| Unit Name: | Land Force Western Area |
| Dates: | 1 September 1991 – June 2014 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Branch: | Canadian Army |
| Command Structure: | Canadian Army |
| Type: | Headquarters |
| Identification Symbol 4: | LFWA |
| Identification Symbol 4 Label: | Abbreviation |
| March: | "Invercargil" |
| Motto: | Latin: Pace Paratus ad Arma "In peace prepared for war" |
| Garrison: | CFB Edmonton |
Land Force Western Area (LFWA) was a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for operations in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.[1] LFWA was headquartered at CFB Edmonton. The command was formed in 1991. In 2013 it was announced that LFWA would be renamed 3rd Canadian Division.[2] This change took place in the summer of 2014.
LFWA was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously Prairie Militia Area, Pacific Militia Area, and the Regular Force Army units and formations in western Canada from the northern lakehead region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean. At that point in time, the Militia Areas ceased to exist, and the seven subordinate Militia Districts were reorganised into four: British Columbia District, Alberta District, Saskatchewan District, and Manitoba-Lakehead District.[3]
Later that decade, the four reserve force districts were again reorganized into three Canadian Brigade Groups.
In 2014 LFWA was renamed 3rd Canadian Division. With this change of name, the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage to the division that fought in the two world wars.
Land Force Western Area had four brigade groups (one Regular Force and three Reserve Force), and an Area Support Group.
There were also five units are under direct command of LFWA that did not operate under the brigade or area support groups. They were:
The LFWA maintained an official military band until 1998.
1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group was a Regular Force brigade group based out of CFB Edmonton.
| 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group | CFB Edmonton | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CFB Edmonton | |||
| Artillery | CFB Shilo | ||
| CFB Edmonton | |||
| Combat engineers | CFB Edmonton | ||
| Mechanized infantry | CFB Edmonton | ||
| Mechanized infantry | CFB Shilo | ||
| Light infantry | CFB Edmonton | ||
| Logistic Service and Support | CFB Edmonton |
1 Area Support Group was headquartered out of CFB Edmonton. The Support Group was responsible for providing service and support to the units of Land Force Western Area.
| 1 Area Support Group | CFB Edmonton | |
|---|---|---|
| CFB Edmonton | ||
| CFB Edmonton | ||
38 Canadian Brigade Group (38 CBG) was a Reserve Force brigade group based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It's composed of units in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastwards into Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
| 38 Canadian Brigade Group | Winnipeg | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | Winnipeg | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Moose Jaw | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Winnipeg | ||
| Artillery | Regina and Yorkton | ||
| Artillery | Brandon and Portage la Prairie | ||
| Artillery | Kenora | ||
| Combat engineers | Saskatoon, Winnipeg | ||
| Communications | Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay | ||
| Light infantry | Winnipeg | ||
| Light infantry | Thunder Bay | ||
| Light infantry | Saskatoon and Prince Albert | ||
| Light infantry | Regina | ||
| Light infantry | Winnipeg | ||
| Service and support | Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay |
39 Canadian Brigade Group (39 CBG) was a Primary Reserve brigade group based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. All of the units of the brigade are from the province of British Columbia.
| 39 Canadian Brigade Group | Vancouver | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | Vancouver | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Vancouver | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Kelowna and Vernon | ||
| Artillery | Victoria and Nanaimo | ||
| Artillery | Vancouver and Aldergrove | ||
| Combat engineers | Vancouver, Chilliwack and Trail | ||
| Communications | Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo | ||
| Light infantry | Kamloops | ||
| Light infantry | New Westminster and Aldergrove | ||
| Light infantry | Vancouver | ||
| Light infantry | Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox | ||
| Service and support | Richmond and Victoria |
41 Canadian Brigade Group (41 CBG) was a Reserve Force brigade group based out of Calgary, Alberta. The units forming the brigade group are from the province of Alberta, as well as a company based out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
| 41 Canadian Brigade Group | Calgary | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters | Calgary | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Edmonton and Medicine Hat | ||
| Armoured reconnaissance | Calgary | ||
| Artillery | Edmonton and Red Deer | ||
| Artillery | Lethbridge | ||
| Combat engineers | Calgary and Edmonton | ||
| Communications | Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer | ||
| Light infantry | Edmonton and Yellowknife | ||
| Light infantry | Calgary | ||
| Service and support | Calgary and Edmonton |
| Name | Town/City | Regions | Type | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military | website, history of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment | |||
| Military | website, history of coast artillery and associated units from 1861 to the present day | |||
| Military | ||||
| Military | History and artifacts of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) | |||
| Military | ||||
| Military | ||||
| 12th Manitoba Dragoons Museum | Military | website, history of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery | ||
| Military | website, history of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles | |||