Doing the Honours: Bryan Brulotte is a man on a mission

Above image: For those individuals who are familiar with the career path and Brulotte’s personal dedication to the Canadian military, will know that such a declaration is not simply hollow bravado.

By Scott Taylor

This year, the Governor General’s Foot Guards (GGFG) will commemorate their 150th anniversary. This is a proud occasion for the regiment and Honorary Colonel Bryan Brulotte is intent on making sure this momentous milestone is celebrated in fine fashion.

At first glance, the projected plans for recognizing the GGFG’s 150 years of service to Canada is staggeringly ambitious. There will be a Freedom of the City parade through the streets of Ottawa, celebratory mess dinners, commemorative coins and a rededication of the regimental colours.

Left Bryan *Brulotte.* Right, LCol Fran Chilton-Mackay (Ret’d) has been named executive director of the 150th regimental anniversary committee.

Governor General’s Foot Guard 150th Celebrations

Currently at City Hall, there is a commemorative plaque and the GGFG colours are displayed from the rafters above the main hall of Ottawa’s city hall building. However, a new structure has been commissioned to refurbish the monument and co-locate it with a glass casing for the rededicated colours. This will ensure that visitors will see these storied colours, but also understand the significance of them to both the GGFG regiment and the city of Ottawa.

“In addition to supporting the GGFG regiment, it must be noted that Brulotte has always been incredibly supportive of the Canadian military as a whole.”

Other signature projects commissioned to capture the GGFG’s glorious history include an illustrated, glossy coffee table book, an original illustrated artwork montage by artist-illustrator Katherine Taylor and a short video history. The regiment’s military legacy is certainly an impressive one. On 7 June, 1872 Queen Victoria authorized the raising of a battalion of Foot Guards in the Dominion of Canada’s new capital. This new regiment was to hold the same precedence as that of the Foot Guards in the British Imperial Army. As such, to this day the GGFG remain the senior infantry regiment in the Canadian Reserves.

Since 1879 the regiment has been housed at the landmark Cartier Square Drill Hall adjacent to the Rideau canal. Tourists and residents of Ottawa are familiar with the scarlet uniforms of the GGFG performing the ceremonial changing of the guard during the summer months on the grounds of Parliament Hill and at Rideau Hall.

Honorary Colonel Bryan Brulotte with wife Kaitlin.

Combat Infantry Regiment

However, most spectators watching the precise drill moves made to the rhythmic beat of martial music are unaware that the GGFG is first and foremost a combat infantry regiment, and it always was. In 1884 members of the GGFG accompanied the British-led Nile military expedition into the Sudan. The following year the GGFG provided a company of sharp-shooters to accompany the field force dispatched to quell the North West rebellion.

Somewhat fitting for their 150th anniversary, the GGFG will be adding a unique chapter to their regimental history in 2022. It is planned for the GGFG to assume the ceremonial guard duty at Buckingham Palace in London, England for a three week period in November, 2022.

Elements of the regiments served in South Africa andthe entire regiment deployed in both World Wars. During the Great War three GGFG soldiers Major O’Kill Massey Learmonth, Sgt Phlip Konowal and Cpl Leo Clark were awarded the Victoria Cross. More recent campaigns include the deployment of GGFG members to augment peace keeping forces in the former Yugoslavia and as members of the battle groups dispatched to fight the war in Afghanistan.

Closer to home, the regiment sent troops to assist with the flood disaster relief in Manitoba in 1997. During the ice storm in the Ottawa valley in 1998, the GGFG mobilized an entire company to aid the civil powers. The regiment was called upon again to assist the Ottawa floods of 2018 as part of Op LENTUS. More recently, the GGFG soldiers have assisted with Op LASER, the military support for long term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to supporting the GGFG regiment, it must be noted that Brulotte has always been incredibly supportive of the Canadian military as a whole.

Unique Chapter to Regimental History

Somewhat fitting for their 150th anniversary, the GGFG will be adding a unique chapter to their regimental history in 2022. It is planned for the GGFG to assume the ceremonial guard duty at Buckingham Palace in London, England for a three week period in November, 2022. This will mark the first time the GGFG have performed these prestigious duties. For a reserve unit to recruit and train the necessary contingent of about 150 personnel would be a daunting task even without the lingering restrictions of COVID-19. However for Bryan Brulotte, the primary sponsor behind many of these elaborate 150th anniversary celebration plans, this project is a “no fail mission. And we have an outstanding team to pull it off.”

In 1993, Brulotte resigned his commission with the Regular Force but remained on the Supplementary Reserve list. Through hard work, dedication, discipline and his “no fail mission” attitude Brulotte started a modest placement agency which he soon built into a human resources empire.

For those individuals who are familiar with the career path and Brulotte’s personal dedication to the Canadian military, will know that such a declaration is not simply hollow bravado. Brulotte was born the son of an enlisted soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces who retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. In 1978 at the age of thirteen Brulotte joined the Army Cadets. Four years later, he enrolled in the regular force and began his officer training at the College Militaire Royal in Quebec. He excelled within this structured military-academic environment, topping his phase three infantry training component and graduating as the Cadet Wing Commander.

As an officer with the Royal 22nd (Vandoos) Regiment, Brulotte was stationed in West Germany where he successfully completed the challenging French Army Commando course. During his posting to Europe, Brulotte also qualified for Parachute wings from both the British and German armies.From 1990-1992 Brulotte served as an aide-de-camp for the Governor General at Rideau Hall. During this stint, Brulotte had the opportunity to interact with world leaders and heads of state both at home and abroad.

Honorary Colonel Bryan Brulotte with wife Kaitlin and daughters Kara (top) and Erica.

Human Resources Empire

In 1993, Brulotte resigned his commission with the Regular Force but remained on the Supplementary Reserve list. Through hard work, dedication, discipline and his “no fail mission” attitude Brulotte started a modest placement agency which he soon built into a human resources empire.

From commemorating the 150 year history of a proud regiment to investing in the future of young soldiers, Honorary Colonel Bryan Brulotte is clearly a man on a “no fail mission.”

What began as a one-man operation powered by shoe leather, MaxSys has grown into a corporation with annual sales over $100 million, generated by fourteen regional offices nationwide. While Brulotte was in the process of becoming a captain of industry, in 2007 at the age of 43 he rejoined the militia to become a captain with the Governor General’s Foot Guards. Retiring from the Primary Reserve six years later, it was a natural choice that he be appointed Honorary Colonel of this same regiment. Although that term as Honorary was to expire, the regiment elected to extend Brulotte’s engagement until after the 150th anniversary celebrations.

To help bring his grandiose 2022 commemorative plans to fruition, Brulotte has enlisted the able assistance of LCol Fran Chilton-Mackay. Herself being a member of the GGFG regiment, Chilton-Mackay has long been the directing dynamo responsible for staging the hugely successful annual Army Balls. On a daily basis, she will be the executive director of the 150th Committee, that is composed of volunteers.

Brulotte was born the son of an enlisted soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces who retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. In 1978 at the age of thirteen Brulotte joined the Army Cadets. Four years later, he enrolled in the regular force and began his officer training at the College Militaire Royal in Quebec. He excelled within this structured military-academic environment, topping his phase three infantry training component and graduating as the Cadet Wing Commander.

Supporting Canadian Military

In addition to supporting the GGFG regiment, it must be noted that Brulotte has always been incredibly supportive of the Canadian military as a whole. For instance, of the 14,000 personnel that MaxSys places per year, approximately 1,000 of those are ex-military veterans.As a corporation, MaxSys contributes roughly $450,000 annually back into the military community as charitable donations.

For instance MaxSys contributes over $200,000 a year towards military community advocacy. This effort aims at raising awareness of veterans’ skill sets to potential employers nationwide. Event sponsorships to which MaxSys contributes includes the annual legacy RMC dinner, the Toronto Garrison Dinner, True Patriot Love Dinner, the Vimy Dinner, Army Ball and Victory Ball. To assist homeless veterans, MaxSys makes an annual donation of $20,000 to the Shepherds of Good Hope in both Toronto and Ottawa. On the scholastic side, MaxSys also funds seven academic bursaries which are available to deserving reservists who are seeking to enhance their employability through advanced studies.

From commemorating the 150 year history of a proud regiment to investing in the future of young soldiers, Honorary Colonel Bryan Brulotte is clearly a man on a “no fail mission.”