Black History Month: WO Cyril Jordan, CD

February 11, 2021
Black History Month, History, News

Black History Month is a time to honour Black Canadians, both past and present. It is also a time to reflect and learn more about their distinguished service. The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR), by its nature as a ‘city regiment’, reflects the communities that it draws recruits from. In honour of Black History Month, the RMR Foundation is publishing profiles of service of some of the Black Canadians who have served (and continue to serve) in our ranks.

WO Cyril Jordan on the firing range in Farnham, 2007. Photo credit: LCol (ret’d) John Zoellner

Westmount, Quebec – 10 February 2021: Warrant Officer Cyril JORDAN, CD joined the RMR in 1987 and retired in 2012 as the Company Sergeant-Major of “B” Company, the RMR’s operational rifle company. Aside from his Infantry trade and leadership training, WO Jordan has military qualifications in Reconnaissance Patrolman, Small Arms, Machine Gunner, Rappel Master and Bison AFV Driver.

Corporal Jordan (left) After completing the 13 km forced march competition, circa 1994.
Preparing for an Escape & Evasion exercise in Valcartier, 1994
Instructor Drivers course, 1995
Preparing to deploy from the armoury on weekend training, 1996

His extra Regimental service includes a 1990 United Nations UNICYP tour in Cyprus attached to 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and a 1992 United Nations UNPROFOR tour in Ex Yugoslavia attached to 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR).

Corporal Cyril Jordan being inspected in Cyprus, 1990.
Corporal Jordan preparing the 50 caliber Heavy Machine Gun on the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier prior to leaving on patrol in Bosnia, 1992.

 

Corporal Jordan (left) with fellow UN peacekeepers taking a break while conducting a road move in Bosnia near “Castle Grey Skull”, 1992.

He was also part of a number of RMR Contingents that trained with our sister regiment PWOR (now the Yorkshire Regiment) in York, England and Scotland.

WO Jordan (second from left, front row) with members of the RMR contingent visiting the our UK sister regiment in 2008
WO Jordan (right) waiting his turn to fire on the ranges in Scotland, 2008
WO Jordan [far right) with the RMR contingent visiting the YORKS in the United Kingdom, 2008
WO Jordan relaxing after firing on the rifle range in Scotland, 2008.

He is the recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) and Bar, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM), UN Cyprus (UNFICYP) Medal, UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) Medal Yugoslavia. His advice to young soldiers in the Regiment is “Do not think its a video game, do not think you are entitled, and remember that it’s not about what the regiment can give to you, but what you can bring to it. Never give up, when you get knocked down stand back up and stay in the fight.”

WO Cyril Jordan receiving the Queen’s Jubilee medal from the CO, LCol Paul Langlais, in 2014
Warrant Officer (ret’d) Cyril Jordan proposes the toast to the Allied Regiment at the RMR’s Centennial gala ball held in the armoury on 01 November 2014.

Raised in La Prairie and currently residing in St Constant, Qc, WO Jordan is currently the Manager of Customer Support at InVeris Training Solutions Canada which provides world wide live-fire and virtual training systems for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners. Since releasing from the regiment in 2012, Comrade Cyril Jordan became a member of the RMR Association (Branch 14) of the Royal Canadian Legion and remains actively involved in the regimental family.

Comrade Cyril Jordan enjoying a boat cruise organized by the CFSA as part of the RMR Association’s annual Smoker (reunion) on 03 September 2016. Photo credit: Gary Donovan
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