Standing Orders - Appendix 20, Annex A, Chap 10
62e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne, ARC
Shawinigan, QC

The 62e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne ARC draws its origins from Coaticook where it was formed in 1920, with its first sub-unit, the 81st Battery. On December 16, 1936, 81st Battery was transferred from its place of origin and re-established in the town of Shawinigan with a manpower ceiling of 50 personnel.

In the beginning, military training took place in the basement of the curling club, close to the Shawinigan Chemical Co plant. In 1937, the Battery strength was already 30 personnel, and six weeks instruction courses begin at the Shawinigan institute of technology. In the summer of 1938, the members of the 81st Battery went to Camp Petawawa for one week of intensive training. The manoeuvres and the live-fire practices were carried out on 18 pounders, dating from the First World War.

When the Second World War was declared, the 81st Battery received the mission of recruiting 134 volunteers in the area. On July 19, 1941, the 81st Battery was integrated into the 14th Artillery Regiment in Petawawa, for the remainder of the war.

On November 2, 1945, the 81st Battery returns after a group of Shawinigan former officers from company "C" of the Regiment of Joliette take their representations to the federal representative Mr. JA Richard with the request to preserve either a sub-unit or a unit of the Canadian militia at Shawinigan.

On April 1, 1946, the Department of National Defence authorized the formation in Shawinigan of the "62nd LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENT".

The new Regiment is equipped with three batteries light anti-aircraft artillery: the 81st L.A.A., 185th L.A.A. and 186th L.A.A.; with an authorized strength exceeding 200 members. On January 7, 1963, the regiment returns to its primary role that of field artillery equipped with 105mm C-1 howitzers. It is during the Seventies that the unit is named: "62e Régiment d’artillerie de campagne".

On May 10, 1986, the 62e Régiment d’artillerie de campagne was conferred the privilege of the Freedom of the City by the town of Shawinigan.

In 1991, the Regiment won the prestigious Shellburst Valley trophy. This trophy is given to the Artillery Regiment that demonstrates the greatest skills in the conduct of a weekend live fire artillery exercise.

In April 1996, following a study on the reorganization of the Army Reserve, the unit’s superior headquarters, Quebec District number 2, was re-designated Headquarters 35th Canadian Brigade Group. The same year the unit also celebrated its 50th birthday.

In September 1998, after several years of waiting, National Defence Headquarters announced that a new armoury would be built for 62e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne ARC location very close to the old building.