Commanding Officer 48th Highlanders of Canada 2005 – 2008

Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew D.C. Paterson’s first involvement with the 48th Highlanders was as a Piper with the 48 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC), which he joined in 1978. He rose through the ranks of the Cadet Corps, until 1984, when he enrolled in the 48th Highlanders as an Officer Cadet later that year being commissioned as a Second- Lieutenant.

In 1992 LCol Paterson took a leave of absence to complete his Masters of Business Administration at Queen’s University in Kingston. During this period he was selected for an international exchange to Helsinki, Finland. In 1993 he returned to the Regiment.

He served in various capacities in the Regiment from Platoon Commander to Officer Commanding both A Company and Administration Company. He was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer in 2002 and took command of the Regiment in 2005.

Following his tour of command he worked at 4 Canadian Division Headquarter and served a tour as a staff officer on Operation Athena’s Task Force Kandahar before retiring  from the Army Reserve.

Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson was born in Montreal, but grew up in Toronto, with his parents (Alastair and Diana), two brothers (Robert and James) and twin sister (Fiona). During university, Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson remained with the Regiment, and in 1988 graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Anthropology and Primate Behaviour.

Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson retired from the Bank of Montreal where he was the commercial policy development manager for the national office of the personal and commercial client group.