Since its formation in 1891, the 48th Highlanders have had a longstanding tradition of participation in the life of its parent city, Toronto. The regiment has participated in community functions for over 100 years, in addition to fulfilling its operational duties around the world. Since its inception, the men and women of the regiment have been among the first Canadians to step forward and answer their nation's call. Members of the regiment have served on Operation Recuperation, in the
Golan Heights, Korea, South Africa, Cambodia, Cyprus, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Ukraine and most recently Latvia, Poland and Iraq (Operation Inherent Resolve). The regiment is allied with the
British Army's
Royal Regiment of Scotland, formerly the
Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) (formerly the
Gordon Highlanders). The relationship with the Gordon Highlanders represents the oldest officially sanctioned regimental alliance in the
Commonwealth, and small unit exchanges are conducted frequently. A memorial was erected in
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto sometime after 1912 in honour of two soldiers killed returning from a training exercise in 1912 and as a monument to the 48th Highlanders of Canada's veterans and war dead of the South African War. The regiment provided a guard of honour for the
G7 summit in 1988, a full royal guard of honour for Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 as well as the Royal Winter Fair, annually. The Regimental Colour Party has marched in events as far afield as Prince Edward Island and the United States and remains in great demand as a living example of the pageantry and gallantry of the Highland regimental tradition. On September 8th, 2022, the unit was one of the few Canadian units invited to send a procession contingent to march in and observe the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Special significance was attached to this event, as the 48th Highlanders were among the first three units to which she was appointed in October, 1947. Command of that contingent was under Lieutenant Colonel Jason Morische, CD. The regiment's motto is , which is
Gaelic for "faithful forever". The regimental
tartan is the Davidson, but pipers wear the Stewart of Fingask. The regiment's
colonel-in-chief was Queen
Elizabeth II until 8 September 2022, with her death. == Alliances ==