Episode 4.5: The Army We Need with Brigadier-General (BGen) Éric Landry

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve Saideman discuss the Director of Canadian Security and Intelligence Service’s Dan Rogers public threat assessment including the intersection of polarization/radicalization and eroding social cohesion, will this improve the resilience of Canadians in the face of growing global competition and risk? Our co-hosts also discuss the Reserve Force of the Future which may or may not include service for Canada’s Public Service, along with the complicated politics of making defence and security decisions for Canada and Canadians. Born in Montreal, Brigadier-General Éric Landry joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 and served with the Royal Canadian Hussars during his undergraduate studies in Business Administration. In 1997, following his transfer to the Regular Force, he joined the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment in Valcartier. He served as a troop lead- er and participated in Op PALLADIUM in Bosnia and Herzegovina with D Squadron. Promoted to Major, he deployed twice to Afghanistan from July 2007 to May 2008 as J35 (Chief of Plans) of Joint Task Force-Kandahar and as the last tank squadron commander from November 2010 to June 2011. For his leadership on this deployment, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In 2015, he became the 25th Commander of the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment. He commanded the Regiment during three domestic operations: Op NANOOK and NUNALIVUT in the Canadian North and Op LENTUS during the floods in Quebec in 2017. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2018 and appointed the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force – IMPACT. Upon his return from the Middle East, he was appointed Chief of Staff for the 1st Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. He became the 16th Commander of the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group on the 21st of August 2020. BGen Landry was promoted to his current rank in June 2023 and took command of 4th Canadian Division in August 2025.