Combat Service Support Museum

04/10/2026

On 08 April 2026 former Honorary Colonel of 38 Service Battalion Vaughn Schofield passed away. The Service Battalion Senate, Inc extends condolences to her family.

03/29/2026

On Saturday, 28 Mar 26, several members of the Service Battalion Senate and two spouses enjoyed a delicious Vietnamese meal at the Pho Hoang Restaurant at 794 Sargent Avenue. Many thanks to Barb Gillis for organizing the dinner and selecting the restaurant.

03/26/2026

The Service Battalion Senate, Inc. is hosting its annual Bingo Bowl fundraising event on May 9, 2026. Both current and former serving members of 17 and 38 Service Battalions are invited to attend. For information or former serving tickets, please contact Ervin Gerbrandt at [email protected] or phone 204-290-8657.

03/24/2026

On 16 March 26, Senate Secretary and Cadet Liaison Officer from the Service Battalion Senate, Capt (ret’d) Tim Klumper, presented two refurbished drill canes to WO Adekoya (left) and Cpl Kamptoum (right) of the WGCC. These refurbished drill canes represent the Senate’s 2025 gift to the #526 Winnipeg Grenadiers Cadet Corps. The top of the drill canes is a 20mm cannon shell casing on which is engraved “526 WGCC and “ADSUM” at the top and bottom of a Grenadiers badge. At the bottom of the shell casing is “WSB Senate.

02/02/2026

On Thursday, 29 January, Winnipeg historian Allan Levine gave a presentation to the Canadian Aviation Historical Society meeting at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada on his latest book - “The Dollar a Year Men” to about 35 meeting attendees. Senate members Dale Watts and Ervin Gerbrandt attended. The topic was about the relatively unknown story of mostly volunteer Canadian business leaders who were recruited during the Second World War to convert Canada’s under-utilized industries into factories that produced war materials, weapons and equipment (for a theoretical salary of a dollar a year). By the end of the war, with a population of only 11.2 million, Canada had not only put 1.1 military personnel into the war effort, but became an industrial powerhouse.

12/13/2025

On 6 December 25, three Service Battalion Senate members—Maj (ret’d) Ervin Gerbrandt, Capt (ret’d) Tim Klumper, and LCol (ret’d) Dale Watts—attended 17 Service Company’s Soldiers’ Appreciation Dinner at Minto Armouries on the east side of the Junior Ranks Mess. Almost 50 current and former serving soldiers were present. The Senate presented two awards: The Senate Scholarship Award was presented by LCol (ret’d) Watts to Cpl K. Oyewole; the Performance Recognition Award for exemplary soldiering was presented by Maj (ret’d) Gerbrandt to Cpl M. Crowe, RCEME. The Senate also sponsored an open bar up to $250 for the attendees.

The evening’s entertainment featured various individual soldiers and groups singing carols (on demand). Immediately following the dinner the Brigade Commander, Col E. Kotzer, and Brigade Sergeant Major, CWO J. Peterson, dropped in to wish the assembly a happy holiday season. The 17 Service Company was one of five local units holding their soldiers’ dinner that evening at Minto Armouries."

11/12/2025

Several Service Battalion Senate members and families were able to get together for a meal at Applebee’s on Grant on Remembrance Day. Many thanks to Applebee’s for acknowledging the service of former serving veterans and current military with a free meal.

11/10/2025

NOTICE: The CSS Museum at Minto Armouries will be temporarily closed until further notice to accommodate resurfacing of the parade square. A Museum overview and specific artifact details may be accessed on our website at

The CSS Museum features artifacts from the late 19th century to the present day focusing on the history of Canadian men and women who served in combat support operations.

11/07/2025

"On 25 Oct 25, The Service Battalion Senate, Inc. hosted a Heritage Day, which included artifact unveilings and a gala dinner. The occasion was to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Winnipeg Militia Service Battalion, the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2, and the 15th anniversary of the stand-up of 38 Service Battalion. Unveilings to an audience of about 45 military and non-military attendees included a wall plaque and bison facial features for the unit sign followed by a re-opening of the Combat Service Support (CSS) Museum with a new plank floor. The dinner revealed (a) a Senate/Museum banner, (b) table runners with badge decals affixed, (c) place mats with historical badges and a photo, and (d) commemorative coffee mugs with several contents, including key chains. The Senate also presented a table centrepiece to the unit at the dinner. Eight-five serving and former serving military and guests attended the dinner, including MLA David Pankratz, Military Envoy, and City Councillor Shawn Dobson, Military Liaison.

The Service Battalion Senate, Inc. sincerely appreciates grants it received from Veterans Affairs Canada and the Winnipeg Foundation in support of the Heritage Day commemorative activities and new flooring for the CSS Museum.

09/21/2025

On Thursday evening, 18 Sep 25, Service Battalion Senate member and former Commanding Officer of 17 and 38 Service Battalions, Barb Gillis, was installed as Hon LCol of the Fort Garry Horse Regiment at Harcus Strachan VC Armoury. HLCol Gillis started her military career with the FGH over 50 years ago. About 40 guests attended the ceremony. LCol A. R. Franck, CO of the FGH, presided over the ceremony.

08/06/2025

Our former Commanding Officer LCol Jason Quilliam has been promoted to the rank of Colonel and has been appointed as the Strategic Advisor Reserves to the CFPM, as the de facto senior Military Police Reservist in the CAF.