History of 2671 Army Cadet Corps in Trois-Rivières, since 1961

In 1960, Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Gauthier, commanding officer of the Régiment de Trois-Rivières, Major-General Jean Victor Allard and Captain C.-E. Laurencelle were surprised that the regiment had no cadet corps. Thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Gauthier's efforts in Ottawa, the corps was authorized on March 21, 1961, under the number 2671. On April 19, Gauthier announced it officially: the regiment's leadership wanted to "prepare the next generation".

The corps, capped at 130 members, was open to boys aged 14 to 18. It trained every Saturday morning, from 9 to 11 a.m., in the armoury's main hall, where registration opened on April 22, 1961. The program covered handling the .22-calibre rifle and shooting, military map reading, first aid, radio and, depending on each cadet's aptitude, the bugle corps or the band. The best cadets could earn a two-month stay at Camp Farnham, with a $100 bonus.

Unusually, training was given by teachers rather than career soldiers. The corps' first officers were Captain Jean Bonin, Lieutenants Georges Hamelin, Jean Morin and Benjamin Poliquin, all teachers at the Académie de La Salle, and Second Lieutenant Charles Labbé of the Institut de technologie. Captain Bonin was the first officer in charge.

The corps was part of a wider movement: through the 1950s and 1960s, cadet corps open to all young people and housed in militia armouries multiplied across the country. Seventeen years after the 2671 was founded, in 1978, the City of Trois-Rivières would grant its regiment the Freedom of the City.

In September 1962, Lieutenant Charles Labbé, a chemistry teacher at the Institut de technologie, succeeded Captain Bonin at the head of the corps. More than 70 boys aged 14 to 18 were enrolled; they met on Friday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the armoury. In November 1963, a door-to-door fundraiser bought bugles and drums for the corps; Lieutenant-Colonel Gauthier was the first donor.

Results followed. In May 1966, the corps received a military efficiency trophy for the third year in a row, this one for 1964–1965. In the fall of 1966, enrolment reached 125 young people, 50% more than the year before, and the regiment offered cadets courses in military vehicle driving and signals.

Charles Labbé, by then a major, left command in September 1969 to teach in Sfax, Tunisia. Le Nouvelliste noted that he had doubled the corps' strength. Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Duquet, commanding officer of the 12^e RBC, presented him with the regiment's badge.

Around 1969, Major Georges Hamelin, one of the corps' founding officers of 1961, took command; he was still leading it in 1980. His tenure started strong: the corps won the Strathcona Trophy for 1969–1970, awarded to the best cadet corps in Eastern Quebec for drill efficiency. In May 1971, the annual inspection marked the corps' 10th anniversary, the same year as the regiment's 100th. By the spring of 1972, more than 400 cadets of the 2671 had attended camps across Canada, from Valcartier to Gagetown, Ipperwash, Banff and Vernon, and some had gone as far as the Caribbean.

On September 8, 1972, for the first time in its history, the corps opened its ranks to girls aged 13 to 18, with a program of their own, three years before the law officially opened cadets to girls across the country. By the spring of 1973, some forty girls had answered the call.

In May 1975, the Kiwanis Club of Trois-Rivières officially became the corps' sponsor. On April 30, 1976, General Jean Victor Allard himself, then Colonel of the 12^e RBC (Milice), conducted the annual inspection.

In 1977, the 2671 was judged the best cadet corps in Eastern Quebec for general efficiency and won the Strathcona Trophy again. The cadet who led the corps that year was described by Le Nouvelliste as "the first girl to lead a cadet corps". The same year, a 2671 cadet was the only Quebecer chosen for the Canadian shooting team at Bisley, England.

In 1979, the corps received the "Runner up" trophy for the best army cadet unit in Quebec for 1978.

By the end of the 1970s, the corps had a renowned band. In February 1980, the 2671, "affiliated with the 12^e RBC (M) and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club", hosted the regional winter games of the Mauricie army cadets, bringing together some 250 cadets to the sound of its band.

Early that summer, its band was recognized as the best cadet musical group in Quebec. It was chosen to represent all of Canada's cadets at the first national Army Cadet camp in Banff: from July 4 to August 18, 1980, some thirty of its musicians gave concerts at Lake Louise, the Banff Springs Hotel, Jasper and the Calgary Stampede.

In December 1980, the corps once again won the Général Jean-Victor Allard Trophy, awarded each year to the best corps in Eastern Quebec for .22-calibre rifle shooting.

• 1961–1962 – Captain Jean Bonin, a teacher at the Académie de La Salle.
• 1962–1969 – Lieutenant, later Major Charles Labbé, a teacher at the Institut de technologie.
• Around 1969 to at least 1980 – Major Georges Hamelin, one of the founding officers of 1961.

Do you know what came next? Help us complete the list of the 2671's commanding officers since 1980.

The 2671 is part of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, whose history goes back to the 19th century. As early as the 1860s, schools formed drill associations to introduce boys to military training. In 1879, a militia general order officially authorized these associations in educational institutions: the official birth of army cadets in Canada.

• In 1942, King George VI granted them the "Royal" title and became their Colonel-in-Chief.
• In 1971, the Army Cadet League of Canada was founded to support corps across the country, in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces.
• In 1975, an amendment to the law replaced the word "boys" with "persons": girls could now become cadets.

Today, the program is free. It is delivered by the Canadian Armed Forces in partnership with the Army Cadet League of Canada, and every corps relies on a support committee made up of volunteers from its community. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and no one expects them to pursue a military career.

Every Wednesday evening from September to May, 2671 cadets meet at the armoury for training: leadership, drill, citizenship, fieldcraft and expeditions. The official cadet unit directory also lists three activity programs for the corps: biathlon, music and marksmanship.

The 2671 shares its armoury, and much more, with the air cadets of 772 Vanier Squadron. The two units hold their annual review together, organize joint open houses, as in January 2020, and are backed by the same support committee: two units, one force.

On May 13, 2026, the annual review of the 2671 and the 772 also marked the cadet corps' 65th anniversary. The Army Cadet League (Quebec) presented a certificate of honour to the president of the support committee.

• 1879 – A militia general order authorizes drill associations in educational institutions: the official birth of army cadets.
• 1905–1906 – The Trois-Rivières armoury is built.
• 1942 – King George VI grants the "Royal" title to army cadets.
• March 21, 1961 – 2671 Army Cadet Corps is authorized, formed within the Régiment de Trois-Rivières on the initiative of Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Gauthier.
• April 22, 1961 – First registrations at the armoury.
• September 1962 – Lieutenant Charles Labbé succeeds Captain Jean Bonin.
• May 2, 1968 – Le Régiment de Trois-Rivières becomes the 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada.
• Around 1969 – Major Georges Hamelin takes command of the corps.
• 1969–1970 – Strathcona Trophy for the best corps in Eastern Quebec for drill efficiency.
• 1971 – The corps' 10th anniversary; the Army Cadet League of Canada is founded.
• September 8, 1972 – The corps welcomes its first girls.
• 1975 – The Kiwanis Club of Trois-Rivières becomes the corps' official sponsor; the law opens cadets to girls across the country.
• April 30, 1976 – General Jean Victor Allard conducts the annual inspection.
• 1977 – Best corps in Eastern Quebec for general efficiency, and another Strathcona Trophy.
• 1978 – Trois-Rivières grants the Freedom of the City to the 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada.
• Summer 1980 – The 2671's band represents Canada's cadets at the first national Army Cadet camp in Banff.
• November 2000 – The armoury is named in honour of General Jean Victor Allard.
• January 15, 2020 – The 2671 and the 772 hold a joint open house at the armoury.
• May 13, 2026 – Annual review and 65th anniversary of the corps.

This page is based on the following sources:

"Formation d'un corps de cadets au régiment de Trois-Rivières", La Presse, April 20, 1961 (BAnQ numérique, in French)

Le Nouvelliste, articles on 2671 Army Cadet Corps (BAnQ numérique, in French): September 24, 1962, November 28, 1963, May 4, 1966, September 16, 1966, September 20, 1966, September 9, 1969, January 12, 1971, May 1, 1971, April 27, 1972, September 8, 1972, April 30, 1973, May 5, 1975, May 5, 1976, November 7, 1977, February 6, 1979, February 23, 1980, June 30, 1980, July 23, 1980, December 29, 1980

National Defence, "Women in cadets" backgrounder (girls admitted to cadets, 1975)

National Defence, history of the cadet program

Army Cadet League of Canada

Army Cadet League (Quebec), certificate of honour presented to a volunteer (2026, in French)

Directorate of History and Heritage, official lineage of the 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada

Le Nouvelliste, "Portes ouvertes aux cadets" (January 14, 2020, in French)