Under brilliant blue skies and bathed in sunshine, a record-breaking 154 MPs, Senators, and Hill staffers descended upon the Stittsville Shooting Ranges for the 13th annual Parliamentary Day at the Range.
The Scene: These politicians and their staff – many holding a firearm for the very first time – discovered what 2.3 million licensed Canadian gun owners already know.
Target shooting is fun.
The 13th Annual Parliamentary Day at the Range is the greatest firearms advocacy initiative in the history of Canadian gun ownership.
Nothing else even comes close.
But here’s what makes this event so revolutionary.
It’s not about politics. It’s about people.
The Moment That Changes Everything
Every year, the complex reality of Canada’s firearms legislation is made crystal clear through this unique hands-on experience.
“What do you mean this gun isn’t legal for me to buy? Why not?“
This question echoes across the range every year and, in that moment of genuine confusion, bridges are built as their understanding deepens.
Why We Exclude All Media Outlets
We exclude media outlets from this event on purpose.
Without cameras rolling, reporters scribbling notes, or prying eyes examining their every move, real conversations can take place.
Politicians can drop their guard, ask the questions they’ve always wondered about, and discover truths that will inform their decisions for years to come.
In this environment of privacy and respect, their raw, real questions get asked and answered.
The Power of One Shared Experience
Parliamentary Day at the Range isn’t just so much an educational experience as it is a transformational one.
And the look on participants’ faces says it all.
“This was a great day!”
They experience our culture of safety and personal responsibility firsthand.
They feel the weight of the responsibility that comes with every trigger pull.
They witnessed the meticulous attention to detail, the unwavering commitment to safety, and the deep respect for both tradition and law that defines our community.
Every single attendee walks away with a smile and a story to share with their colleagues, family and friends.
When they return to Parliament Hill, what they remember is the feel of sunshine on their faces and fresh air in their lungs. They remember the immense satisfaction of hitting their target.
And they remember that moment where the profound realization hit: that Canada’s firearms community represents something far greater than political talking points.
It’s about Canadian culture, Canadian heritage, and the traditions that helped found our nation; traditions that are worth defending.
A Legacy Built on Common Ground
The roots of this remarkable event trace back to 2006, when visionaries Garry Breitkreuz, Larry Bagnall, and Peter Stoffer—representing Conservative, Liberal, and NDP parties respectively—recognized that our differences pale in comparison to our shared values.
They founded the all-party Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus with a mission that transcends party lines: to preserve and promote fishing, hunting, trapping, and shooting sports as acceptable, traditional, and environmentally sustainable outdoor heritage activities.
Today, under the leadership of Co-Chair MP Bob Zimmer, Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus Association president Phil Morlock, and vice-president Tony Bernardo, this mission continues to unite rather than divide.
The Heroes Behind the Magic
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of our partners and volunteers, starting with Stittsville Shooting Ranges Inc.
Linda, Lisa, Ken, and the entire team at Stittsville Shooting Ranges don’t just host an event, they open up their facility and make this transformation possible.
And those 100+ volunteers?
They’re not just giving their time and expertise. They’re investing in the future of our community, one conversation, one demonstration, one shared moment of joy at a time.
We also want to thank Stoeger Canada (Beretta, Benelli, Sako, Tikka), Eastern Outdoors Sales (Savage, Bushnell, Revelyst), BOWMAC Gunpar, Compass Safari (Weatherby Firearms) Mossberg Firearms, Drake Sales Agency (Browning, Winchester) The Evans Group (Springfield Armoury, Sabatti), Drake Sales Agency (Browning, Winchester Firearms), Graywood Sales (Federal, Remington, CCI, Fusion, HeviShot and Fiocchi Ammunition), Safari Club International, Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, and O’Dell Engineering for helping us make this day unforgettable.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated staff in MP Bob Zimmer’s office for their professional coordination of all logistics associated with this large-scale event. We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of OCAC President Phil Morlock and his wife Angela, along with OCAC Committee member David Hutton, for their valuable support and efforts.
Finally, and by no means least, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated CSSA team — Tony Bernardo, Heather McConaghy, Sandy Campeau, and Jordan Vandenhoff, along with CSSA President Mike Duynhoven, Board Members Mark Johnson, and Ken Nener, and Regional Director Ron Boothby, and volunteers, Marek Kutrowski, Paul Miller and Dan Lawson. Their invaluable support and contributions played a key role in making the day a great success.
The Ripple Effect
What happens when 154 influencers and decision-makers experience firsthand the responsibility, heritage, and culture of safety that defines legal gun ownership in Canada?
The ripple effects extend far beyond a single sunny day at the range.
Every question answered becomes a seed of understanding.
Every smile shared becomes a bridge across political divides.
Every moment of genuine connection becomes a foundation for informed, empathetic policy-making.
This is how real change happens. Not through heated debates or partisan rhetoric, but through shared experiences that reveal our common humanity.
Under clear skies and warm sunshine, hearts open. Minds shift. And the future of firearms advocacy in Canada gets a little brighter.
To say that the 13th Annual Parliamentary Day at the Range was a massive success doesn’t show the event’s true effect.
It was a masterclass in using the power of personal connection to transform understanding, one heart and one mind at a time.
2 Comments
Tom
This is identical to annual Ladies’ Range Days. Our family has mentored those events a few times. Without fail, the Ladies walk away with a smile from ear to ear, agreeing that “I had NO IDEA this would be so much fun!” and “I wish had tried this a long time ago!”. When you get people into the practical environment of sport shooting, no one walks away thinking that the government should ban firearms from trained and licensed owners.
heather
Have your club reach out to the CSSA Admin office for potential sponsorship of its ladies’ range day. info@cssa-cila.org