On April 2, 1922, at St. John the Evangelist (Garrison Church), the Royal Canadian Dragoons Colours were deposited in the church for safe keeping during a ceremony that filled the building. Convoyed to the church by detachments of the Dragoons, Royal Canadian Regiment, and Governor General’s Body Guard, the Colours were handed over by Lieutenant-Colonel F. Gilman, DSO and placed on the altar by the Reverend Russell McLean.
St. John the Evangelist (Garrison Church) was located at the corner of Portland and Wellington Streets. The church was filled with row after row of smartly uniformed soldiers who always left the church before the rest of the congregation. By 1963, the building needed serious repairs and it was decided to demolish the building. It was replaced by a modern building that served the congregation until 1985 when the church property was sold. The Royal Canadian Dragoons Colours and military items in the church were transferred to Canadian Forces Camp Borden.
In earlier times, Colours played a prominent part in many battles. They served to identify units in battle, often marking the focal point of a struggle. Captured Colours were a prized trophy and attracted enemy attention and inspired much gallantry. By the late 19th and 20th Century, however, they were no longer carried in battle, but their status as the heart and soul of a Regiment continued, and the laying up of Colours signifies and helps keep holy the memories of the men who sacrificed their lives.