Canadian Joint Response Force Headquarters
The Canadian Joint Response Force Headquarters (CJRF HQ) is the Canadian Armed Forces' high-readiness, scalable, and deployable joint headquarters under the Canadian Joint Operations Command. Located in Kingston, Ontario, the CJRF HQ is poised to respond to crises anywhere in the world and focuses on, but not limited to, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), and providing a National Command Element when required.
Our role is to provide command, control, coordination, and leadership for a broad range of missions, with a particular focus on crisis response and contingency operations.
Whether providing the headquarters for a joint multi-domain task force or deploying a small liaison and reconnaissance team, we are agile to meet the needs of the mission with a versatility of capabilities. Working closely with Canadian government departments, and international allies and partners, we anticipate emerging crises and stand ready to deploy on short notice anywhere in the world. The HQ holds a High Readiness Detachment at CFB Trenton housing a variety of ready, deployable capabilities.
History
The Canadian Joint Response Force Headquarters in Kingston, Ontario has existed under a variety of names since the mid-90s, when it was initially known as the Canadian Forces Joint Operations Group, with the Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters (CF JHQ) at its core. In 2010, the CF JHQ was renamed the 1st Canadian Division HQ, taking on the rich history associated to the division dating back to the First and Second World Wars. On August 10, 2026, the unit officially adopted its current name. The mission remains to provide the Government of Canada a deployable headquarters to command and control operations on very short notice.
Notable operations for CJRF HQ:
- NEOs in Lebanon (2006/2012); Libya (2011); Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey (2015); Afghanistan (2021); Sudan (2023), and Israel (2023/2025).
- HADR in Sri Lanka (2004); Pakistan (2005); Haiti (2010); Philippines (2013); Nepal (2015); and Jamaica (2025)
- Provided operational support to Ops AEGIS, GLOBE, IMPACT, ION, LUMEN, REASSURANCE, SAVANNE, and UNIFIER.
Agile - Versatile - Ready
Command Team
Commander, Canadian Joint Response Force
Brigadier-General J.F.Cauden, CD
Brigadier-General J.F.Cauden, CD - Senior Officer Biography (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
Canadian Joint Response Force Sergeant-Major
Chief Warrant Officer J.R.D. Lapointe, MMM, CD
Chief Warrant Officer J.R.D. Lapointe, MMM, CD - CWO's/CPO's Appointments Biography (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
Contact Information
CJRFHQ.PA@forces.gc.ca
Canadian Joint Response Force Headquarters, Canadian Forces Base Kingston
P.O. Box 17000 STN Forces Kingston Ontario, K7K 7B4