New Signal Regiment Makes History at CFB Edmonton
Lt.-Col. Jason Chor takes command of 200 service members as the unit upgrades from squadron to regiment status.
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The Canadian Armed Forces marked a historic milestone Friday with a rare parade at CFB Edmonton, saluting the elevation of a communications unit from squadron to regiment status.
Lt.-Col. Jason Chor is now commanding officer of the newly-constituted One Signal Regiment, which serves the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade. The 200 service members will take on expanded responsibilities for all command and control systems — from radios and vehicle networks to satellite and cloud-based digital infrastructure.
"This is definitely a turning point in our history," Chor told Postmedia.
The upgrade reflects a fundamental shift in modern warfare. Where previous generations fought with artillery and rifles, today's battles are waged in the digital and cyber realm first. The regiment will ensure that Canadian Forces can communicate securely across all platforms and respond to advanced cyber threats from adversaries.
"In today's world, we know that the digital/cyber world has expanded, and it's much more dangerous than it's ever been," Chor said. "Our adversaries are using very advanced cyber techniques to attack us, to attack our human control structures."
The regiment's growth comes as Canada commits $500 billion to military modernization under a new defence industrial strategy. CFB Edmonton has already approved 1,000 new residences to support reinvigorated defence goals. The expanded unit will add two majors and two sergeant majors to handle complex problems and future growth.
Chor, a Ryerson graduate in computer engineering, previously oversaw operational communication and information systems planning for global Canadian Armed Forces operations from Ottawa. He brings expertise in moving command posts to urban and remote locations worldwide, with deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and NATO exercises across Europe.
One Signal Regiment is Edmonton's second unit to be elevated from squadron status in recognition of the growing role of digital command systems. The first increment of growth will be tested in a deployment to Latvia next year.