By Scott Taylor
On Monday May 26, the Beechwood Memorial Centre was the site where Esprit de Corps magazine presented the awards to the 2025 Breaking Down the Barricades recipients. The VIP guest list included Global Affairs Canada Minister Anita Anand (herself a former recipient), Ambassadors, Senators, Members of Parliament, General Officers & Flag Officers, military attaches, defence industry executives and the most VIP guests of all, the current and former Top Women in Defence.
Following the Cocktail reception sponsored by Arcfield, Piper Glenn MacDonald led guests into the Sacred Space for the formal presentations. Corporal Richard Hardy of the Governor General's Foot Guards sang the National anthem followed by a welcome address by Nick McCarthy of Beechwood, the hosting sponsor. Publisher Scott Taylor outlined the background behind the Breaking Down the Barricades initiative first started in 2015. A brief video detailed the ever changing role played by women in the Canadian Armed Forces. The evening's keynote address was by Lt.Gen Lise Bourgon who was introduced by Maj (ret'd) Karen Breeck. Eva Martinez did the honours of reading aloud the 2025 recipients bios as plaques were presented by Taylor and Bourgon. Also recognized was the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Whisky was circulated to the attendees and the annual toast was given by Harry Harsch of the Commissionaires. Publisher Taylor made special note of the support from the event's 3 major sponsors; Commissionaires, Arcfield and Beechwood. To conclude the evening attendees were served a buffet meal and the bar remained open. In the immortal lyrics of the Irish Rovers, "Wasn't that a party."
Breeck also used the occasion to underscore just how independent the voting system is for this initiative and why that makes these awards so meaningful to all recipients. Attendees were also reminded to start considering potential nominees for next year's Breaking Down the Barricades.
