LFWA was created on 1 September 1991, taking command of what was previously Prairie Militia Area, Pacific Militia Area, and the Regular Force Army units and formations in western Canada from the northern lakehead region of Ontario to the Pacific Ocean. At that point in time, the Militia Areas ceased to exist, and the seven subordinate Militia Districts were reorganised into four: British Columbia District, Alberta District, Saskatchewan District, and Manitoba-Lakehead District.[3]
Later that decade, the four reserve force districts were again reorganized into three Canadian Brigade Groups.
In 2014 LFWA was renamed 3rd Canadian Division. With this change of name, the formation was also granted the identifying patch and historical lineage to the division that fought in the two world wars.
Commanders
Major-General T.F. de Faye (1991–93)
Brigadier-General Beare, CD (2004–2005)
Brigadier-General Jorgensen, OMM, MSM, CD (2008 −2010)
Brigadier-General P.F. Wynnyk, OMM, CD (2010–2012)
4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group – (Group HQ in Victoria, BC. Ranger Company HQs in Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg, plus Junior Canadian Ranger Company HQ also in Victoria. 42 Canadian Ranger Patrols (platoon size) across the four western provinces)
1 Area Support Group was headquartered out of CFB Edmonton. The Support Group was responsible for providing service and support to the units of Land Force Western Area.
^"Commander LFWA – JTWA". Department of National Defence/Canadian Army/LFWA-JTFW HQ. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2011.