The Mess

It has been a pleasure reflecting on the last 150 years of the Cape Breton Highlanders. Now, all that's left to do is ask: What will the next 150 years look like? Well, I asked some of my comrades and I heard a wide range of answers. From carrying on our traditions to space cadets of the future, who knows what the future will hold!

The Cape Breton Highlanders are more than an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. After everything we have been through, it's hard not to see each other as family, as brothers and sisters in arms. Furthermore, some of us are actually family! Generations of Cape Bretoners have joined our ranks and they have instilled in their children the value of service. Today, we invite you into some of our family conversations and discuss the family values at the core of the Cape Breton Highlanders.

Being a Highlander is one of the greatest experiences of my life. It's a joy going to work everyday at a place with so much comradery. But it's not all fun and games. Underneath the smiles, kilts and pipes are nerves of steel. What does it take to become a Cape Breton Highlander? In this episode, you'll find out...

After 150 years, the Cape Breton Highlanders have seen it all. And when you hang around the Mess as much as me, you learn some funny stories about Highlanders, past and present. You may even find yourself in one or two! Today we're going to share a couple of those with you. Don't worry: we picked and chose very carefully to find a few that were appropriate for all ages!

The Second World War was a defining event in Canadian history, transforming a quiet country on the fringes of global affairs into a critical player in the 20th century's most important struggle. Between 1939 and 1945 more than one million Canadian men and women served full-time in the armed services. More than 43,000 were killed. But, again, when the call was made the Cape Breton Highlanders answered. Today we will hear the stories of the Highlanders during the Second World War. We were also fortunate enough to speak with WWII veteran, Joe Burke.

In 1914, Canada entered the Great War. It would become the bloodiest conflict in Canadian history, taking the lives of nearly 61,000 Canadians. Small French and Belgian villages would become powerful landmarks in Canadian history: Ypres, Vimy, Passachendale. The courage of Canadian troops ignited a sense of national pride and a confidence that Canada could stand on its own, apart from the British Empire, on the world stage. Part of it all were the Cape Breton Highlanders. In this episode, we will hear from Highlanders and their deep connections to the First World War.

What is a highlander? What makes Highlanders unique? Well, it's more than kilts and bagpipes! In this episode of the Mess, we will pull back the curtain on the Highlanders' deep history and our fiery traditions. This is our origin story, from our founding, to our incorporation into the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), to our reinstatement as the 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders).

A “Mess” or “Mess Hall” is where military and reserve personnel eat and socialize. But this cafeteria of sorts means so much more to those who serve. For the Cape Breton Highlanders, the Mess is the heartbeat of the unit, where the stories and traditions of the Highlanders are shared and passed down. Where the restrictive social hierarchies of the reserves are loosened. Where music, laughs, and tears are had. And where lifelong friendships begin. Now, after 150 years, the Cape Breton Highlanders are welcoming you to be a fly on the wall of the Mess. Current and former Highlanders share their stories with Highlanders and non-Highlanders alike. They have given us a glimpse into their lives and revealed what it takes to be a Cape Breton Highlander. This podcast will serve to commemorate the Cape Breton Highlanders' Mess and preserve the stories that echo through its halls for generations to come.

For 150 years, the Cape Breton Highlanders have welcomed men and women from all walks of life into our ranks. Together, we have protected the lives and homes of Canadians across the country in conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the War in Afghanistan. We have also preserved a fierce and passionate Highland-Scot tradition through our colours, tartans, songs, and stories. The Cape Breton Highlanders are undeniably an important thread in the tapestry of Cape Breton Island.We have built a strong comradery among our ranks over the last 150 years and now, we want to share that with you. My name is Jason Doyle and I am honoured to welcome you to our Mess Hall, where history, traditions, and stories are passed onto the next generation of Highlanders. This podcast will commemorate the accounts of Highlanders past and present, and hopefully inspire future Highlanders to join our ranks. Join us in our celebration of 150 years of the Cape Breton Highlanders!