Keynote Speaker: Brigadier-General, R.T. Strickland, MSM, CD
Commandant Canadian Forces College
Topic: "The Canadian Forces College:
The Unknown Part of your Community"
Host: Alex Brown
Rotary Toronto Meeting Friday, November 17th, 2023
Lunch at The National Club, 303 Bay Street, Toronto
and Virtual Meeting as well!
Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions are those expressed by the Speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions, policy or position of The Rotary Club of Toronto or its Members.
Biography
Brigadier General Tod Strickland was raised in Powell River, British Columbia and joined the Canadian Forces in 1988. Upon completion of Basic Infantry Officer training he was posted to the Third Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) where he began Regimental service as a rifle platoon commander.
Since then, he has served with all three Battalions of the Regiment in a wide variety of command and staff positions, enjoying numerous exercises, and deploying on domestic and international operations. These included two peacekeeping tours to Bosnia-Hercegovina, and two tours in Afghanistan. Domestically, he was deployed in support of Canadian Forces operations in Quebec following the ice storm (1997), as well as fighting forest fires in British Columbia (2003). He has also deployed to northern Canada on two separate occasions – participating in an adventure training expedition on Mount Logan and leading a sovereignty operation in the North West Territories near Inuvik.
Outside of the Regiment, he has served in a wide variety of positions. These have included postings to the Royal Canadian School of Infantry, Brigade Headquarters of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG), Chief Military Personnel (CMP), the Strategic Joint Staff (SJS), and Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command.
Recently, he has enjoyed a diverse range of roles. In June 2012 he assumed command of the 3rd Canadian Division’s Training Centre (3 CDTC) in Wainwright Alberta. Subsequently, in 2014, he assumed the post of Deputy Commander of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC). In 2016 he joined the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) in Fort Leavenworth Kansas, where he completed the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program (ASLSP) and was subsequently employed as an instructor on the Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP). In June 2018, he deployed to the Republic of Korea where he joined United Nations Command (UNC) as the Deputy Director for Operations. Between 2019 and 2022 he commanded the Canadian Army Command and Staff College in Kingston.
Tod completed a Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences (BMASc) from the Royal Military College as a visiting student at the University of Alberta in 2001. He has since attained a Masters Degree (MA) in Middle Eastern History from American Military University, a Masters in Defence Studies (MDS) from the Royal Military College, a Masters (MMAS) in Strategic Studies from Army University, and a Masters (MSi) in Adult Learning and Leadership through Kansas State University.
He is married and has two daughters. His personal interests include the study of history, driving his Porche, and improving his golf game.