If you see soldiers with guns running through a Calgary park don't panic

As army reservists, sometimes finding the time for training can be a challenge, so one Calgary regiment is getting creative.

The Calgary Highlanders are now keeping their skills up to date by using local parks for training exercises within the city.

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"It's just basic, low-level manoeuvres to help us rehearse some of our drills," Maj. Andrew Beauchamp said Wednesday night at Nose Hill Park.

"As soldiers, it is always important for us to get out, practise our skills as teams, and it's particularly important to go out and do it over terrain we are not necessarily used to, or we don't always operate over."

Fifty reservists ran drills in groups of eight to 10. They used weapons but no ammunition, explosives or pyrotechnics, and Calgary police were made aware of the training so there were no surprises.

Reservists generally have jobs elsewhere or go to school, so building training into their schedules isn't always easy, Beauchamp said.

"We are fortunate that the City of Calgary has some expansive parks that we can use for some of this low-level training."

There are information sessions for anyone interested most Wednesday evenings at Mewata Armoury starting at 7 p.m. The next Nose Hill Park training session happens March 7.

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