November 3, 2026 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Members of the media are invited to speak with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members selected for the 2026 Remembrance Day Sentry Program.
Representing the service, commitment, and diversity of Canada’s military and security personnel, participants will perform ceremonial duties during the national Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2026. To mark the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College of Canada, an Officer Cadet has been designated as Sentry Commander.
The following personnel will take part in the ceremony:
Canadian Army – Sentry Commander: Officer Cadet Quinn MacDonald, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario;
Royal Canadian Navy Sentry: Sailor 1st Class Brayden Zunti, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Vancouver, Esquimalt, British Columbia;
Royal Canadian Air Force Sentry: Master Corporal Bénédicte Moke, Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations, Cornwall, Ontario;
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Sentry: Master Warrant Officer Sébastien Courville, SMV, CD, Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Petawawa, Ontario;
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sentry: Staff Sergeant Chris Smigelsky, Applied Police Sciences, Depot Division, Regina, Saskatchewan;
Canadian Joint Forces Command – Nursing Officer: Captain Valérie Coulombe, High Readiness Detachment, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, Ottawa;
Canadian Ranger Sentry: Ranger Darrell Johnson, CD, 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Carcross, Yukon;
Indigenous Council - Eagle Staff Bearer: Corporal Angèle Leblanc, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Petawawa, Ontario;
Indigenous Council - Eagle Staff Bearer Assistant: Warrant Officer Sylvain Leblanc, CD, 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa, Ontario;
Directorate of History and Heritage, Musician – Bugler: Sailor 1st Class Renjie Zhao, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Donnacona, Montréal, Quebec;
Directorate of History and Heritage, Musician – Piper: Master Corporal Alastair Sanderson, CD, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), Hamilton, Ontario; and
Special Guest to the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer: Master Corporal Rhéa Kirkup, CD, Cold Lake Transition Centre, Cold Lake, Alberta.
Established in 1988, the Remembrance Day Sentry Program publicly recognizes outstanding members from the CAF’s Regular and Reserve Force, and the RCMP, for their dedication, professionalism and performance in service to Canada.
What: Interviews with CAF members and the RCMP officer selected for the 2026 Remembrance Day Sentry Program.
When: November 6 to 11, 2026.
Where: By Teams or telephone, or in person.
Notes to editor / news director
Interested media are requested to contact Media Relations no later than 9 a.m. on November 11, 2026.