Unit Appointments - Honourary Colonel
11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Colonel (Ret'd) Gary E. Burton, CD

Colonel Gary Burton was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, moving to Southern Ontario with his family at the age of six. He began his military career with the Erin High School cadet corps in 1958. He was appointed the Cadet Commanding Officer in 1962.

In 1961 he joined the 16th Battery, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA as a gunner, serving continuously with the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery for the remainder of his career. He rose to the rank of Sergeant, and 1965 was accepted for officer training. He was commissioned in 1967 and subsequently promoted to Major and appointed Battery Commander, 29th Battery in 1973.

He attended the Militia Command and Staff Course in 1974 and in 1977 was appointed 2nd in Command of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. From September 1978 to October 1979, he was attached to Hamilton Militia District Headquarters as the Staff Officer 2 Training. Upon returning to his unit, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer in February 1980.

Following his tour of command, he transferred to the Militia Officer Training School in October 1983. In February 1985 he was appointed Senior Staff Officer Artillery at Central Militia Area. He returned to HQ Hamilton Militia District in September 1986 as the Senior Staff Officer, Operations (G3). He subsequently held the positions of Senior Staff Officer, Services (G1) and Deputy Commander. Colonel Burton attended the Nato Reserve Officer’s Course in Rome in 1989. He was promoted to Colonel and commanded the District from June of 1990 to October 1993, retiring from the Primary Reserves in September 1995. In 2001, Colonel Burton was appointed the Honourary Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. He was subsequently appointed Honourary Colonel of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA in January 2006.

Colonel Burton has his second bar to his Canadian Forces Decoration, and was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1978 and the Canada 125 Medal in 1993. He was awarded the Mobile Command Achievement Award in 1990. He is a qualified military parachutist.

In civilian life, Colonel Burton is the Sales Director of the Steel Division of Foseco Canada Inc. of Guelph. He is a member of the Regimental Senate of the 11th Field, Chairman of the Artillery Support Group of Guelph. He is a Life Member, Past President (twice) and a former member of the advisory council of the Royal Canadian Artillery Association where he is currently serving on the executive as Immediate Past President.

Colonel Burton and his wife Marilyn, who reside in Guelph have been married over 42 years and have four grown children, Deborah, Stephen, Scott and Michael, well as two Grand Children Matthew and Spencer.