Royal Military College Saint-Jean | |
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Motto | Verité, Devoir, Vaillance (French) |
Motto in English | "Truth, Duty, Valour" |
Established | 1952 |
Type | public military college CEGEP |
Chancellor | S157 Hon. Peter MacKay (ex-officio as Minister of National Defence) |
Principal | Commandant 14154 Col Guy Maillet, CD (RMC 1983) |
Admin. staff | 20 |
Undergraduates | up to 200 |
Location | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada |
Campus | 80 acres (32 ha), waterfront, situated on the west bank of the Richelieu River, Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec) |
2 year program | 'A diploma not like the others' 'Un diploma pas comme les autres' |
Affiliations | AUCC, IAU, AUFC, COU, CIS, CVU, PPC, UArctic, MAISA, Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu |
Website | http://www.cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca http://www.cmrstjean.com |
Royal Military College (RMC) Saint-Jean is a Canadian military academy located on the site of Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec), originally built 1666, which is now part of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal, Quebec. It is the arm of the Canadian Military College system that ensures the smooth transition of selected Cadets from high school to university education by providing pre-university and college-level programs. The programs are harmonized with those at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). The four components of achievement are Academics, Leadership, Athletics and Bilingualism. RMC Saint Jean offers a low teacher-student ratio, a physical fitness programme, teaching, and leadership activities. The college has clubs, an intramural sports programme and recreational facilities.
Corresponding to the first two years of collegial (CEGEP) studies in Quebec, preparatory year is a pre-university program of studies. Intended for students who have obtained their high-school certificates in Quebec or the equivalent elsewhere in Canada, the program prepares students to continue their studies at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
Military education for Canadian officers is focused on the four components unique to the military colleges: military training, physical fitness, bilingualism and academic excellence. [2]
About 200 students per year will be able to receive training at RMC Saint-Jean in a two-year, general military, College of General and Professional Education (CEGEP) diploma program:
The RMC Saint-Jean allows Quebecers who have already completed a year at some other CEGEP to switch into the first year at RMC Saint-Jean. RMC Saint-Jean offers courses in French to the French-speaking cadets and in English to the English-speaking cadets.[3]
Although the college does not offer university-level courses as it did before 1995, credits can be applied to programs at the Royal Military College of Canada or other universities. So that students can move seamlessly from one to the other, the academic programs at the two institutions will be harmonized. At the end of the first or preparatory year, students who opt for the “General” program (science, arts, business) will stay on at CMR for another year. Students studying engineering will go to Kingston, Ontario into the first year at RMC.[3]
At its campus in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu the Royal Military College of Canada offers a pre-university program admitting up to 140 students per year. The preparatory year ("prep year") cadets acquire the necessary academic standard needed to attend RMC. Although the program is intended mainly for students from Quebec, the preparatory year is open to students from Canada who need to upgrade their studies before beginning university courses. The academic function of CMR is to educate its cadets up to the second year of a college degree. The remaining studies are to be completed at the RMC in Kingston.
Divided into two semesters, the academic year is composed of 75 teaching days and a final examination period, followed by a supplemental examination period.
In preparation for continued university studies at RMC, students select either the Social Sciences programme (for students pursuing degree in Arts) or the Science programme (for students pursuing a degree in Engineering or Science). Each programme is offered in both official languages. The two programmes share core courses: four in Literature; three in Philosophy; two in Second Language Studies; three in Physical Education. These core courses are supplemented with courses specific to each programme.
Faculty of Science [4] | Faculty of Social Sciences [4] |
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The preparatory year students register in either the social sciences or science program. The programs are offered in both official languages. The social sciences program features courses in sociology, history, political science, mathematics, computer science, chemistry and physics. The sciences program includes courses in: mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and history. The core courses in both programs include: literature, philosophy, second language, and physical education.
The mandate of the preparatory year is to develop in its students good work habits, academic diligence, critical facility, and team spirit.[5]
Cadets wear a variety of uniforms depending on the occasion and their environment: ceremonial dress (semi ceremonial); full dress (formal occasions); ceremonial dress (semi ceremonial); outside sports dress; service dress Air Force; service dress Navy; service dress Navy without jacket; Service dress Air Force without jacket; service dress Army without jacket; and combat dress. [6]In winter 2009, Royal Military College officer cadets returned to wearing a distinctive Dress of the Day (DOD) uniform which consists of a white shirt, black sweater/light jacket, as well as black trousers/skirt with a red stripe down the side. The headdress is a black wedge with red piping.[7] Mess dress is worn in the Senior Staff Mess for formal occasions such as mess dinners.
The gold thread crossed pistols are awarded as a military badge for marksmanship when markman levels are achieved for the pistol; a crown is awarded in May to the top score in the College. The gold thread crossed rifles are awarded as a military badge for marksmanship when markman levels are achieved for the rifle; a crown is awarded in May to the top score in the College. The gold thread cross swords in a laurel wreath military proficiency badge is awarded if the following conditions have been met by the student: a mark of at least B in military assessment; positive leadership qualities in the summer training report; an academic average of at least 70%; a mark of at least B in physical training; a satisfactory mark in the bilingualism profile; A crown is awarded to the top Cadet having received this award, by year. All students are awarded at least a blue start for a start at bilingualism. As they achieve proficiency, they receive a silver or gold star. An academic distinction badge is awarded to a student with an academic average of at least 80% at the end of the year. Physical fitness badges are awarded upon reaching a certain number of points. As cadets learn and demonstrate leadership skills, they are appointed to different positions. The number of bars increases from 0 to 5 as students are promoted. There are 5 no-bar positions and 15 2 bar positions. [8]
Awards are granted to outstanding cadets:
Award | Description | Honours |
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John Matheson Memorial Sword | Preparatory Year cadet who achieved the highest results in all four components of the College’s program, namely Academics, Leadership, Athletics and Bilingualism. | H17417 John Matheson (Royal Military College of Canada 1936) |
Ex-Cadets Trophy | First Year cadet who achieved the highest results in all four components of the College’s program, namely Academics, Leadership, Athletics and Bilingualism. | Royal Military Colleges ex-cadet club |
Founded in 1966, the mission of the Canadian Forces Management Development School (CFMDS) is to apply management and leadership training and consultation to the defence team. The CFMDS is housed at the RMC Saint-Jean.[9]
The Non-Commissioned Members Professional Development Centre (NCMPDC) was created on 1 April 2003 and is located at Campus St-Jean. The courses that are offered at the centre are the Intermediate Leadership Qualification (ILQ), the Advanced Leadership Qualification (ALQ) and finally the CPO1/CWO Chief Qualification (CQ). All courses include both distance learning and a residential portion. The distance learning portion lasts 9 or 10 weeks depending on the course and allows the candidates to remain with their respective units. These courses also prepare the candidates for the residential portion which last three weeks and takes place on the RMC Saint-Jean site.[10]
The NCMPDC courses were created as a result of the NCM Corps 2020, which is the strategic guidance for the professional development of the Canadian Forces Non-Commissioned Members. [1]
More than a thousand members of the Canadian Forces transit through the NCMPDC each year in order to perfect their knowledge and skills following or before their promotion to the ranks of warrant officer (petty officer 1st class), master warrant officer (chief petty officer second class) or chief warrant officer (chief petty officer first class).
The NCMPDC is a unique professional education establishment within the CF. It is the only pan-CF school that is for NCM's taught by NCM's and as of September 2007 commanded by an NCM.
Since May 2009, NCMPDC is under the command of the Canadian Forces College (CFC) in Toronto, which offers a similar professional development curricumlum but for officer from the ranks of major to brigadier-general.
In addition to a university education, Officer Cadets receive military training, occupation training and second language training and a career after graduation. The full-time salary includes full dental care, as well as vacation with full pay. Upon successful completion of the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP), Officer Cadets are awarded a university degree and granted commissions as Officers in the Canadian Forces. Normally, graduates serve at least five years with the Canadian Forces. The application deadline to ROTP is in January for Basic Officer Training in July and admission the following September.
Typically, successful applicants enter the Canadian Military College (CMC) System as an Officer Cadet, where they receive an education that balances academics, leadership, bilingualism and athletics. If there are more qualified candidates than the CMC System can accommodate or the choice of programme is not offered, such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy, successful applicants would be eligible to apply to any Canadian university where books, lab fees and student fees are covered, and students receive a monthly salary.
Since an application to ROTP is also an application to the Canadian Military College System, all candidates are assessed against an aptitude test, a medical examination, and an interview. Military Potential is an assessment of Aptitudes, Personality Traits, and the choice of occupation. Academic Performance is an a candidate's top six most recent marks related to the requirements of the chosen programme. Officer Cadets are obliged to maintain satisfactory academic and military performance throughout the programme.
The undergraduate student body, known as the Cadet Wing, is sub-divided into three smaller groupings called Squadrons, under the guidance and supervision of senior cadets.[11] The squadrons are currently named in honour of local communities. Squadrons are subdivided into flights and sections.
Squadron # | Name |
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1 | Iberville |
2 | Richelieu |
3 | Tracy |
In the 1960s, the three squadrons were named Cartier, Maisonneuve and Champlain in honour of historical figures.
When they arrive at the Officer Cadets Division, the officer-cadets have already chosen their service. They are soon separated into three squadrons (Richelieu, Iberville or Tracy).
The preuniversity programme features modern, diversified teaching methods: workshops, introduction to research methods, laboratories, group projects, oral and multimedia presentations. The staff provide academic support in the form of workshops, tutorials, and supplementary courses.
The cadets live in the Cartier Building or the Champlain Building and eat in Dextraze Pavilion (completed in 1993). The cadets can leave the campus at any time when they do not have classes, study periods or training.
During the week, the daily routine consists of inspection, running, breakfast, classes, sports, and studies. The officer-cadets attend academic classes and undergo military training. The military training is in the form of drill, cartography, compass use and three major field exercises each year. The cadets take roles as cadet squadron commander, second in command (2IC) and section commanders. Outside classes, bilingualism is promoted by French / English weeks.
On the weekend, with the exception of military training, the students are largely free.
In Fall 2007, the federal government reopened the military college at Saint-Jean. The military college was slated for closure in 1995. On July 9, 1994 the federal and provincial governments agreed to maintain it as a non degree-granting college. [12]
The reopening of RMC Saint-Jean in 2007 greatly differs from the original college which opened in 1952 and from the RMC of Canada located in Kingston. The new RMC Saint-Jean emcompasses the Canadian Forces Management and Development School, one of the oldest CF training establishments in the country. It is also the home to the Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development Centre, which develops the prospective future senior leaders of the Canadian Forces NCM Corps.
Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, inaugurated the Royal Military College Saint-Jean on May 24, 2008, and she presented the new college coat of arms to the Commandant, Colonel Francois Pion.[2]
The Commandant of Royal Military College Saint-Jean reports to the Commander, Canadian Defence Academy (CDA). RMC Saint-Jean also has its own board of governors. Cadets at RMC Saint-Jean are issued scarlet uniforms. The first-year program at RMC Saint-Jean is freeing up beds at RMC allowing more Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) cadets to attend RMC rather than civilian universities.[3]
Year | Significance |
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1948 |
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1950 | The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 or more years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted. |
1952 | CMR (now RMC Saint-Jean)was established in order to conduct tri-service cadet training within the Canadian Forces. It was a classical college, with the initial purpose of providing a more equitable representation of French Canadians in the three services of the Canadian Forces. During the Spring of 1952, Louis Saint-Laurent, Prime Minister of Canada, made the decision to found a bilingual military college in Quebec, to open in September. In 1952 the Governor General of Canada officially opened Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR). |
1968 | Pavillon Lahaie was built, featuring laboratory, library and office space |
1971 | CMR established a formal partnership with the University of Sherbrooke, after which CMR cadets were able to obtain a bachelor's degree without leaving Saint-Jean. |
1973 |
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1977-1991 |
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1983-4 | 1nd Terry-Fox run in Saint-Jean 1983; 2 000 runners attended the 2nd race held Sun 9 Sept 1984 |
1984 | Honour Guard of 114 cadets at the depart of Pope Jean-Paul II 20 September 1984 |
1984 | Saturday May 12 1984 the band performed at the CMR graduation for the first time |
1985 | The Quebec government passed an act granting CMR its own university charter. |
1988 | CMR was authorized to grant master's and doctorate degrees. |
1995 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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Escadron Richelieu uses Cartier Block and Pavillon Lahaie. Pavillons Vanier, DeLéry, Dextraze, Massey and the Old Mess are shared. The campus provides state-of-the-art technological support: library, well-equipped laboratories, ample supplies of learning materials, and Internet access. RMC Saint-Jean infrastructure is currently used by the Canadian Forces located at ASU Saint-Jean and by a non-profit corporation called Campus du Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec), which arranges for the upkeep of many of the educational facilities and leases them out to educational institutions such as the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) for their local program while also renting out others for short events such as large banquets or conventions. The Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings lists six recognized Federal Heritage Buildings on the Royal Military College Saint-Jean grounds:[15]
Building (built) | Recognition | Photo |
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Administration Building 24 (1937-8) | ||
Cartier Pavilion (1955) |
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DeLery Building (1957) |
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Dextraze Pavilion |
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Gallisonnière Block / Supply Building 6 (1955) |
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Lahaie Pavilion (1968–74) |
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Maisonneuve pavilion |
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Massey Building |
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Montcalm Pavilion / Officer Cadet Dormitory, (CMR 4, Building No. 4 and Montcalm Barracks)Building 4 (1839) |
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Museum, Former Guard House, Building 26 (1885) | ||
Officer's Mess Building 5 (1839) |
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Parade square (Aug.–Sept. 1955) |
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Ramparts |The ruins of Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec) (1748 and 1775–1776) |
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Sergeants’ Mess, Building 3 (1839) | ||
Vanier Pavilion |
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Fort Saint-Jean Museum | |
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Established | 966 |
Location | on the campus of Royal Military College Saint-Jean |
Website | [2] (Official) |
The museum is located in Fort Saint-Jean on the campus of the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean. The museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the CMR, its former cadets and its site, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The museum contains collections of military memorabilia and military artefacts. The site has been occupied since 1666 by different garrisons, a shipyard and a military college.[23]
The CMR Ex-Cadet Foundation manages the museum which recognizes more than 325 years (1666–1995) of military history at the fortifications located on the Richelieu River. The flora and centennial trees enhance the site.
H18424 Lt Cdr (Ret`d) David Daniel Ruddy founded the CMR Museum in 1965 in order to exhibit artefacts from Fort Saint-Jean and souvenirs from Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean. He was the CMR Museum Director from 1965 to 1988. The museum was opened in the old guardhouse at the northern entrance to the College from 1974–1998. The three small cells were used to display the historic periods (1666-1951) and the large cell the drunk tank was for the display of memorabilia from CMR, which had opened in 1952. The CMR museum was opened on special occasions until it was recognized as an official museum of the Canadian Forces in May 1973. [24]
The museum was closed from 1998–2003 but is now situated in the former Protestant chapel. The museum is opened Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00, from May 24 until September 1.[23]
The museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces Museum System.[25] The museum has formed a cooperating association of friends of the museum to assist with projects.[26]
Other | Description | Photo |
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25th Anniversary Monument |
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Second World War Memorial (1 Dec 1945) 24063-009 |
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24063-018 |
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24063-005 |
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Plaque | Description |
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Tradition | Significance |
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blanket toss | blanket toss of senior class members after the last waltz at the Grad Ball |
'change of command ceremony' | The former commandant offers farewell and best wishes to the college and to the new Commandant. The new commandant accepts a first salute as the cadet wing marches past. |
College Coin | Every new officer cadet is issued a challenge coin upon completion of First Year Orientation Period. The coin is engraved with the name of the college in French and English surrounding the college badge on the obverse. The cadet's college number and the motto is in both languages. |
college toast | CMR toast to absent comrades meaning those who have fallen in action or who had died |
Feux de joie | an honour guard perform a rifle salute with field artillery, or more commonly, rifles using blank ammunition. |
Freedom of the fort | Officer cadets are equal independently of their year. They are also allowed to remove their headgear. |
Jacket exchange | CMR Director of Cadets exchanges tunics with I Year Officer Cadet at CMR Christmas Dinner. |
Just passing by | When a graduate of the CMR pilots an aircraft in the vicinity of Saint-Jean, Quebec, he or she conducts an impromptu airshow over the college. |
Obstacle course race | gruelling course for recruits set up by the cadets' immediate predecessors, memorialized by a sculpture |
Old 18 | First year cadets are required to memorize the names of the first class in the order of their college numbers.[32] |
Old Brigade | Alumni who entered military college 50 or more years before wear unique berets and ties, have the Right of the Line on reunion weekend memorial parades, and present the college cap badge to the first-year cadets on the First Year Badging Parade. Each class traditionally marks its 50-year anniversary and entry into the Old Brigade with a gift. |
Shouldering professors | at closing exercises, cadets carried professors around the room |
Skylarks | annual class practical joke or prank e.g. "The Great Plane Robbery" 1957;[33] A cadet drove the CMR Rempart zamboni on Gouin Boulevard in July 1984. |
Sweetheart broach | officer cadets gave their dates an enamel brooch in lieu of a corsage for formal dances at Christmas and graduation. The museum retains several examples. |
With college numbers and rank held as commandant
Name | Year | Significance | Photo |
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H11171 Colonel Marcelin L. Lahaie, DSO, CD | 1952–1957 | The Lahaie Pavilion, built in 1972, named in his honour. | |
Group Captain Jean G. Archambault, AFC, CD | 1957–1960 | ||
Captain J.A.T. Marcel Jetté, CD | 1960–1963 | ||
H12481 Colonel J. Armand Ross, DSO, CD (Honorary 1975) | 1963–1966 | Brigadier General Armand Ross's DSO was for his actions at Zutphen, Netherlands [34] | |
Colonel Roland Antoine Reid, C.M., C.V.O., MC, CD, ADC | 1966–1968 | Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Roland Reid was Founding president of Canadian Battlefields Foundation [35] | |
H12882 Colonel Jacques Chouinard, CD, ADC (Honorary 1973) | 1968–1970 | ||
H14129 Colonel Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault CD, ADC (Honorary 1975) | 1970–1971 | As General, he served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 1983-1986. He was President of AEG Canada Inc. 1986-1995. | |
3814 & H12478 Brigadier-General Jean-Paul A. (Jack) Cadieux, CD, ADC (RMC 1957) [36] | 1971–1973 | ||
Colonel J. Arthur R. Vandal, CD, ADC [37] | 1973–1975 | ||
4377 Lieutenant General Richard J. Evraire, CD (CMR/RMC 1959) | 1975–1978 | ||
3759 Colonel Charles-Eugène Savard, OMM, CD, ADC (CMR 1957) | 1978–1981 | ||
5359 Colonel (Ret'd) J. Yvon Durocher, CD, ADC (CMR/RMC 1962) | 1981–1983 | ||
5643 Colonel (Ret'd) Rudolphe J. Parent, OMM, CD, ADC (CMR/RMC 1963) | 1983–1986 | ||
6116 Colonel (Ret'd) J.L.H. Claude Archambault, OMM, CD, ADC (CMR/RMC 1964) | 1986–1989 | ||
H7860 Brigadier-General (ret`d) Senator Roméo Dallaire (CMR RMC 1969) | 1989–1991 | Senator, Educator, Author | |
6496 Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Charles J.C.A. Émond CD (CMR/RMC 1965) | 1991–1994 | ||
8738 Colonel (Ret'd) J.Marcel Parisien (CMR RMC 1971) | 1995 | ||
12603 Colonel J.U. François Pion OMM, CD (RMC 1980) | 2007–2010 | ||
14154 Col Guy Maillet, CD (CMR/RMC 1983) | 2010- |
Shown with college numbers.
Student # | Name | College Year | Significance | |
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7861 | Lieutenant-General Senator Roméo Dallaire O.C., | CMR RMC | Senator, Former Commander of UN Mission to Rwanda, author of Shake Hands with the Devil | |
8276 | Doctor MJ Garneau C.C., CD, Ph.D., F.C.A.S.I. | CMR RMC 1970 | Canadian astronaut aboard space shuttles Challenger and Endeavour, logged nearly 700 hours in space; NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1997, | |
5105 | Doctor JL Granatstein O.C., Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C. | CMR RMC 1961 | Canadian historian | |
9573 | Steven MacLean | CMR 1973 | Canadian astronaut | |
4393 | Doctor Desmond Morton | CMR RMC 1959 | Canadian historian | |
12320 | General Walter Natynczyk OMM, M.S.C., CD | CMR RRMC 1979 | Chief of the Defence Staff; Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom | |
Kevin O'Leary | CMR 1974 | entrepreneur | ||
8356 | Guy Saint-Pierre | CMR 1970 | Businessman, politician |
The College's central place in Canadian military circles has made it the setting for novels, plays, films and other cultural works.
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