By
Matthew Horwood
Barbara Farber has been appointed honorary
lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s
Own) by Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan.
The Cameron Highlanders are a reserve
infantry unit in the Canadian Armed Forces, a part of the 33 Canadian Brigade
Group. According to its website, the regiment traces its roots to 1856, and its
members have served Canada in “all armed conflicts from the Northwest Rebellion
to Afghanistan.”
Farber, a prominent leader in both the
Jewish and broader communities, said she was approached several years ago by a
friend who was at the time the honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron
Highlanders. He wanted to put Farber’s name forward for the same position, and
she accepted. The process took 19 months to come to fruition and she officially
began her position on May 9.
Farber explained that the vetting process
for the nomination goes “up through the various army ranks to the top, and at
that point they recommend it to the minister of National Defence, who then
approves it,” Farber said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Jackson,
commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders, said the regiment was searching
for “someone who had a very prominent role within the community” to be the
honorary lieutenant-colonel.
Jackson said Farber’s philanthropic
efforts, including her involvement with hospitals, First Nations communities,
and the city of Ottawa through various boards, made her a “very prominent
choice” for the position.
Jackson said Farber has “quickly jumped
into her role as the bridge between the regiment and different elements of our
city,” and that she is a natural speaker with a “big heart.”
As honorary lieutenant-colonel, Farber said
one of the most important things she will do is help the reservists to secure
employment, “because if they are happily employed in Ottawa, they will stay
with their regiment.”
Farber said many of the reservists have
full-time jobs, while others have recently graduated from university or
college. Farber said she will be attempting to “incentivize employers to hire
reservists, as they are going to be good employees.”
Farber said she will also be mentoring and
giving advice to the reservists, as well as being a consultant to her
commanding officer from a “business and charitable perspective.”
“I’ve often been accused of mothering
everybody, and that’s kind of part and parcel of the role I will be playing,” Farber
joked.
Farber said her approach to the role will
be “one of knowledge” with the goal of acquainting people with what the unit
does. Farber said she would like to make the Cameron Highlanders “a household
name in Ottawa,” as she would “venture to say few people know what the Cameron
Highlanders are.”
Farber is the second member of Ottawa’s
Jewish community to serve as honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron
Highlanders. Former Ottawa mayor Jacquelin Holzman served in the position from
1999 to 2005. Holzman – who said she has known Farber for many years – offered
her congratulations and said she expected Farber would “represent the regiment
well.”
Holzman predicted Farber will “take great
pride in her role,” especially during the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the
National War Memorial. Holzman encouraged Farber to dress warmly for the
November 11 ceremony, as “her knees will get cold.”
Another Jewish community leader, Roger
Greenberg, serves as the honourary colonel of the 30th Field Artillery
Regiment, which is also based in Ottawa.
Farber said she feels “extremely proud” to
have accepted this position as a Jewish woman, and hopes she can “bring some of
that diversity to the Canadian Armed Forces.”
Farber has already had several meetings
with her brigade and hosted a barbecue at her home for the junior officers. She
said the regiment now calls themselves her “extended family.”
“I was gratified by the first function I
attended. They were concerned about providing a kosher meal for me, and that
kind of effort and sensitivity really speaks volumes,” Farber said.
"I want to treat them with the same kind of respect and try to help as much as I can," she added.
Photo: Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Barbara Farber stands in front of the Cameron Highlanders
of Ottawa regimental colours at the Cartier Square Drill Hall. (Matthew Horwood )
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