Name/Title
2021 - COLONEL MICHAEL CANAVAN, CD - Commander 34th Canadian Brigade Group of Canada (2018-2021), and former CGG LCol Commanding (2011-2015). Col Canavan's 34th GBC's change of command ceremony was on 18 September 2018, and he succeeded Brigadier-General Mercier.Description
2021 - COLONEL MICHAEL CANAVAN, CD - Commander 34th Canadian Brigade Group of Canada (2018-2021), and former CGG LCol Commanding (2011-2015). Col Canavan's 34th GBC's change of command ceremony was on 18 September 2018, and he succeeded Brigadier-General Mercier.
Colonel Michael Canavan, CD joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards in 1994 as a Guardsman. He served for 4 years with the Junior Ranks, including a summer in Val Cartier, 2 summers at Ceremonial Guard and during the Ice Storm 1998. During these years, he reached the rank of Corporal and qualified Junior Leader, before he was accepted as an Officer Cadet March 1998.
Colonel Canavan held numerous leadership and staff positions within the Canadian Grenadiers including a summer with Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa as Officer Commanding 2 Company. He worked at Land Force Quebec Area Headquarters within the G1 (personnel) branch until January 2006 when he was transferred to the J2 (Intelligence) branch where he served as the Information Operations Coordinator. He started training in January 2007 for OP ATHENA in Afghanistan, during which time he also attended the Canadian Land Force Staff College to complete the Army Operations Course. He then deployed to Kandahar between August 2007 and March 2008 as the Adjutant/Logistics Officer (S1/S4) of the All Source Intelligence Center.
Colonel Canavan was promoted to Major upon his return from AFGHANISTAN, and joined the 34th Canadian Brigade Group as the Plans Officer, and later Operations Officer, for the Territorial Battalion Group Montreal. With the TBG, he was involved with the initial planning and validation of the OP PODIUM company that was deployed to the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. Maintaining his affiliation with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, he held various positions and was appointed Senior Major (DCO) in November 2009. Colonel Canavan was appointed the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding of the Canadian Grenadier Guards in September 2011 and during this time was also given command of the TBG Montreal during the 2013/2014 training year.
Upon leaving his command of the Canadian Grenadier Guards in 2015, Colonel Canavan was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer of the 34th Canadian Brigade Group of Canada. He also completed the Joint Command and Staff Program, from the Canadian Forces College and obtained his Masters of Defence Studies at the Royal Military College.
In addition to his deployment to Afghanistan, Colonel Canavan has participated in multiple exercises in various locations, including Northern Quebec and the United States.Since returning to part-time service in 2011, Colonel Canavan has been working full time at McGill University in administration, and currently holds the position of Associate Director Academic Personnel.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
July 4, 2026Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
July 4, 2026
