# Regimental nicknames of the Canadian Forces

Many regiments have over the years earned nicknames; some laudatory, some derogatory, but all colourful. Sometimes, the nicknames themselves have overshadowed the actual regimental title, e.g. the "Van Doos" for the Royal 22$^e$ Régiment. In some cases the nickname actually replaced it: in 1881, the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot became officially known by its nickname, The Black Watch.
What follows is a list of nicknames of Canadian regiments, arranged alphabetically by regimental title. A brief explanation of the origin of the nickname, where known, is included.

## Regimental nicknames

| Regiment | Nickname(s) |
| 1st Hussars | 1st Hosers |
| 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA | Five Tribe |
| 7th Toronto Regiment | 7 Guns 7 Tor The Black Hand |
| 8th Canadian Hussars | Crazy 8s: after the card game. The Hussies: a general military slang for Hussar Regiments Eight C.H. Channel 8 |
| 12$^e$ Régiment blindé du Canada | 12th Rubber Boot Company |
| 48th Highlanders of Canada | The Glamour Boys The Dirty Four Dozen |

### A-G

| Regiment | Nickname(s) |
| The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers) | The Algoons (from World War II) The Gonks |
| The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) | Ash Cans |
| The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) | Big Chinese Restaurant Billion Chinese Regiment: Derogatory. In reference to the large Asian population to inhabit Vancouver. BCR's The Dukes |
| The Brockville Rifles | The Brocks The Broken Rifles |
| The Calgary Highlanders | Calgary Highgranders The Cal Highs |
| The Canadian Grenadier Guards | The Guards Canadian Girl Guides Can’t Get Girls Can't Goddam Graduate |
| The Essex and Kent Scottish | Eeks and Squeaks |
| The Fort Garry Horse | The Garry’s |
| Governor General's Foot Guards | GooGooFooGoos / Gugga Fuggas Gustav Gone For Good |
| The Governor General's Horse Guards | Gugga Huggas |
| The Grey and Simcoe Foresters | Farmer Johns The Gay and Simple Farmers |

### H-Q

| Regiment | Nickname(s) |
| The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment | Plough Jockeys: from World War II, bestowed because of the regiment's rural roots Hasty P's: a play on their name and the short 'bathroom breaks' during wartime Hasty Pasties: another play on their name. Hasty Preedies |
| The King’s Own Calgary Regiment | Kay Ohs |
| The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment | The Lake Sups / The Lake Soups |
| The Lincoln and Welland Regiment | The Lincs The Lincoln Welders The Lincs and Winks |
| Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) | Lady Strathcona’s Riding Club Strathcona's Strats Straths (WWII era) |
| The Lorne Scots Regiment | The Forlorn Scots Horny Lornies: Derogatory. this likely originated from an urban legend regarding their yellow hackles, thought to be a battle disgrace (I can't find any record of such a disgrace). |
| The Loyal Edmonton Regiment | The Loyal Eds The Loyal Eddies The Eddies |
| Ontario Regiment | On Tars |
| Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry | Ping Pong Champions of Long Island The Patricias The Princess Pats The Pats Dirty Cowboy: likely referring to the region their primary HQ resides in. The Picklies. Derogatory, in reference to the unit acronym "PPCLI" being pronounced as one word. The Vicious Patricias. The PPCNR, a play on words from the initials of the regiment and one of the railroads to their western HQ |
| The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada | The Queen’s Own Rentals Quickest out of Ridgeway: Derogatory: referring to the Battle of Ridgeway. |

### R-Z

| Regiment | Nickname(s) |
| Royal 22nd Regiment | The Vandoos, a play on the English of “vingt deux” which is French for 22 Les Vingt-Deux |
| The Royal Canadian Dragoons | The RCD’s Dragoon |
| The Royal Canadian Regiment | The RCR: the official short title of the regiment The Royals The Junior Royals Rocking Chair Rangers Shino Boys: a First World War nickname given to The RCR by soldiers of other units, noting the regiment's high standards of dress and deportment Run Chicken Run: Derogatory, a play on words deriving from the regiment's acronym and the purported illegal activity of a soldier |
| The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) | The Riley’s |
| Royal Newfoundland Regiment | The Blue Puttees |
| The Royal Regiment of Canada | The Royals |
| Royal Regina Rifles | The Regina’s The John's: from the Second World War most members were from Saskatchewan farming backgrounds ie "Farm John" |
| Royal Westminster Regiment | The Westies |
| Royal Winnipeg Rifles | The Little Black Devils |
| The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada | The Seaforth’s The Bullwinkles |
| South Alberta Light Horse | The Sally Horse Sally Ho Sally H. |
| Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders | Then Glens Sand, Dust & Gravel |
| The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own) | The Tor Scots The Trot Scots |
| The Sherbrooke Hussars | Sher H The Sherbie Herbies |
| Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke | Fuzz de Sher The Fuzzy Wuzzies |
| West Nova Scotia Regiment | The West Novas |