Command Group
Commanding Officer LCol Vincent Virk, CD
LCol Virk is a lucky husband to Noor Grewal-Virk of 21 years and a blessed father of two amazing daughters, 13-year-old Zehan and 10-year-old Ajooni both of whom are avid competitor swimmers. LCol Virk was born in Edmonton, AB. His family relocated to BC into the South Okanagan Secondary School. Upon graduation where he attended the University of British Columbia.
In April 2001 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces with the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) as an Officer Cadet, establishing a fifth generation of military service for his family (first in Canada). He completed his Armed Reconnaissance Troop Leader course in 2003 and in 2006 he was promoted to rank of Captain. That same year he earned his silver spurs with the 1-303rd US CAV. He went on to hold the position of 2ic Training Squadron, Battle Captain, Adjutant and 2ic Reconnaissance Squadron. In 2013 he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
After completing the Army Operations Course and Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron Commanders Course he was promoted to the rank of Major in 2013. He went on to hold the positions of Officer Commanding Training Squadron, Officer Commanding Reconnaissance Squadron and most recently as Regimental Second in Command from 2017 -2020.
In 2018 he deployed on domestic operations with Operations LENTUS 19-05 as the Domestic Response Company (DRC) Commander and Land Component Commander in support of the efforts fighting wildfires. During spring of 2020 he supported the Canadian Armed Forces efforts against the Pandemic with Operations LASER 20-01 as the DRC Commander for Task Force Vancouver Coastal. During this time he completed the two-year Joint Command and Staff programme (Toronto) in Advance Joint Warfare. Most recently during the summer of 2020 he was the Deputy Commanding Officer and Chief Instructor for the 39 Canadian Brigade Group Training Establishment.
LCol Virk and his family reside in North Vancouver and when not wearing the uniform or with his family he is President of the Pallas Group, a hospitality-based group of businesses located throughout BC.
Chief Warrant Officer A.C. Harris, CD
Chief Warrant Officer Harris is the senior non-commissioned officer of the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) and currently holds the post of the Regimental Sergeant Major. During his 32 years of service, he has been fortunate to have been employed in all sub-units of the Regiment in both crewman and leadership capacities.
CWO Harris’ deployments include Operation Harmony 1992 in support of United Nations Peacekeeping in the former Yugoslavia and Operation Athena 2008 counter-insurgency and whole-of-government support to Afghanistan. On the domestic front, he deployed twice in support of forest firefighting efforts in the 2003 evacuation of Kelowna and assistance to law enforcement for the 2017 Williams Lake fire evacuation.
In addition to his Armoured qualifications, CWO Harris is qualified in Civil-Military Cooperation, Psychological Operations and Joint Tactical Targeting which has afforded him opportunities to instruct and mentor NATO partners in Turkey and Germany.
