Key Takeaways
- Maple Resolve is the Canadian Army’s largest annual training exercise and, for the first time, is being held in Quebec from April 11‑24.
- Approximately 1,500 soldiers from the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) are conducting drills across about 30 sites in the Capitale‑Nationale, Chaudière‑Appalaches and Mauricie regions.
- The exercise serves as a “final test” before the brigade assumes command of NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia in June, a mission that will last up to a year.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in August 2025 that Canada will maintain a military presence in Latvia through at least 2029, underscoring a long‑term commitment to eastern‑Europe security.
- Training focuses on air‑ground integration, sustainment over ~200 km distances and high‑intensity, conventional combat — reflecting a shift from past peace‑keeping/counter‑insurgency roles to great‑power competition.
- The military uses blank ammunition, schedules noisy activities during daylight and conducts thorough site clean‑ups to minimize impact on local communities and the environment.
Overview of Maple Resolve Exercise
The Canadian Army’s largest annual training event, known as Maple Resolve, is currently underway in Quebec, marking the first time the exercise has been held in the province. Running from April 11 to April 24, the drill involves tanks, fighter jets and roughly 1,500 soldiers who are executing a series of coordinated maneuvers across multiple training sites. The exercise is designed to validate the readiness of the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group for its upcoming NATO mission in Latvia.
Geographic Scope and Sites
The training is being conducted at about 30 different locations spread across Quebec’s Capitale‑Nationale, Chaudière‑Appalaches and Mauricie regions. Most of the sites consist of Crown land, municipal property or privately‑owned fields that have been made available to the armed forces through lease agreements or temporary use permits. By selecting diverse terrains — ranging from forested hills to open farmland — planners aim to recreate the variable conditions soldiers will encounter along the NATO eastern flank in Latvia.
Command Structure and Leadership
Overall direction of Maple Resolve falls to the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG), which is headquartered in Valcartier, Quebec City. The brigade is commanded by Colonel Dave Brassard, who oversees the planning, execution and assessment of all phases of the exercise. Under his leadership, subordinate units — including infantry battalions, armoured regiments, artillery batteries and aviation elements — work together to practice combined‑arms tactics that will be essential for the Latvia deployment.
Purpose as Final Test Before Latvia Deployment
Colonel Brassard describes the two‑week period as a “final test” for the brigade before it assumes command of NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia. The exercise is intended to expose soldiers to realistic, high‑intensity scenarios that mirror the challenges they will face on the ground in the Baltic theatre. Success in Maple Resolve is therefore seen as a prerequisite for receiving the operational certification needed to deploy overseas under NATO auspices.
Strategic Context: NATO Operation Reassurance in Latvia
Starting in June, the 5 CMBG will take over responsibility for NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia, a forward‑presence mission designed to bolster the collective defence of Alliance members amid Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The contingent will remain in the country for up to a year, conducting patrols, training with Latvian forces and maintaining a credible deterrent posture along the nation’s border with Russia. The mission underscores Canada’s commitment to bolstering security in Eastern Europe.
Extended Commitment: Troops in Latvia Through 2029
In August 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will maintain its military presence in Latvia through at least 2029, extending the original deployment timeline. This long‑term pledge reflects the evolving security environment in Europe and signals Ottawa’s intention to keep a robust, battle‑ready contingent on NATO’s eastern flank for the foreseeable future. The decision also ensures continuity of training, equipment upgrades and interoperability with allied forces.
Statement from Lt.-Gen. M.C. Wright on Mission Scale
Lieutenant‑General M.C. Wright, the commander of the Canadian Army, highlighted that the Latvia mission represents the country’s largest overseas deployment to date. He remarked that conducting Maple Resolve in Quebec provides soldiers with the same type of large‑scale combat training they will experience when serving in the Baltic region, thereby bridging the gap between domestic preparation and operational reality.
Training Focus: Air‑Ground Cooperation and Sustainment
Colonel Brassard emphasized that the current iteration of Maple Resolve is designed to sharpen air‑ground integration and sustainment capabilities over extended distances. He noted that the simulated operational stretch — from Riga, Latvia, to the Russian border — spans roughly 200 kilometres, requiring units to move fuel, ammunition and supplies while maintaining close coordination with fighter jets and transport aircraft. This focus reflects the shift toward high‑intensity, conventional warfare scenarios.
Shift From Peacekeeping/Counterinsurgency to Great‑Power Combat
Reflecting on the evolution of Canada’s recent military engagements, Brassard observed that over the past 15 to 20 years the armed forces have primarily been involved in peacekeeping missions or counter‑insurgency operations, such as in Afghanistan. He argued that the strategic environment has changed dramatically, with great‑power competition now pitting Canada against adversaries possessing large, modern, industrialized armies capable of conventional high‑intensity combat, necessitating a corresponding shift in training focus.
Personnel Composition: Soldiers mainly from Valcartier
The majority of the personnel participating in Maple Resolve are drawn from units based in Valcartier, Quebec City, the home station of the 5 CMBG. These include infantry soldiers from the Royal 22e Régiment, armoured crews from the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, artillery teams from the 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada, and various support elements such as engineers, logistics and medical detachments. Aviation assets come from squadrons stationed at nearby bases, providing close air support and transport.
Impact on Local Communities: Noise, Blank Ammunition, Environmental Care
Residents near the training areas may hear explosions and gunfire over the next few days, but Colonel Brassard clarified that the munitions used are blank rounds, designed to produce realistic sound and flash without projecting lethal projectiles. The military has taken steps to limit disturbances, including scheduling noisy activities during daylight hours and coordinating with municipal authorities. After the exercise, crews will conduct thorough site clean‑ups to leave the land in the same condition as before the troops arrived.
Conclusion and Significance of Maple Resolve for Future Deployments
Maple Resolve serves as a critical validation step for the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, confirming that its soldiers, equipment and procedures are ready for the demands of NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia. By conducting the exercise on Quebec’s varied terrain and emphasizing air‑ground cooperation, sustained logistics and high‑intensity combat tactics, the Canadian Army is ensuring that its contingent can operate effectively alongside allied forces on the eastern flank. The successful completion of this training not only bolsters individual readiness but also reinforces Canada’s broader commitment to collective defence in an era of renewed great‑power rivalry.