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The Canadian Army is looking to add more than 1,000 new recruits to its reserves over the next few years, largely by slashing the amount of time it takes to join.

It’s a potential boon for one of Alberta’s major reserve forces — 41 Canadian Brigade Group — which held an open house in Edmonton on Saturday in a bid to bring on more members.

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“We’re a very flexible employer, and we offer some pretty interesting training,” said Sgt. Dan Pagnutti, a reservist who works in recruiting.

“We’ve got a whole plethora of different trades available, everything from our mobile support equipment operators, our drivers, to our artillery soldiers who are firing a 105-millimetre howitzer cannon.”

Reserve force members, some of them still in high school, showed off weapons and equipment to potential recruits during the open house at the Debney Armoury, 8403 Roper Road.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced Canada’s new defence plan in Edmonton last June, which called for upgrades to the regular force while also expanding the reserves.