Governor General’s Foot Guard Welcomes New Honorary Colonel and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel

The Governor General’s Foot Guard (GGFG) ushered in a new honorary colonel this spring, saying farewell to an honorary colonel who served in the prestigious role for the last decade.

After serving for 46 years in the Canadian Army, ten years of which were in the role of honorary colonel of the GGFG, nationally renowned businessman Bryan Brulotte retired from the Canadian Army.

“One of my earliest childhood memories, is the summer of 1968. At the age of four, held aloft on my late father’s shoulders, I was mesmerized by the precision and majesty of our Regiment conducting the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill. At that moment, 56 years ago, I knew I wanted to be a Guardsman,” stated Brulotte during his farewell speech at the Change of Appointment Ceremony for the Governor General’s Foot Guard in April.

Honorary Colonel Omar Abouzaher and Honorary LCol Fran Chilton-Mackay will now take up the mantle.

Saying farewell to almost five decades of service

Born into a military family, it was only natural for Brulotte to follow in his family’s footsteps and join the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). After graduating from the College Militaire Royale de Saint-Jean in 1987, Brulotte served as an infantry platoon commander and was deployed to West Germany.

“At that time, Canada had a deployed brigade with battle positions straddling the Iron Curtain. I can distinctly recall a euphoric moment of hope, me standing at the Brandenburg Gate, hammering at the concrete of the Berlin Wall on November 10th, 1989,” recalled Brulotte.

Over the years, Brulotte has served in the Royal Canadian Hussars and the Royal 22e Regiment.

In 1993, Brulotte resigned from his commission with the Regular Force and switched to the Reserve Force. Since then, he’s stepped into the private sector to build his company, MaxSys, a nationally renowned company with more than $100 million in annual sales.

After a brief stint as a captain with the GGFG, he retired from the Primary Reserve and has since served as the regiment’s Honorary Colonel.

“Rest assured that for me, this is not a goodbye. It is but an au-revoir. There are still many things left to do for our Regiment, our Armed Forces, and our Country,” noted the honorary colonel.

Biding adieu on sacred grounds

On April 23, friends and family of Dr. Brulotte gathered at Cartier Drill Hall to say farewell to the honorary colonel and his 10 years of service.

Many of those gathered for the ceremony were Brulotte’s lifelong friends, including comrades he had known since he began his military journey as a cadet in 1978.

“Here present is an assembly of great Canadians, and I am truly gratified by your presence, your example, and your friendship,” noted Brulotte.

A great deal of Brulotte’s farewell speech was spent glorifying the regiment and the vital work it does.

“The Foot Guards battle tested Regimental system is indispensable. Its’ lineage, badges, battle history, music, social customs, conventions, expectations, training regimes and attire, is designed to purpose. It has served us exceedingly well for over 150 years in the defence of Canada and Western Civilization.”

About the GGFG

Formed on June 7, 1872, the GGFG is a senior reserve infantry regiment based in Ottawa. The regiment is a primary reserve infantry unit.

However, it is capable of conducting domestic and international operations. Notably, the unit has been involved in disaster relief at home, such as the 1998 Ice Storm and the COVID-19 pandemic. International operations that the regiment has participated in have sent troops to Afghanistan, Sudan, and Ukraine, amongst others.

The GGFG is also known to many Canadians for its role as the Ceremonial Guard at Parliament Hill.

Calling the GGFG the “Canadian Dream,” Brulotte commented on the important role the regiment plays within the Canadian Army and Canadian society at large:

“The military ethos that Foot Guards embrace is as vital as the air we breathe. Timeless truths, such as Grit, Fitness, Discipline, Uniformity, Service, Sacrifice, Merit, Excellence, and Mission Primacy, are a way of life. They are the coin of the realm and will be our keys to success in a lethal fight.

“Since 1872, for every generation of Foot Guards, it has started with a similar call to serve. For Guardsmen, discovering the purpose and belonging earned with the title. In our arduous infantry training, learning to dig deep through adversity, together.”

New Honorary Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel

Addressing the GGFG at the Change of Appointment ceremony, Abouzaher, the new honorary colonel, introduced himself to the regiment.

“I got acquainted with the regiment through the 150th campaign as the guards were supporting the establishment of Veteran’s House Canada, a home for homeless veterans in Ottawa. HCol Bryan Brulotte, MGen (ret’d) Mike Ward and BGen(ret’d) Mark Mathieson were key in introducing me to the GGFG community,” said Abouzaher.

Abourzaher also hails from a military family. Born in Lebanon, he studied in Lebanon and France before immigrating to Canada.

“I am very happy with my recently appointed honorary colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards Regiment in January 2024. I look forward to adding value to the regimental family and the serving members during my colonelcy. Up the Guards,” noted  Abourzaher.

The ceremony also marked retired General Mark Matheson’s transition from Honorary LCol. to Fran Chilton-Mackay.

LCol. (ret’d) Fran Chilton-Mackay retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2021. She retired as the first female Director of Music of the Regimental Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards.