2017 Guest Speaker
Brigadier-General Kelly Woiden, OMM, CD
Commander, National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group
Brigadier-General Kelly Woiden spent five years as an Army Cadet before joining the Canadian Armed Forces Army Reserve as an Armoured Reconnaissance Crewman with the British Columbia Dragoons in 1975. He was commissioned in 1981.
In 1984, he moved to Calgary and transferred to The King's Own Calgary Regiment where he served as a Troop Leader and Battle Captain. He completed an Advanced Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Technology and a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
He moved to Winnipeg in 1988 and transferred to The Fort Garry Horse where he served in numerous command positions from Battle Captain to Commanding Officer in 1997.
He attended the National Security Studies Seminar in 2001 and served in staff appointments at 38 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) and Land Force Western Area.
He was recalled to 38 CBG as Deputy Commander in April 2003.
He was promoted to Colonel in 2004 and appointed Commander of 38 CBG. Four years later he was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander Land Force Western Area and Joint Task Force West.
He served in Afghanistan for ten months in 2011 where he was responsible for Coalition efforts in developing the Afghan Ministry of Defence and the General Staff.
When he returned to Canada he was appointed Director General Land Reserve and Chief of Staff Army Reserve.
He was appointed Commander of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group in 2015.
While serving as a part-time reservist, Brigadier-General Woiden was employed at Bristol Aerospace Ltd in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 1988 to 2012. When he left he was the Manager of the Composites Manufacturing Centre. He also has a Certificate in Management from the University of Manitoba.
![]() Mrs. Arlene VanRuiten, parents of FSgt Holod and BGen Woiden |