HMCS Queen (Regina)

 navy, military reserve force

The Naval Reserve Division in Regina was established as the Regina Half Company, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1923. For the first several years, the Division trained in a series of rented or borrowed facilities, eventually moving to the Regina Armoury in the 1930s. During WWII, the facilities of the Winter Club were acquired "for the duration of hostilities."

Following the naval practice of designating naval shore training establishments as ships, or Stone Frigates, the Regina Half Company was christened HMCS Queen, in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I in 1942. At this time, Queen inherited the battle honours of the several HM Ships Queen, which had previously served with the Royal Navy. Following the War, HMCS Queen trained in old CWAC Barracks near the Armoury, until the opening of the present facility in 1956. Due to budget cuts, HMCS Queen was one of several Naval Reserve Divisions to be closed in 1964. The unit re-commissioned in 1975 in the same and present building.