Canadian Army training in Kitsilano, warning gunfire might be heard
Posted November 23, 2023 3:29 pm.
The Vancouver-based light infantry unit of the Canadian Army is asking residents to not be alarmed if they hear automatic gunfire this weekend around the site of the former Molson-Coors brewery in Kitsilano.
The Seaforth Highlanders regiment says it will be conducting urban operations training on Saturday and Sunday at the old brewery site and at the unit’s nearby armoury.
Major Brennan MacLachlan with the Seaforth Highlanders says developer Concord Pacific gave the regiment permission to use the brewery as of last year, and the property creates a more comprehensive training environment.
“Everything should be inside,” he said. “The buildings are pretty soundproof … so there shouldn’t be too much coming out. But otherwise, you may hear some automatic sounds coming out, but otherwise, there really shouldn’t be too much.”
The former brewery is right next to Vancouver’s Burrard Bridge and along False Creek, where thousands of residents live in condominiums and townhomes.
“Having an environment that has lots of different, unexpected things that you might not be used to … it’s just more stuff for the soldiers to juggle and adapt to as they go through, which is really good training,” MacLachlan said.
