Latest news with #BlueHackleMafia
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Ottawa army unit head removed as part of social media misconduct probe
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. 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, Lt-Gen Michael Wright said in a statement to army ranks Wednesday and shared with The Canadian Press Thursday.
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Cameron Highlanders top officer removed in wake of Blue Hackle Mafia controversy
Article content He did not provide the names of those individuals involves in the investigation. Article content Complaints were made in December to military police about the Blue Hackle Mafia group. In addition, complaints about the private Facebook site 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. Article content 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. Article content Article content 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. Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content 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.' Article content Article content '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. Article content The Blue Hackle Mafia has operated its Facebook group with around 200 participants since at least 2007. Article content As the Ottawa Citizen reported 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.
National Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Ottawa soldiers warned after explicit photos sent to commanding officer
Soldiers who posted antisemitic, misogynistic and racist comments on social media warned each other not to take photos of their wild antics because of previous complaints in which images of their genitals were sent to their commanding officer. Article content The posts by the soldiers from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa indicated they knew what they were doing was wrong but their focus was on not getting caught. Article content Article content Article content 'No f–king pictures in the mess,' wrote one soldier. 'There should be 0 photographic evidence of anything we get up to in that room. We don't need anymore pictures of penises going to the CO (commanding officer).' Article content The soldiers operated 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. Article content The images of posts obtained by the Ottawa Citizen show the group has been operating longer than previously believed — some of the posts date back to 2007 and indicate there have already been previous investigations into the group. Article content Article content Still a decade later the soldiers were continuing, although concerned that incriminating evidence of their activities could surface. 'Basically anything bad to happen to any military unit in the last 25 years is because some asshole didn't put his camera away,' one soldier commented in October 2017. Article content In another comment from July 2015, a soldier provides an official Canadian Forces government email to where military personnel can send 'dic (sic) pics.' Article content Complaints were made in December 2024 to military police about the Blue Hackle Mafia group, Department of National Defence spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin confirmed in an email.
Ottawa Citizen
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa soldiers warned after explicit photos sent to commanding officer
Article content But that has raised concerns among whistleblowers about conflict of interest as a reserve force captain in the unit had been assigned to investigate fellow soldiers and officers. Article content In a statement, military police characterized the postings as 'historic,' signifying that they were in the past. Article content But in a March 2025 post obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, one of the soldiers, who is a member of the Blue Hackle Mafia, was once again posting photos from the Cartier Square Drill Hall with sexual references. Article content 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. Article content Article content Asked whether the Blue Hackle Mafia site or its postings had been previously reported before December 2024 to the army's leadership or senior officers in the Cameron Highlanders, DND spokesperson Poulin stated that a review is underway. Article content Defence Minister David McGuinty issued a statement saying that the behaviour on the Blue Hackle Mafia site is unacceptable. Article content 'The Minister was made aware of it only last week,' Laurent de Casanove, McGuinty's press secretary, stated in an email. He would not provide a specific date. Article content Article content Army commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright has stated he knew nothing about the controversy surrounding the high profile reserve unit until he was briefed about the situation on June 25, the day after the Ottawa Citizen sent images from the Facebook group to DND and asked him for comment. Article content After the Citizen submitted its questions, Wright conferred with his senior army leadership. On June 27, Wright spoke with all division commanders about the Blue Hackle Mafia group, 'reinforcing the Army's commitment to uphold its values and the importance of applying military disciplinary and administrative processes in cases of alleged misconduct,' according to Poulin.
National Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Army commander was kept in the dark about Ottawa soldiers' 'abhorrent' Facebook group
Canada's army commander was kept in the dark about antisemitic, misogynistic and racist comments on a site operated by his soldiers despite complaints previously being made to military police, top officers and military legal officials. Article content 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. Article content Article content Article content Complaints were made in December to military police about the Blue Hackle Mafia group, the Canadian Forces has confirmed. In addition, complaints about the private Facebook site and the contents being posted by soldiers were made to Lt. Col. Ryan Hendy, who commands the Cameron Highlanders, as well as 33 Brigade Commander Col. James McKay, according to whistleblowers. The inappropriate contents of the Facebook account and its existence was also reported to officials in the Judge Advocate General's office. Article content But army commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright knew nothing about the controversy surrounding the high profile reserve unit until he was briefed about the situation on June 25, the day after the Ottawa Citizen sent images from the Facebook group to DND and asked him for comment. Article content 'On 25 June 2025, I was made aware of allegations regarding the 'Blue Hackle Mafia' private social media group involving members of the Canadian Army that featured abhorrent racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and antisemitic comments and images,' Wright noted in an email sent to media outlets. 'I can share that I am disgusted by the content of some of the posts published on this group.' Article content Article content Defence insiders say it is highly unusual that the army commander would have been kept in the dark about such a high profile issue. Article content 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.
