Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)

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In the Canadian Forces, lieutenant-colonel (LCol, {{langx|fr|links=no|lieutenant-colonel}} or {{lang|fr|lcol}}) is a rank for officers who wear army or air force uniform. It is equivalent to commander for officers who wear navy uniform and is the second-highest rank of senior officer. A lieutenant-colonel is senior to a major or lieutenant-commander, and junior to a colonel or naval captain.{{cite web|title=Ranks and appointment|date=30 August 2023|publisher=Government of Canada|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/rank-appointment-insignia.html|access-date=2 November 2024}}

The rank insignia for a lieutenant-colonel on air force uniforms is three 1-cm stripes of braid, worn on the cuffs of the service-dress jacket, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. On army uniforms, the rank insignia is one pip and a crown.

Lieutenant-colonels are addressed by rank and name and thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

In the Canadian Army, lieutenant-colonels are often employed as commanding officers of battalion-sized groups, such as infantry battalions, armoured regiments, artillery field regiments, engineer field regiments, signal regiments, field ambulances and service battalions.

In the Royal Canadian Air Force, lieutenant-colonels are often the commanding officer of flying or ground squadrons.

Before unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, rank structure and insignia followed the British pattern.

File:Canadian_Army_OF-4.svg|Dress uniform tunic

Image:5 LTCOL DEU(SHIRT).png|Uniform shirts

File:CA-Army-OF4.gif|Olive green uniforms (old insignia)

Image:CADPAT temperate LCol.png|CADPAT uniform (old insignia)

Image:CADPAT arid LCol .png|Arid-region CADPAT uniform (old insignia)

File:Canadian_RCAF_OF-4.svg|Dress uniform tunic

Image:Air Force slip-on LCol.png|Uniform shirts (old insignia)

Image:Air Force olive LCol.png|CADPAT uniform