Increased Military Traffic across GTA, Northern, Central & Eastern Ontario

August 13, 2025 – Toronto, Ont. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Canadian Army Reserve personnel from 32 and 33 Canadian Brigade Groups will conduct transport and supply convoys on roads and highways between Toronto, Peterborough, Sudbury, North Bay, Ottawa, Petawawa and surrounding areas on August 15-16, 2025. Similar, return traffic can be expected from August 23-24, 2025, on the same routes.

Members of the public may see increased military traffic with Canadian Army vehicles operating on various area roads including Ontario Highways 7, 17, 26, 41, 55, 115, 401, 403, 407, 417 and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). This increased military traffic is in support of the annual Exercise STALWART GUARDIAN and will follow pre-planned routes between Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa and Petawawa, Ontario.

These convoys will transport approximately 1,500 soldiers and their equipment in Department of National Defence vehicles and chartered buses. Participating personnel will conduct planned, short stops along the routes, stopping for rest, fuel, and scheduled maintenance.

Participating soldiers will not carry any weapons or ammunition while making public stops on the designated routes of travel to and from this annual, regularly scheduled exercise.

Canadian Army Reserve members from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Northern, Central and Eastern Ontario will partake in Ex STALWART GUARDIAN from August 13- 24 at Garrison Petawawa. This is a major end-of-summer training event featuring simulated combat operations as part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ mission for preparedness and readiness. Canadian Army troops from various Ontario communities will participate, including infantry, armoured, artillery, and signals units from the GTA, Niagara region, Northern, Central and Eastern Ontario.

All measures are being taken to ensure minimum inconvenience in these areas during the exercise dates. Members of the public are asked to take extra caution when approaching military vehicles and are thanked in advance for their understanding and co-operation.