If you saw dozens of military personnel marching across the city's waterfront this week, you might have been somewhat concerned.
And that's precisely why some Vancouverites took to social media to share images of camouflage-clad soldiers making their way across the seawall on Wednesday (Feb.16) night.
The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act this week to bring an end to anti-government blockades in Ottawa and across the country. This is the first time the Emergencies Act has been invoked since it came into force in 1988.
But the recently-invoked act had nothing to do with the local display.
The 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters is a Reserve Force unit staffed by Command, Operations, Logistics and civilian members who run the day-to-day business of the headquarters in Vancouver. All 12 military units in B.C. are included in the group and represent roughly 1,500 soldiers.
Graeme Kaine, public affairs officer for the 39 Canadian Brigade, told Vancouver Is Awesome in an interview that the soldiers spotted on the seawall were doing regular physical training.
Each year, the soldiers must complete a battle fitness test that requires them to carry 50 pounds in their rucksacks while carrying their C7 assault rifles and wearing their helmets—and they need to do that for a considerable amount of time.
In order to prepare for the gruelling, 12-kilometre test, soldiers regularly train to keep themselves in top physical condition. Typically, however, they perform the activities on the beach, explains Kaine.
Vancouver police are notified prior to the military descending on the city's beaches and streets but it isn't an uncommon occurrence. Some nights they will conduct training in the city from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The local soldiers also enjoy Freedom of the City, which is an honour that grants them the privilege of marching into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed." Many countries with links back to the United Kingdom, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, also maintain the tradition with medieval roots.
Most of the troops spotted in the city were also out for the floods in Chilliwack but others will be deployed overseas. Regardless of where they go, they need to be in peak physical form and local training keeps personnel in tip-top shape.
"These are citizen soldiers that live in Vancouver and this is what they do," noted Kaine.
In other words, if you see soldiers filing down a Vancouver beach under the cloak of night, don't fear for the worst: they are probably just getting in a workout and all hell has not broken loose.
With files from the Canadian Press.
