British Columbia

If you see armed soldiers in Vancouver this weekend, that's just the army in training, says military

Vancouver residents are being advised not to be concerned if they see armed military members this weekend, as members from the Seaforth Highlanders regiment will be taking part in urban operations training.

Exercises are scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Armed soldiers in uniform are pictured in a line, holding their weapons, pointing in various directions in an outdoor space, surrounded by exposed pipes on a building.
Members of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group are pictured in this photo on the Group's Flickr page. Capt. Graeme Kaine with the brigade says members of the Vancouver-based Seaforth Highlanders regiment will be taking part in urban operations training this weekend. (39 Canadian Brigade Group/Flickr)

It might look frightening, but Vancouver residents are being advised not to be concerned if they hear what sounds like gunfire or see armed military members around a now-closed brewery on the city's west side.

Capt. Graeme Kaine with the 39 Canadian Brigade Group, which administers reserve forces in British Columbia, says members of the Vancouver-based Seaforth Highlanders regiment will be taking part in urban operations training this weekend.

The statement from Kaine says uniformed reservists might be seen carrying small arms weapons, and gunfire might be heard in the area around the former Molson-Coors brewery and the Seaforth Armoury next door.

Kaine's statement says no live ammunition will be used at any time during the two days of training.

He says the exercise will help the reserve unit plan, prepare and execute any future operations in what he describes as "complex urban environments.''

The exercise on Nov. 25 and 26 is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. each day and wrap up by 6 p.m.