Cambridge woman makes history as first Honourary Colonel with light infantry regiment

Jane Klugman made history this week, becoming the first female Honourary Colonel with the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

She received the title during a ceremony that took place at the Cambridge Armory on Thursday night.

“There’s a lot of scrutiny that goes in to the role,” Klugman remarked. “To be able to achieve it is something that I’m very excited about, and very grateful to have.”

The Royal Highland Fusiliers is one of the oldest regiments in the Canadian army with members that have served in both World Wars and the war in Afghanistan, with headquarters located in both Cambridge and Kitchener.

Describing what the infantry unit entails, Klugman defines it as ‘feet on the street’.

“We’re going out, we’re helping. If it’s a Canadian issue, such as during Covid, we were the ones that went in to the nursing homes and hospitals and helped out there.” Klugman explained.

Klugman said she knew very little about the infantry regiment before joining in 2012, but was motivated by a good friend to join the Regional Council.

She was introduced to former commanding officers who showed her the history of the regiment, which she said she found overwhelming but intriguing.

“Then I got to meet the soldiers, and I got to see them in action,” Klugman stated. “And the more I did it, the more I loved it, the more I wanted to be involved.”

Klugman was also the first female to be appointed the position of Honourary Lieutenant Colonel when she received the title in 2018.