Yellowknife (June 11/03) - The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre opened an exhibit dedicated to the Rangers of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (CRPG) on Friday.

Retired Bishop John Sperry and Col. Norris Pettis to officially open the new Ranger display at the heritage centre. - Amy Collins/NNSL photo

"We lobbied for a long time to get this display," said Col. Norris Pettis, Commander of canadian Forces Northern Area.

"I'm delighted to come and open this display."

He invited retired bishop John Sperry to cut the ribbon with him. Sperry, chaplain to the Canadian Forces in the Northern area and the Rangers, was a Ranger officer from 1952 to 1977 in Kugluktuk (Coppermine).

The Rangers were formed in 1942 to protect the North and West from invasion and exploitation of its resources.

The 1st CRPG currently has 1,400 Rangers in 58 patrols across the three territories. Members carry out more than 110 exercises and operations a year. Sperry called the exhibit "exciting" since it opened on the anniversary of Juno Beach, where the Canadian Army landed in France on June 6, 1944.

He said the Rangers are here for the "protection of the sovereignty of the Canadian North."

Capt. Conrad Schubert thanked the museum for developing the exhibit.

He will update the display with new images every week. The exhibit will be open until July 7.

On July 2, the Rangers will host a public information night at the heritage centre with a slide show and presentation.