EARLY HISTORY AND FOUNDING
The regiment was founded on March 14, 1862, as The 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada. This formation was part of a burst of military enthusiasm in Toronto during the American Civil War, driven by fears of an American invasion. The unit was later renamed The 10th or Royal Regiment of Toronto Volunteers in 1863, later evolving into the 10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers.
The regiment quickly saw action during the Fenian Raids of 1866, deploying to the Niagara frontier. In 1885, personnel from the unit served in the North-West Resistance campaign, participating in the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche. Volunteers also served with Canadian contingents in the South African War (1899–1902).
THE WORLD WARS
The First World War saw members of the Regiment contribute thousands of personnel to the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), notably to the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF and the 58th Battalion, CEF. These battalions fought with distinction in major battles across France and Flanders, including Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele. The Toronto Regiment and the Royal Grenadiers were later amalgamated on December 15, 1936, and the combined unit was officially redesignated as The Royal Regiment of Canada in February 1939.
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, The Royal Regiment of Canada mobilized an active service battalion. This battalion took part in the disastrous Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942, suffering extraordinarily high casualties—it was virtually destroyed. Following reconstitution, the regiment landed in France shortly after D-Day in 1944. They fought through the North-West Europe Campaign, participating in the battles for the Scheldt, the Rhineland, and the advance into Germany, earning numerous battle honours.
POST-WAR AND PEACEKEEPING
After the Second World War, The Royal Regiment of Canada returned to its role as a Reserve Force infantry unit. Members of the regiment contributed to numerous Canadian Armed Forces overseas operations, supporting regular force units. This included deployments on various United Nations peacekeeping missions across the globe, such as those in Cyprus, the Balkans (Kosovo and Bosnia), the Golan Heights, and other locations in Africa and the Middle East.
SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN
In the 21st century, members of The Royal Regiment of Canada served under Operation Enduring Freedom and then with the International Security Assistance Force in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014). Regimental personnel deployed as individual augmentees to Regular Force units engaged in combat and counter-insurgency operations in the Kandahar province, as well as later training missions with the Afghan security forces in Kabul. In recognition of this service, the regiment was awarded the theatre honour "Afghanistan" in 2014.
THE REGIMENT TODAY
The Regiment is part of 32 Canadian Brigade Group. 32 CBG is a formation of 4th Canadian Division of the Canadian Army, and is headquartered at The LCol George Taylor Denison III Armoury on the grounds of the former CFB Toronto. It is an infantry-heavy brigade with more than 2100 soldiers in 14 units based in Toronto, Aurora, Barrie, Brampton, Georgetown, Oakville, Mississauga, Brantford, Simcoe, St Catharines and CFB Borden
The Order of Battle (ORBAT) of The Royal Regiment of Canada light infantry regiment today consists of three companies and the regimental band.
Modified on 16 October 2025