Queen’s York Rangers Drill Activity

Rob Treacher of the Queen’s York Rangers shares his memory of performing drills in the Town Park and surrounding area.

The Queen’s York Rangers were based out of the Aurora Armoury until 2014 at which point they relocated to a new facility.

Transcript

Rob: Every Wednesday night we would be out here, doing um skills and drills um, haha. You know I remember one night we were um actually um, doing a type of “Capture the Flag” without getting caught, you know we were kind of around peoples houses and that kind of thing and no one would say anything to us because they knew what we were doing, and they would wave and they would you know not blow our cover and that kind of thing! So you know it was a very participative training environment, so that was kind of cool. Um, you know so thats the biggest thing that I miss um over here.

Interviewer: That’s really awesome, what a cool experience to be playing a game like that like with the residential houses all around here.

Rob: It was very cool, you know. I remember we were in the parking lot in the old church over there and there was ah, an older couple sitting on their porch and I came around the corner  and of course you have to be very cognoscente of what you’re doing because we do have weapons.

Interviewer: Yeah.

Rob: Uh, you know we are all dolled up with what’s called full fighting order so that would be your tie fest and helmet and gloves and you know blistic eyewear and you know, of course our weapon and you don’t want to come around the corner and you know scare one of the residents kind of thing, and it was no big deal. They would see us and you know I recall coming around the corner, and I was crouched down low and I happened to look up on the porch and you know, this older lady looked down at me she was probably late 70s and I looked up at her like oh boy… you know? And she kind of gave me the ‘shh’…

Interviewer: Haha!

Rob: And I said thank you very much m’am! She said God bless you young man! I said you as well.