Military training is coming to the Ottawa River this summer. According to officials, Canadian Army Reserve personnel from 33 Combat Engineer Regiment will conduct Exercise ABLE SAPPER, which is convoy and assault boat training on the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal on upcoming weekends this summer. Activities will include convoy drills on planned routes and the deployment of inflatable boats and Army personnel on the Ottawa River. The training will commence each morning and be completed on the same evening. Participating soldiers will not carry any weapons or ammunition.
Members of the public may see military vehicles on area roads and highways throughout Ottawa and surrounding areas, including Arnprior (13 Jul), Dow’s Lake (4 Aug), Fitzroy Harbour (3 Aug) and Kars (27 Jul). They may also see inflatable boats on the Ottawa River, Rideau River, and Rideau Canal with uniformed Canadian Army soldiers operating them.
This important training is being conducted to maintain and further develop the skills of Canadian Army Reserve soldiers in convoy and small boat operations, and to test discipline, safety, and effectiveness while operating specific equipment platforms. The Canadian Army Reserve prepares year-round for emergencies in Canadian communities including natural disasters like the flooding crisis in the Ottawa River Valley in 2019, where hundreds of Army Reserve personnel, including many from 33 CER, responded to a Request for Assistance and served alongside community members and other first responders. All measures are being taken to ensure minimum inconvenience to those in the area, although
certain areas may be inaccessible during the exercise dates. Members of the public are asked to take extra caution when approaching military vehicles and are thanked in advance for their understanding and co-operation.
(Written by: Kyle Robinson)