Introducing 1st Canadian Division

Press Release

On Sept. 10, the Canadian Army undergoes one of the largest changes in its history as it transitions from divisions responsible for geographic regions in Canada to divisions with purpose‑driven mandates.

“The Army we have is not the Army we need,” said Lieutenant‑General (LGen) Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army, in Inflection Point 2025, which laid out the rationale for and plan to launch a full‑scale modernization of the Canadian Army.

This means 3^rd Canadian Division, which has represented Western Canada for nearly 40 years, will be stood down on Sept. 10.

In its place will stand up 1^st Canadian Division, which will assume command of the Canadian Army’s three Regular Force brigade groups—1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG), 2 CMBG and 5 Groupe‑brigade mécanisé du Canada (5 GBMC)—and 6^th Canadian Combat Support Brigade (6 CCSB), the brigade designed to enable the rest of the Army to conduct its operations. In addition, 1^st Canadian Division will also assume command over three newly formed formations: 1^st Canadian Artillery Brigade, 1^st Canadian Sustainment Brigade and 3^rd Canadian Light Infantry Regiment.

It’s all part of a push to move the Army away from “contribution warfare,” explained LGen Wright on the Feb. 4 edition of the Canadian Army Podcast. Going forward, the goal is to equip and position the Army to be capable of participating in major combat operations as an equal partner.

That is not to say Canada would stop being involved in international operations like those in the Balkans in the 1990s, Afghanistan in the early 2000s, or the more recent Operation IMPACT and Operation REASSURANCE. Instead, the Army’s role and involvement in such operations would evolve, as would its place within Canada.

“We have not had the ability to actually take a greater role in leading those alliances,” LGen Wright explained. “Nor have we truly invested in the capabilities that the Army needs to invest in to be part of the overall joint defence of Canada.”

The Army’s modernization and realignment, along with increased investment promised by the federal government, aims to set the Army on the path to achieve both those goals.

Under the current structure, the Army is divided into four divisions focused on distinct geographic regions of Canada. Each division is responsible for everything that happens within its region, including the Regular Force, Reserves, Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups and Canadian Division Support Groups. While effective when it comes to managing administrative responsibilities, that structure does not optimize the Army’s ability to perform its duties domestically and internationally.

The modernized Canadian Army has assigned each division a specific mandate. The aim is to create efficiencies and build a force that is more agile and better able to protect Canadians. Task‑specific mandates create economies of effort. For example, the force generation for the Global Response Task Force and the Managed Readiness Plan that sustains Canada’s rotational commitment to Multinational Brigade‑Latvia are both managed by 1^st Canadian Division.

As the Canadian Army’s Manoeuvre Division, 1^st Canadian Division will focus on building and maintaining a force capable of operating in all types of conflicts up to and including major combat operations.

Headquartered at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton, 1^st Canadian Division will assume command over the Canadian Army’s Regular Force formations from across the country. This means gaining command over 2 CMBG from the former 4^th Canadian Division, 5 GBMC from 2^nd Canadian Division, and 6 CCSB from the former 5^th Canadian Division, while continuing to command 1 CMBG.

The incoming brigades will remain in their current locations across Canada, but will now report to their division headquarters in Edmonton. Such an arrangement retains the Canadian Army’s coast‑to‑coast footprint while streamlining the chain of command structure.

The first of the three new formations being stood up as part of 1^st Canadian Division is 3^rd Canadian Light Infantry Regiment, which is a reassignment of existing units. The third battalions from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Regiment and Royal 22^e Régiment will be brought together to form the new regiment. LGen Wright explained the new formation will “ensure [the Army is] able to respond with high‑readiness forces at scale.”

Second is 1^st Canadian Artillery Brigade. This brigade will be tasked with centralizing and co‑ordinating the Division’s artillery in support of the deep and close fight. Among the equipment set to fall under the brigade’s remit will be the new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) platform, set to arrive in 2029, as well as new self‑propelled howitzers to replace the M777 howitzers currently in the Army’s arsenal.

Third is 1^st Canadian Sustainment Brigade, designed to provide the logistics required for prolonged high‑intensity operations. When fully stood up, the brigade will ensure the Division is fully equipped to sustain itself and survive on the battlefield through managing transportation, maintenance and supply.

Both 1^st Canadian Artillery Brigade and 1^st Canadian Sustainment Brigade will be headquartered at CFB Edmonton. The three battalions comprising 3^rd Canadian Light Infantry Regiment will remain in their current locations, while the regimental headquarters will be located at CFB Petawawa.

Bringing the Canadian Army’s Regular Force formations all under one division brings with it several benefits, both tangible and intangible. Operating at the division level will allow Canada to get away from pure contribution warfare, explained LGen Wright. It’s at the division level that the Army must operate to respond to crises at scale.

Furthermore, operating at the division level allows Canada to have national agency, national credibility and national sovereignty, LGen Wright added.

By reactivating 1^st Canadian Division, the Canadian Army is making changes that extend beyond realigning its formations. Under 1^st Canadian Division, it will continue a history that dates back to the First World War, when the Division was stood up as Canada’s first fighting element in the conflict.

With 3^rd Canadian Division standing down, its history and lineage will be retained on the Supplementary Order of Battle but can be reactivated as needed. All formations on the Supplementary Order of Battle retain their place in the order of precedence, along with their colours, traditions and battle honours.