Duty and Dignity: Honouring Service at the 2026 Toronto Officers’ Garrison Ball Excerpts from Master of Ceremonies, HCol (retd) Darrell Bricker

The Garrison Ball is the one night each year when the officers of the Toronto Garrison come together not simply to celebrate, but to recognize a shared commitment to service in Canada’s largest city. Yes, it is an opportunity to dress up, enjoy each other’s company, and I must say, everyone looks magnificent tonight. But what brings us together matters far more than ceremony.

This evening is about honouring the service you give every day, and the families who make that service possible. No one serves alone. Behind every member of the Canadian Armed Forces stands a family that carries its own share of sacrifice, support, and quiet duty.

So, tonight is not about those of us on the dais. It is about you. It is about the men and women in uniform who serve this city and this country, often without recognition, always without hesitation. And it is about the families beside you, whose contribution is no less real for being less visible.

This is not a night of remembrance. It is not about the past. It is about living service, the commitment, discipline, and sacrifice that continue every day and that help keep this country secure, strong, and worthy of the trust Canadians place in you.

And finally, a word about Honorary Colonels. The emphasis is on the first word. Our role is to honour, not to be honoured. All the Honoraries here tonight are proud to stand with you, and to recognize the example you set through your service.