KAMLOOPS - At the time the photo was taken Amadeo Vecchio of the Rocky Mountain Rangers was still a Major. This is moments before the ceremony to promote him to Commanding Officer begins. Shelby Thevenot

iN PHOTOS: Seven moments from the Change of Command Parade in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – War veterans, members of the guard and people of Kamloops attended the Change of Command Parade today.

The Rocky Mountain Rangers invited the public to celebrate with them as they welcomed a new Commanding Officer today, Sept. 15.

The regiment showed its respect to outgoing Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Normand J. Dionne as they inducted Major Amadeo Vecchio, now Commanding Officer, to the honourable position.

Lieutenant-Colonel Dionne has held the position of Commanding Officer since November 2014. The position is highly respected, holds great responsibility and oversees the careers and livelihoods of 126 soldiers in Kamloops and Prince George.

The ceremony included a formal march of current and former guard members, including several war veterans. Some officers could not attend as they were out helping the wildfire efforts.

Marching band music plays as the procession begins. Shelby Thevenot

Colonel Paul Ursich leads officials like Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Normand Dionne, and Major Vecchio in greeting officers standing at attention for the ceremony. Shelby Thevenot

Lieutenant-Colonel Dionne leads the procession as Commanding Officer for the last time. Shelby Thevenot

This flag is called the “Colours” by the rangers. It is a symbol of the “heart and soul” of the Rocky Mountain Rangers. Here it is being handed to Major Vecchio as a symbolic gesture. Shelby Thevenot

The signing of the papers. Shelby Thevenot

Commanding Officer Vecchio leads the procession for the first time. Shelby Thevenot

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Shelby Thevenot

Shelby has lived across Canada. She grew up near Winnipeg, Manitoba then obtained her B.F.A in Multidisciplinary Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta. In 2014 she moved to Montreal, Quebec to study French and thrived in the Visual Journalism Graduate Diploma program at Concordia University. Now she works at iNFO News where she strives to get the stories that matter to the Okanagan Valley community.

Member of:

The Professional Writers Association of Canada

Quebec Writers Federation

English Language Arts Network

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