CO RMR Receives National Award for Outstanding Leadership

Westmount, Quebec – 15 October 2026: The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) is proud to congratulate its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Kevin Langlois, on receiving the prestigious Deputy Minister John Forster Collaboration Award on 5 October 2026, recognizing his exceptional leadership in addressing long-standing challenges affecting Canadian Rangers across the country.

The award, presented as part of the Department of National Defence’s Celebrating Excellence Awards, recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding collaboration in advancing the Defence Team’s mission.

LCol Langlois was recognized for bringing together stakeholders from across the Defence Team and central authorities to resolve complex administrative issues that had affected Canadian Rangers for years. Through his leadership, these collaborative efforts resulted in improvements to pay administration, compensation, enrolment processes, and service delivery for more than 5,000 Canadian Rangers serving in communities across Canada.

The Canadian Rangers play an essential role in maintaining Canada’s presence and sovereignty in northern, coastal, and remote regions. Often operating in isolated communities under demanding conditions, they provide invaluable local knowledge, support military operations, and contribute to search and rescue and emergency response efforts.

Ensuring that these members receive fair compensation, efficient administrative support, and timely access to services is therefore more than an administrative concern. It directly contributes to operational readiness, morale, and the trust that soldiers place in the institution they serve.

According to the official award citation, LCol Langlois demonstrated an exceptional ability to build trusted partnerships, establish shared accountability, and achieve consensus among organizations with differing responsibilities. His efforts produced national solutions that strengthened equity, operational effectiveness, and institutional confidence.

For the RMR family, this recognition is a particular source of pride. While we know LCol Langlois as our Commanding Officer, this award highlights the broader impact of his leadership across the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence.

It also serves as a reminder that effective military leadership is not measured solely by accomplishments in the field. Sometimes, the greatest contributions come from the determination to solve difficult problems, bring people together, and improve the conditions under which others serve.