Our Mess

To paraphrase Canadian Forces Administrative Order (CFAO) 27-1, a mess is an organization formed for the purpose of building esprit de corps and comradeship. That’s certainly the intent of the CFS Leitrim All Ranks Mess.

CFS Leitrim has grown considerably in the past few years and is now home to a number of units and in excess of 500 personnel. All military personnel stationed on site are members of the mess.

One of the things that makes our mess fairly unique is the fact that it truly is an all ranks mess. Our members range in rank from private to full colonel and everything in between. In addition to our regular military members, mess memberships are also available to civilian employees on station, and to retired military personnel in the form of associate memberships.

The majority of functions are open to all mess members regardless of rank. This includes events such as weekly happy hours, monthly steak nights throughout the summer months, a mixed dart league, meet and greets, hail and farewells, bosses nights, prize presentations for golf tournaments, and seasonal parties such as new year’s eve. Some events are rank specific; examples include separate mess dinners for Junior Ranks, Sergeants & Warrant Officers, and commissioned officers.

The mess is equipped with a large patio area and two natural gas barbecues. These are frequently used for a variety of fund raising barbecues, as well as retirement lunches and scheduled mess functions.

In addition to its role as a place for social functions, the mess is also frequently used as a training facility. On any given work day, it’s possible to find the mess being used for things such as a professional development seminar, first aid training, a “town hall” meeting with the CO, or a career manager’s briefing.

Mess members can also book the mess for personal functions such as wedding receptions.

The mess is open during the lunch hour and at 1500 Monday to Thursday. Every Friday the mess is open from 11:45 til closing. On weekends for scheduled events. It’s an informal spot for members to meet with friends and co-workers. Drop on by and check it out – you’ll be glad you did.