations within Microsoft Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist He is the co-author of The Insider’s Guide to Innovation at Microsoft Kelsey Carignan and her family woke up Oct 9 to water flooding into the main floor and basement of the family's Walnut Grove home It was the last thing the family needed as Kelsey dealt with the return of her cancer and treatments "So it was less than five minutes of water at 5:30 in the morning," Kelsey explained And I ran down stairs to turn off the water and it was coming up the air vents and out the pot lights and just everywhere." The family didn't want to go through this again (this is their fourth leak) so the best course of action was to replumb the home "We got a phone call the week of the Christmas holiday to do a quote for a repipe in Walnut Grove area," said Spencer Turley Turley worked up the quote, about $40,000 worth of work not realizing it was anything other than a routine project "I was speaking with my wife and somehow it came up and then I brought up the name…," he said "She had gotten over cancer and then at like a five-year scan My wife and I were talking what we could do to help and I reached out to the BC Plumbing and Heating Association." He reached out to EMCO Langley about supplies 'send the material list. We'll give you what we can'," Turley said Langley firms Murrayville Plumbing and Heating Ltd.; Bella Restoration Ltd.; Ring Away Plumbing, Heating and Cooling; and Brian Mussato Plumbing and Heating, along with John Sadler Plumbing and Heating from Surrey and CIMA Mechanical worked together to redo the home.  Turley said the companies all wanted to get the family back into their home because they had big challenges in the coming months with Kelsey's health There's still restoration work to be done after the plumbing but the plumbing work had to be done other work could be tackled the family and their downstairs tenant have been forced to rent elsewhere The family expects to be back home in March is looking forward to the most mundane of household activities – "Probably watching a movie with my kids on the couch really simple things that you take for granted Piping problems are common in that area of Langley The water reacts with the zinc and older fittings "They've had four floods and basically every time they had a repair done there was a leak happening in a different area of the home," Turley said. "So their house had been completely taken apart from the flood they'd had I guess in October and they were waiting to figure out how they could kind of rebuild the house you basically have to replace the entire plumbing and mechanical system we exposed hundreds of fittings that were on the verge of breaking," Turley noted The plumbers replaced all the lines and as many of the fittings as possible with materials that won't burst due to the water Turley said there are a few fittings that must be metal but those can be accessed for repair There's also a new tankless hot water system The home previously required a repair for about $35,000 because of a leak and the family has spent a few thousand to fix two other leaks "So there's been multiple floods around the area it [the water] just ate our pipes from the inside out," Kelsey said the family – husband Ryan and their boys Noah and 10-year-old Holden, can focus on Kelsey's care The mom who teaches yoga online from her home thought the cancer battle had been won I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer bilateral mastectomy. And everything went away "And usually that's kind of like the celebration mark we found out that the cancer had actually spread to my liver and to my lungs." She's been doing oral chemotherapy for about a year and a half but recent tests show she's not responding to treatment as much anymore She meets with doctors mid-January to plan out next steps the plumbing and restoration firms teaming up to help her is confirmation there is so much good in the world and that people like to help others "I think it's very humbling to be on the receiving end of kindness. And it's much easier to be on the giving end," she said "So I think that initially it felt like I couldn't accept The family members are the ones accustomed to doing for others so to have so many help them has touched her She's come to see it as a form of balance – sometimes others are helped and sometimes they help it makes you believe in miracles. It makes you believe in things that are so much bigger than you," Kelsey said The newly minted Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) announced her first crop of General Officer and Flag Officer promotions and appointments for 2024 “It is my privilege to announce the following general officer and flag staff officer promotions and appointments for 2024,” stated Carignan in her announcement in CANFORGEN 125/24 Other notable promotions and appointments include: Scott was promoted to Lieutenant-General and appointed Deputy Commander Allied Joint Force Command Napes in Italy Abboud was promoted Major-General and appointed Commander Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence in Ottawa Errington was promoted to Major-General acting while so employed and appointed Commander Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre in Kingston Goulet was promoted to Major-General acting while so employed and appointed to a new position as Director for Commonwealth Integration United States Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington Hunter was promoted to Major-General and appointed Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command in Ottawa Major was promoted to Major-General and appointed Director General Military Personnel-Strategic in Ottawa McKenna was promoted to Major-General and appointed Commander 1 Canadian Air Division Ritchie was promoted to Major-General and appointed Director of Staff Strategic Joint Staff in Ottawa Smyth was promoted Major-General and appointed Chief Fighter Capability in Ottawa replacing MGen Yarker was promoted to Major-General acting while so employed and appointed to a new position as Commander of Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command in Ottawa Olivier was promoted to Rear-Admiral and appointed Director General Culture in Ottawa Belhumeur was promoted to Commodore and appointed Commander Military Personnel Generation Group Bonnar was promoted to Commodore and appointed Director General Human Capital Management Modernization – Military formerly Deputy Director General Military Personnel Strategic and Director Strategic Development in Ottawa Williams was promoted to Commodore acting while so employed and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans North Atlantic Treaty Organization Maritime Component Command Bourque was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Chief of Staff Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Coates was promoted to Commodore and appointed Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in Ottawa Corriveau was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Chief of Staff Canadian Special Operations Forces Command in Ottawa Cox was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Defence Security Creighton was promoted to Commodore acting while so employed and appointed Chief Financial Management and Deputy Chief Financial Officer in Ottawa Forestier was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Clinical Services French was promoted to Commodore acting while so employed and appointed Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic in Halifax Harvey was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director of Operations – Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat Horner was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Commander 3 Canadian Space Division in Ottawa Hutchinson was promoted to Commodore and appointed Director General Defence Force Planning in Ottawa Lessard was promoted to Commodore and appointed Director General Naval Strategic Readiness in Ottawa MacGregor was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command formerly Director General Information Management Operations in Ottawa MacKeen was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commanding General – Operations Parent was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Professional Conduct and Development in Ottawa Poitras was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed National Military Representative to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Pruneau was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Task Force Commander Operation Proteus Robichaud was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Defence Enterprise Modernization Robidoux was promoted to Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Director General Air Strategic Resources and Air Reserve The following General Officers and Flag Officers were promoted to substantive rank: The following General and Flag Officers assumed new appointments under their current ranks: Kelsey was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Bourgon was appointed Acting Chief of Military Personnel and Acting Commander Military Personnel Command This appointment became substantive effective July 8 Bernard was appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa Boivin was appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Army in Ottawa Boucher was appointed Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Huddleston was appointed Deputy Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Molstad was appointed Chief of Force Development Simoneau was appointed Deputy Commander Military Personnel Command and Assistant Chief of Military Personnel in Ottawa Arsenault was appointed Chief of Staff for the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in Ottawa Bourque was appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre in Kingston Connor was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff Liaison Officer to the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington Cook was appointed Director General Air and Space Force Development in Ottawa Gallinger was appointed Director General Military Personnel Support Services and Chief of Staff Operations in Ottawa Graham was appointed Director General Military Careers Huet was appointed Director General Operations Lemay was appointed Commander 2nd Canadian Division in Montreal Masson was appointed Director General Army Capability Development Morehen was appointed Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Staff in Ottawa Murray was appointed Director General Plans “I offer my congratulations and sincerest best wishes to those taking on new appointments and responsibilities,” stated Carignan in her announcement in CANFORGEN 125/24.\,” Carignan ended the CANFORGEN You must be logged in to post a comment. There has been a slight increase in morale in the Canadian military lack of housing and shortages of equipment continue to affect the rank and file Morale had been earlier assessed as “mixed to low” by military chaplains but that is now ranked as “mixed,” according to an Oct 29 briefing for Chief of the Defence Staff Gen which outlines a summary of assessments by military chaplains about the current welfare of the Canadian Armed Forces Among the reasons for the boost in morale were improvements in pay and efforts to modernize the military The period covered by the assessments was from April to September 2024 But several persistent issues continue to affect morale negatively Those include ongoing shortages in equipment and resources increased cost of living and staffing shortages the shortage of childcare spaces and difficulties in finding a doctor are also hurting morale “Chaplains have reported that members are experiencing fatigue and low morale largely due to personnel shortages,” the briefing outlined “Members frequently express concern about being tasked with duties or responsibilities beyond their rank particularly at the Pte/Cpl (private to corporal) level.” The personnel shortage has also affected available support services in some areas further contributes to the perception that the senior Canadian Armed Forces leadership is not adequately taking care of its personnel The chaplains also noted that housing concerns are now a key factor influencing the posting preferences of military personnel Some Canadian Forces members are opting to forgo or are resisting career postings to more expensive areas in the country because of financial reasons Ongoing problems with a lack of military housing are contributing to those problems Department of National Defence spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said work was under way on a new study to measure morale in the Canadian Forces The results of that study are expected to be available in the new year A 2022 survey noted that the majority of civilians working for the department and personnel with the military were satisfied with their jobs and proud to be working for the organizations there were 1,197 individuals on the waiting list for military housing a slight increase from earlier this summer The federal government is investing in additional housing The lack of employment for spouses after personnel have been moved to a new region is also creating financial hardships “Some members have resorted to taking on secondary employment to provide for their families,” the briefing noted “While recent pay increases have been welcomed financial stress continues to be a significant issue and is expected to persist in the foreseeable future.” Job dissatisfaction and repeated moves to new locations across the country have been cited in past military reports as the top reasons that Canadian Forces personnel leave who advises the chief of the defence staff on issues relating to non-commissioned members said personnel weren’t just quitting because they were being moved to locations they did not want to be “A lot of our members leave this organization not necessarily because they are not going where they want to be,” he explained to the audience of officers during a virtual town hall on April 23 “They leave because of toxic leadership or bad leadership This is one aspect that we need to address if we are going to support our members better as they serve.” Various reports conducted for the Canadian Forces have also cited a desire for “geographic stability” and “job dissatisfaction” as reasons that personnel leave the ranks Others include the need for more pay and benefits as well as military personnel having issues with senior or unit-level leadership Virginia Tattersall outlined ongoing problems with military accommodation in a June 14 adding that Canadian Forces personnel who stayed in one location “have a significant financial advantage relative to members who move most often.” members will release (from the Canadian Forces) rather than relocate to an area they cannot afford or taking a loss on an existing home,” Tattersall’s briefing noted That document was leaked to the Ottawa Citizen but some members of the military are particularly vulnerable as they are required to move around the country often for their jobs Military personnel who move more frequently are exposed to “to higher prices and rates more often,” Tattersall’s briefing said “Average cost to purchase or rent housing now exceeds incomes of several CAF working-rank levels,” she added 2024Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with Gen after her remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)TORONTO — A woman has become the top commander of Canada’s military for the first time Jennie Carignan officially took over command of the Canadian Armed Forces in a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday “That could create a model and a change in terms of what is possible for women,” Carignan said after being chosen by Trudeau’s government to become Canada’s first female defense chief Trudeau called it a historic day and praised Carignan as someone of the right caliber to take over He named her to the role earlier this month “You are the very first woman to ever become chief of the Defence Staff in Canada You are a role model for all Canadians and the world,” Trudeau said during the ceremony Trudeau appointed the first female head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and his Cabinet has been 50% female since he took office in 2015 She was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military Carignan called the promotion a natural step and said that she is grateful She said her top priorities include recruitment and retention The appointment comes as Canada continues to face criticism from NATO allies for not spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense. The Canadian government recently said that it would reach its NATO commitment by 2032, but specifics have yet to be provided. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feedDefense News © 2025 Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan arrives at the Prime Minister's office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has selected Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan as the next Chief of the Defence Staff who is retiring after 40 years of service; he has held the top military job since 2021 The announcement is expected Tuesday and Lt.-Gen Carignan will officially take up her duties during a change-of-command ceremony on July 18 at the Canadian War Museum The Globe is not identifying the government official because they were not authorized to speak about the appointment She has commanded troops in a NATO mission in Iraq a professor at the University of Ottawa’s graduate school of public and international affairs “The first female Chief of the Defence Staff: that’s certainly important for Canada.” She said it will be interesting to see who is appointed as vice-chief of the defence staff because that’s “an office where all the problems end up.” Charron said she expects the new defence chief will continue with the primary goal of improving readiness because “as we know recruitment and retention is such a problem.” Carignan’s most recent post has been chief of professional conduct in the military where she has taken on the role of combatting sexual misconduct and overhauling the culture of the Canadian Forces One retired general said that role has likely led to some enemies within the armed forces as more than a dozen current and former senior officers have been investigated or forced into retirement The Globe and Mail is not naming the general who did not wish to publicly discuss the matter Britain recently promoted the most senior female officer in its armed forces to the post of Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff General Dame Sharon Nesmith is the first woman to become the deputy head of the British military and will also serve as aide-de-camp to King Charles She was the first woman to command an army brigade the first woman to command a British division-level military unit and the first woman to be promoted to Lieutenant-General in the British Army Lt.-Gen Carignan will be facing major challenges with demands from Canada’s allies to significantly beef up military spending the Canadian Armed Forces has been hampered by recruitment shortfalls and procurement delays that have put its force readiness at risk and pushed back critical equipment upgrades In a recent interview, Gen. Eyre said the $8.1-billion committed by the government to defence spending over the next five years falls short of the NATO spending target of 2 per cent of annual economic output has been kept under wraps since 2022 as the government debated what should be included The policy calls for a fleet of early-warning aircraft and tactical helicopters maritime sensors to detect missiles and ships as well as a satellite ground station in the Arctic and expanded runways and port facilities in the region Last August, rivals Russia and China conducted joint exercises in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. Russia has been building modern military bases and has nuclear submarines and a fleet of 13 polar icebreakers. China, which has declared itself a near-Arctic state Eyre said the policy update is “welcomed by our allies Ottawa said it will add $73-billion in net new defence spending over the next 20 years $8.1-billion will roll out in the next five years That will increase Canada’s defence spending to 1.76 per cent of gross domestic product in 2029-30 But that would still fall short of NATO’s 2-per-cent target The alliance last estimated Canada’s military spending to be 1.37 per cent of GDP