Ceremonial Guard nixed due to fire

Iconic reenactment program won’t run this summer after costume components lost in blaze

Fredericton’s Ceremonial Guard, with their eye-catching red jackets and white helmets, have been stood down for 2024 after vital costume elements were lost in a fire earlier this year.

Fredericton Tourism manager Stacey Russell told the Fredericton Independent the reenactment program, a mainstay in downtown Fredericton each summer, will be conspicuously absent this summer.

“It’s shut down entirely this year,” she said Thursday.

Once a familiar sight at city hall in the summer, the Fredericton Ceremonial Guard won’t be on watch for the delight of tourists this year because necessary costume elements were lost in a fire in March. (Photo: Fredericton Tourism)

The reason: the March 12 fire at a historic building on Carleton Street that served as the offices of Fredericton Tourism.

“We took a hit,” Russell said, noting key elements from the late 19th century military costumes - such as the replica helmets and bayonets - were lost in the blaze.