Ottawa soldiers under investigation for Facebook group filled with hate speech and nude photos in uniform
Wright said he could not discuss the investigation into the Blue Hackle Mafia social media page as it was still ongoing.
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Some of those depicted in the images are officers in the unit.
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The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) serve as the city of Ottawa's official regiment, according to the Canadian Forces. The regiment is tasked, as needed, to provide ceremonial guards of honour for visiting dignitaries and for national ceremonies and events.
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During the Second World War, the King of England first allowed the Cameron Highlanders to wear the blue hackle on their headdress as a mark of their honour and fighting pride.
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Over the last decade, the Canadian Forces has been mired in allegations of sexual assault, harassment, racism and homophobia. The resulting scandals prompted reports and inquiries by former Supreme Court justices Marie Deschamps and Louise Arbour, along with pledges by the military leadership to bring about change. In addition, a number of senior officers have faced charges or court proceedings for alleged sexual misconduct or assault.
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But defence insiders say there is a sense in some areas of the Canadian Forces that the sexual misconduct scandals are now largely in the past, as news media reporting has decreased and a number of high-profile legal cases have either collapsed or ended in senior officers being found not guilty.
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In 2022, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Arbour was told by Canadian Forces members that the military sees sexual and other misconduct cases as public relations problems that need to be managed to avoid negative media coverage rather than serious issues to be dealt with.
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Many of the posts that Wright described as abhorrent were published by serving soldiers in the Cameron Highlanders in the midst of the military's leadership efforts between 2015 and 2021 to crack down on such behaviour.
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The links between the regiment and the City of Ottawa are more than 100 years old. Permission was granted in January 1882 for the regiment to adopt the motto of the City of Ottawa: 'Advance.' This remains the motto of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and is worn on their badges.
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OTTAWA – The head of an Ottawa-based Canadian Army regiment has been temporarily removed as part of an investigation into alleged online behaviour that the commander of the army says disgraced the military. Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright says the commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been removed from his post in connection with a probe into the 'Blue Hackle Mafia' social media group. Wright said previously that the Facebook group's posts included 'racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic comments and images' and the allegations involved 'members of the Canadian Army.' In an internal statement shared with The Canadian Press, Wright says the incident has damaged the Canadian Army's reputation. He says the military is still investigating any alleged unethical conduct from serving members of the army who were part of the group. That probe will include a review of the army's social media usage policies. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. — with files from David Baxter This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.
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The Canadian Army has initiated a summary investigation to examine the alleged conduct of any currently serving members that were part of the online group. Ryan Hendy, then a lieutenant-colonel and now the commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders, salutes at a Remembrance Day ceremony in 2014. Photo by Julie Oliver / Postmedia The commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been temporarily removed from his position in the aftermath of the Blue Hackle Mafia controversy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Army commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright said in a July 16 message to army personnel that he was taking steps to address the 'inappropriate behaviour' in a Facebook group, where members have posted antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic and racist comments. 'As of 16 July 2025, the Commanding Officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been temporarily removed from his position and all individuals involved will be provided procedural fairness in accordance with the applicable policies,' Wright said in his statement to the army. 'In the meantime, an interim Commanding Officer has been appointed to oversee the unit.' The statement did not include the name of the commanding officer nor the interim commanding officer. But the official website and Facebook page operated by the Cameron Highlanders listed the commanding officer as Lt. Col. Ryan Hendy. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Ottawa Citizen had previously asked Hendy for comment about the Blue Hackle Mafia Facebook page but he did not respond. As first reported in the Ottawa Citizen, some soldiers from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa have been operating what they call the Blue Hackle Mafia Facebook group. They have posted images of male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons or simulating sexual acts with each other in uniform. Some of the photos were taken at military installations. The Facebook page also includes hateful comments directed towards women, derogatory sexual comments about former prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as discussions about raping grandmothers. In other cases, posts disparage both Jews and Muslims. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Wright has acknowledged he didn't know about the Blue Hackle Mafia until he was asked about it by the Ottawa Citizen. Wright noted in his statement that the Canadian Army is initiating a summary investigation to examine the alleged unethical conduct of any currently serving Canadian Army members that were part of the online group. 'The investigation will also include a review of the policies and procedures related to reporting and social media usage by members of the Canadian Army,' he said. The summary investigation will be led by an investigative team composed of a 'Post Command Lieutenant-Colonel' and supplemented by the appropriate specialists, Wright stated. He did not provide the names of those individuals involved in the investigation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Complaints were made in December to military police about the Blue Hackle Mafia group. In addition, complaints about the private Facebook group and the contents being posted by soldiers were made to Lt. Col. Hendy, as well as 33 Brigade Commander Col. James McKay, according to whistleblowers interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen. The inappropriate contents of the Facebook account and its existence was also reported to officials in the Judge Advocate General's office. At the time military police were also provided with videos and screenshots of the Blue Hackle Mafia material but decided not to launch an investigation. Instead, military police turned over the investigation to the Cameron Highlanders. A reserve force captain who serves with some of those involved in the Blue Hackle Mafia was assigned to investigate their behaviour. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. After the Ottawa Citizen provided Wright with the screenshots of some of the Blue Hackle Mafia material on June 24, military police opened a new investigation. On June 27, Wright spoke with all division commanders about the Blue Hackle Mafia group, reinforcing what he said was 'the Army's commitment to uphold its values and the importance of applying military disciplinary and administrative processes in cases of alleged misconduct.' The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) serve as the city of Ottawa's official regiment, according to the Canadian Forces. The regiment is tasked, as needed, to provide ceremonial guards of honour for visiting dignitaries and for national ceremonies and events. The reserve unit operates out of the Cartier Square Drill Hall on Queen Elizabeth Driveway. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In his statement sent to army personnel, Wright pointed out that the organization 'will continue to ensure that our culture reflects the values and ethics of the Canadian Armed Forces, and I expect the chain of command across the Canadian Army to deal immediately with any inappropriate behaviour that deviates from those values and ethics.' 'This incident has damaged the reputation of the Canadian Army at a time when we are engaged in important modernization work as part of a ready, resilient, and relevant Canadian Armed Forces,' he added. The Blue Hackle Mafia has operated its Facebook group with around 200 participants since at least 2007. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the soldiers on the Facebook page knew what they were doing was wrong but their focus was on not getting caught. They warned each other not to take photos of the wild antics that were taking place at the Cartier Square Drill Hall. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA MMA Tennis Toronto Maple Leafs
