The Regimental Council of The Queen's York Rangers Celebrates 250 Years of Swift and Bold Service

A new regimental history, Swift and Bold: The History of The Queen's York Rangers, and companion educational website bring more than 250 years of service, heritage and community connection to life

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Regimental Council on behalf of The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) today announced the release of Swift and Bold: The History of The Queen's York Rangers, the third edition of the Regiment's history and a tribute to more than 250 years of service to Crown and country.

From left to right - Lieutenant-Colonel (ret’d) Phil Halton, CD, PhD, FRAS, a former Commanding Officer of The Queen’s York Rangers, Her Honour the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Colonel of the Regiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel Adam West, CD, AdeC, Commanding Officer, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American)(RCAC)

The book traces the Regiment's extraordinary story from its origins with Rogers' Rangers in 1756, through the Queen's Rangers of the American Revolutionary War, onward through the War of 1812 and the First World War, and the more recent service of individual Rangers in Afghanistan and Latvia.

It also reflects the history of the communities with which the Regiment has been closely associated--particularly Toronto and York Region--and the continuing relationship between the Regiment and the people it has served for more than two and a half centuries. This edition equally highlights the Regiment's long-standing ties to indigenous communities on both sides of the border.

On Tuesday, October 20^th, Her Honour the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Colonel of the Regiment of The Queen's York Rangers, hosted a pre-launch celebration that was attended by currently serving and veteran Rangers, historians, community leaders and friends of the Regiment. Reflecting on the publication, Her Honour noted: "For more than 250 years, The Queen's York Rangers have served with distinction while helping shape the story of Ontario. By preserving and sharing the Regiment's rich history, this work honours those who have served and offers readers an opportunity to explore the enduring contributions of The Queen's York Rangers to Ontario and Canada."

Guests were also able to view an important Rangers Museum artifacts associated with Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe: a 1775 map of Pennsylvania inscribed to Simcoe by the Marquis de Lafayette, and a 1796 Crown Grant for land in Upper Canada, signed by Simcoe during his final month in the role. 

A history for classrooms

Swift and Bold is accompanied by a new website designed to support the teaching of Canadian history through the book. The site includes teaching resources, materials for parents, and colouring pages for students and colouring enthusiasts. Link: https://teachingtools.qyrang.ca/

The teaching tools were prepared by author and Ontario history teacher Nathan Tidridge. "Stories like those of The Queen's York Rangers are intertwined with the founding of Ontario. Now more than ever, such histories need to be taught in our classrooms so that students can better understand their country."

A story three authors preserved

The book's first edition, published in 1984, was written by Stewart H. Bull, a decorated Second World War veteran, educator, and long-serving Rangers Regimental Historian. The second edition was updated by Stewart in 1993.

David Schimmelpenninck van der Oye, FRSC, KStJ, a former Ranger officer, distinguished historian, and professor of history at Brock University began the difficult task of updating the history of the Rangers over ten years ago. David died in 2022 before completing his work. His widow, Marie, entrusted his research and work-in-progress to Lieutenant-Colonel (ret'd) Phil Halton, CD, PhD, FRAS, a former Commanding Officer of The Queen's York Rangers, who completed David's task.

As the only living co-author, Phil shared his thoughts at the pre-launch event: "The history of any Regiment is necessarily one of service, sacrifice and continuity in the face of adversity. That is very much the story of the Rangers, and is also the story of the third edition. It has been an honour to continue the work of Stewart and David as an author and historian, just as it was an honour to continue the work of Robert Rogers and John Graves Simcoe as a commanding officer of the modern Rangers. This edition brings the history up to date, but of course the Rangers' story is still being written by those who serve."

The third edition is both a history of the Regiment and a tribute to the three authors whose scholarship, service, and commitment have preserved this remarkable story.

Swift and Bold: The History of The Queen's York Rangers tells the story of a Canadian military regiment whose heritage reaches back to 1756 and Rogers' Rangers, and whose history is closely intertwined with the development of Toronto, York Region, Ontario, and a significant part of North America.

Printing of the third edition was graciously supported by the Macdonald Stewart Foundation, a longtime supporter of The Queen's York Rangers and its Regimental Council.

The Regimental Council of The Queen's York Rangers, (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) www.qyrang.ca; @QYRangers 

SOURCE The Regimental Council of The Queen's York Rangers (1st American) (RCAC)

Media contact - Victoria Ollers, Regimental Council, The Queen's York Rangers, [email protected], 416 822-2288