Royal Roads Military College
Encyclopedia
Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) was a Canadian military college (1940 to 1995) located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia
near Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada. The facility is currently being used as the campus for Royal Roads University
, a public university that offers applied and professional academic programs on campus and via distance education. The centrepiece of the campus is Hatley Castle
, constructed in the early part of the 20th century by B.C. coal
baron James Dunsmuir
for his wife, Laura. The house had been purchased as a wartime residence for the King, Queen, and their daughters.
Designed to support Canada's naval war effort, the facility began operating in December 1940 as an officer training establishment known as HMCS Royal Roads. Many of the 600 volunteer reserve officers who underwent training during this time served in the Battle of the Atlantic. HMCS Royal Roads was used to train short-term probationary Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) sub-lieutenants to serve in World War II.
In 1942, because of wartime expansion, the Royal Canadian Naval College was established. In 1947, the facility became known as the RCN-RCAF Joint Services College where Royal Canadian Navy
and Royal Canadian Air Force
personnel were trained. The facility changed its name to Canadian Services College, Royal Roads in 1948 where personnel from all three services - the Navy, Air Force, and Army were trained during a two-year program.
In 1968 the college's name was changed to Royal Roads Military College, and in 1975, the college began granting degrees.
The gentlemen cadets of RRMC were not only required to excel in their respective academic fields, but to achieve the standard in the three other components as well, the Second Language Training component, Physical Fitness
component and the Military component. Failure in any of these four components resulted in the officer cadet
not being awarded the coveted RRMC degree.
In February 1994, after the end of the Cold War
and under the pressure of massive spending cuts from the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence
announced that it would close Royal Roads Military College. The final class graduated in May 1995.
Hatley Park and former Royal Roads Military College was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995 to commemorate the Dunsmuir family (1908–1937) and RRMC (1940–1995). The site was plaqued in 2000 as a Canadian example of an Edwardian park, with gardens, which remains practically intact. HMCS Royal Roads is a Canadian naval training centre commissioned on 13 December 1940. This was the first of a series of related institutions to be set up by the Department of National Defence at Hatley Park in Esquimalt, British Columbia
.
The name Royal Roads was drawn from geography. The name refers to an anchorage located in Juan de Fuca Strait between the city of Victoria, British Columbia and Albert Bay. HMCS Royal Roads was located on a property originally purchased by James Dunsmuir
in 1902. Dunsmuir was a former British Columbian premier
and lieutenant governor
. The Hatley Park Estate originally comprised 650 acres (2.6 km²). The Dunsmuir family added Hatley Castle, which was completed in 1908. The Canadian Department of National Defence purchased Hatley Park, almost in its entirety, in 1940, for $75,000. This sum was roughly the value of the fence surrounding the property.
As Executive Officer, Commander Reginald Amand (Jumbo) Webber D.S.C., C.D. served there till late 1942. On June 21, 1995, after negotiations with the Department of National Defence and the Government of British Columbia, the British Columbia government passed the Royal Roads University Act, creating Royal Roads University
. The campus is currently leased from the federal government under a $1, 50-year lease agreement with Royal Roads University
which was announced in 2001. The Department of National Defence leases approximately 55 hectares of land for the campus to Royal Roads University, and has entered into a five-year Renewable Management Agreement with the University for the maintenance of the remaining 175 hectares of property owned by the Department of National Defence.
The athletic facilities at Hatley Park included a swimming pool, five tennis courts, two squash
courts, three soccer pitches, one rugby field, two ball diamonds, a quarter- mile track, a 6.1 km cross country course, jetty and boat house. Cadets played sports including rugby
, soccer, baseball
, scuba diving, track and field
and hockey
.
The museum is located in Hatley Castle
, on the campus of the Royal Roads University
and former campus of the Royal Roads Military College of Canada. The Museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the Royal Roads Military College, its former cadets and its site.
The Royal Roads Military College Museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association
and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The Royal Roads Museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces
Museum System.
The museum has formed a cooperating association of friends of the museum to assist with projects.
Colwood, British Columbia
Colwood is a city located on Vancouver Island to the southwest of Victoria, capital of British Columbia. Colwood was incorporated in 1985 and has a population of approximately 15,000 people. Colwood lies within the boundaries of the Victoria Census Metropolitan area or Capital Regional District,...
near Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada. The facility is currently being used as the campus for Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
, a public university that offers applied and professional academic programs on campus and via distance education. The centrepiece of the campus is Hatley Castle
Hatley Park National Historic Site
Hatley Park National Historic Site is located in Colwood, British Columbia in Greater Victoria. It is the site of Hatley Castle, a Classified Federal Heritage Building. Since 1995, the mansion and estate have been used for the public Royal Roads University...
, constructed in the early part of the 20th century by B.C. coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
baron James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Son of Robert Dunsmuir, he was heir to his family's coal fortune. The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour...
for his wife, Laura. The house had been purchased as a wartime residence for the King, Queen, and their daughters.
History
The property owned by industrialist James Dunsmuir, along with his mansion Hatley Castle, was acquired by the Dominion Government in 1940. The sequence of institutions at Royal Roads: HMCS Royal Roads, 1940-'42; the Royal Canadian Naval College, 1942–1947; the Royal Canadian Navy - Royal Canadian Air Force Joint Services College, 1947–1948; the Canadian Services College Royal Roads, 1948–1968; and the Royal Roads Military College, 1968-1995.Designed to support Canada's naval war effort, the facility began operating in December 1940 as an officer training establishment known as HMCS Royal Roads. Many of the 600 volunteer reserve officers who underwent training during this time served in the Battle of the Atlantic. HMCS Royal Roads was used to train short-term probationary Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) sub-lieutenants to serve in World War II.
In 1942, because of wartime expansion, the Royal Canadian Naval College was established. In 1947, the facility became known as the RCN-RCAF Joint Services College where Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
personnel were trained. The facility changed its name to Canadian Services College, Royal Roads in 1948 where personnel from all three services - the Navy, Air Force, and Army were trained during a two-year program.
In 1968 the college's name was changed to Royal Roads Military College, and in 1975, the college began granting degrees.
The gentlemen cadets of RRMC were not only required to excel in their respective academic fields, but to achieve the standard in the three other components as well, the Second Language Training component, Physical Fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
component and the Military component. Failure in any of these four components resulted in the officer cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
not being awarded the coveted RRMC degree.
In February 1994, after the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and under the pressure of massive spending cuts from the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
announced that it would close Royal Roads Military College. The final class graduated in May 1995.
Hatley Park and former Royal Roads Military College was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995 to commemorate the Dunsmuir family (1908–1937) and RRMC (1940–1995). The site was plaqued in 2000 as a Canadian example of an Edwardian park, with gardens, which remains practically intact. HMCS Royal Roads is a Canadian naval training centre commissioned on 13 December 1940. This was the first of a series of related institutions to be set up by the Department of National Defence at Hatley Park in Esquimalt, British Columbia
Esquimalt, British Columbia
The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquimalt Harbour and Royal Roads, to the northwest by the...
.
The name Royal Roads was drawn from geography. The name refers to an anchorage located in Juan de Fuca Strait between the city of Victoria, British Columbia and Albert Bay. HMCS Royal Roads was located on a property originally purchased by James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Son of Robert Dunsmuir, he was heir to his family's coal fortune. The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour...
in 1902. Dunsmuir was a former British Columbian premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
and lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
. The Hatley Park Estate originally comprised 650 acres (2.6 km²). The Dunsmuir family added Hatley Castle, which was completed in 1908. The Canadian Department of National Defence purchased Hatley Park, almost in its entirety, in 1940, for $75,000. This sum was roughly the value of the fence surrounding the property.
As Executive Officer, Commander Reginald Amand (Jumbo) Webber D.S.C., C.D. served there till late 1942. On June 21, 1995, after negotiations with the Department of National Defence and the Government of British Columbia, the British Columbia government passed the Royal Roads University Act, creating Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
. The campus is currently leased from the federal government under a $1, 50-year lease agreement with Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
which was announced in 2001. The Department of National Defence leases approximately 55 hectares of land for the campus to Royal Roads University, and has entered into a five-year Renewable Management Agreement with the University for the maintenance of the remaining 175 hectares of property owned by the Department of National Defence.
The athletic facilities at Hatley Park included a swimming pool, five tennis courts, two squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
courts, three soccer pitches, one rugby field, two ball diamonds, a quarter- mile track, a 6.1 km cross country course, jetty and boat house. Cadets played sports including rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, soccer, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, scuba diving, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
.
Notable historical milestones
| Year | Significance |
|---|---|
| 1940 | The Canadian Government purchased the land for Royal Roads to establish the Royal Canadian Naval College. |
| 1941 |
|
| 1942-47 |
Percy W. Nelles Percy Walker Nelles, CB was a flag officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and the Chief of the Naval Staff from 1934 to 1944. He oversaw the massive wartime expansion of the RCN and the transformation of Canada into a major player in the Battle of the Atlantic. During his tenure U-boats raided the... , Chief of Naval Staff: "While you are here, work hard and play hard, and make yourself tougher than any enemy you will ever meet." |
| 1946 | The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force College offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968... and Navy officers |
| 1947 |
|
| 1948 |
|
| 1950 | The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 + years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted. |
| 1956 | Red tunics reintroduced |
| 1968 | Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers. |
| 1975 | The Royal Roads Military College Degrees Act was passed by the Government of British Columbia, allowing the Royal Roads Military College to grant degrees. |
| 1983/4 |
Queen Elizabeth -Queens regnant:* Elizabeth I of England , last Tudor monarch over England, reigned 1558–1603* Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, reigned since 1952-Queens consort, dowager and mother:... to RRMC in 1983. |
| 1984 | The first female cadet enrolled at RRMC creating a slight shift culturally in the Canadian Military Colleges, as well as in the CF as a whole. |
| May 11, 1986 |
|
| 1990 |
|
| 1995 |
Royal Roads University Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:... . |
Facilities
The Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings lists 9 recognized buildings and 1 classified buildings on the former grounds of the Royal Roads Military College.| Building (Year built) | Significance | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Arbutus Building | academic classrooms, administrative offices, a computer lab, and a canteen | |
| Boat House (1989) | boat house | |
| Coronel Memorial Library | memorial library honours Battle of Coronel Battle of Coronel The First World War naval Battle of Coronel took place on 1 November 1914 off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. German Kaiserliche Marine forces led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee met and defeated a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher... |
|
| dock (1990) | dock Dock (maritime) A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language... |
|
| Guard House Building 38 | Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2002 | |
| Belmont Road Main Gatehouse BEL 13 (1908) | Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 | |
| Cow Barn / Dairy RR6 (1912–16) | Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 The original Tudor Tudor style architecture The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons... -style dairy Dairy A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned... and cattle barns were converted into laboratories and classrooms for physics Physics Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic... and oceanography Oceanography Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean... . The building was refurbished in 1998 into research Research Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method... and computer Computer A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem... laboratories |
|
| Gatehouse Lodge RR8 (1912 to 1916) | Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 | |
| Grant Building Building 24 (1942) | main academic building, laboratories, cafeteria Cafeteria A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen... , and offices named for first Commanding Officer of HMCS Royal Roads, Captain John Moreau Grant John Moreau Grant Captain John Moreau Grant CBE was the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Royal Roads in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The Grant Building at Royal Roads University was named in his honour.-Education:... . The building was recently renovated. Recognized Federal Heritage Building 1990 |
|
| Gymnasium - sports complex (1942) | gym Gym The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men... nasium, weight room, fitness Physical fitness Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness... studio, squash Squash (sport) Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball... courts, outdoor tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... courts |
|
| Hatley Castle (1908) | administrative centre of Royal Roads University Royal Roads University Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:... . From 1941 until 1943 when Grant Block was completed, the Castle served as dormitory and mess hall for cadets and staff officers at RRMC. Classified Federal Heritage Building 1986, Registry of Historic Places of Canada |
|
| Hatley Park / Former Royal Roads Military College (1908–13) | designated National Historic Site of Canada 1995 | |
| Mews Conference Centre (1912) | James Dunsmuir's stables and garage later converted to classrooms, dormitory Dormitory A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students... , social centre and conference centre. Registered Federal Heritage Building |
|
| Millward Wing (of the Nixon Building) (1991) | Offices, dormitories, named for former Commandant Air Vice-Marshal James Bert Millward DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... (Bar), GdG(F), CD, RCAF 1949-52 the 4th Commandant of RRMC. |
|
| Nixon Block RR24A (1954 to 1956) | classrooms, dormitories named after the former Commanding Officer Nixon of the Royal Naval College of Canada, when it was re-established in Esquimalt, British Columbia Esquimalt, British Columbia The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquimalt Harbour and Royal Roads, to the northwest by the... in 1918. Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 |
|
| Stable / Garage RR4 (1914) | Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 | |
| Swimming Pool RR22A (1959) | two-storey, white concrete building composed of horizontal cubic volumes. Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000 | |
Royal Roads Military College Museum
Hatley Castle is home to the Royal Roads Military College Museum.The museum is located in Hatley Castle
Hatley Park National Historic Site
Hatley Park National Historic Site is located in Colwood, British Columbia in Greater Victoria. It is the site of Hatley Castle, a Classified Federal Heritage Building. Since 1995, the mansion and estate have been used for the public Royal Roads University...
, on the campus of the Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
and former campus of the Royal Roads Military College of Canada. The Museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the Royal Roads Military College, its former cadets and its site.
The Royal Roads Military College Museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association
Canadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The Royal Roads Museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Museum System.
The museum has formed a cooperating association of friends of the museum to assist with projects.
Traditions
| Tradition | Significance | |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket toss | Blanket toss of senior class members after the last waltz Waltz The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim... at the Graduation ball |
|
| Ceremonial mace Ceremonial mace The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon... |
Symbolizes the authority of the college, as granted in the name of the Sovereign Sovereign A sovereign is the supreme lawmaking authority within its jurisdiction.Sovereign may also refer to:*Monarch, the sovereign of a monarchy*Sovereign Bank, banking institution in the United States*Sovereign... (currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,... ). When carried into the ceremony and placed on stage, the mace signals the opening of the convocation Convocation A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :.... . It was last used at the RRMC masters convocation in 1995. The mace's four sides commemorate the sequence of institutions at Royal Roads. It was made prior to the first graduating class from Royal Roads Military College in May 1977. |
|
| '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. | |
| Christening bell | Following naval tradition, a ship's bell was used as a baptism font in the college chapel for christenings and the names of the children were later inscribed on the bell. The ship's bell from RRMC is currently used in the chapel at Royal Military College of Canada Royal Military College of Canada The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers... . |
|
| HMCS Royal Roads bell |
|
|
| College toast | RRMC club toast to absent comrades meaning those who have fallen in action or who had died | |
| Colours | After the last parade of RRMC in spring 1995, the colours were deposited into the care of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, British Columbia where they are on display with several other retired colours including "Royal Canadian Navy" and "Royal Canadian Air Force". | |
| Feux de Joie | An honour guard perform a rifle salute with field artillery Field artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement.... , or more commonly, rifles using blank ammunition. |
|
| Ghosts and haunting | The B.C. Society of Paranormal Investigation and Research into the Supernatural Supernatural The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature... have investigated stories of paranormal activity in and around Hatley Castle |
|
| Graduation and Commissioning Parade | in honour of graduating cadets:
|
|
| Jacket exchange | The RRMC Director of Cadets exchanges tunics with a I Year Officer Cadet at RRMC Christmas Dinner. | |
| Just Passing By | When a graduate of the RRMC pilots an aircraft in the vicinity of Victoria, British Columbia he or she conducts an impromptu airshow over the college. | |
| Lord Horatio Nelson's quote hung over the entrance to the Grant Building | A replica of the quote, "Duty is the great business of a sea officer: All private considerations must give way to it however painful it is." was returned to Royal Roads University Royal Roads University Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:... campus for Homecoming in 2011. |
|
| March | Hatley Park; Going Home | |
| Naval heraldry Naval heraldry Naval heraldry is a form of identification used by naval vessels from the end of the 19th century onwards, after distinguishing features such as figureheads and gilding were discouraged or banned by several navies... |
|
|
| Obstacle course Obstacle course An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course... race |
Course for recruits set up by the cadets' immediate predecessors | |
| Old Brigade | Alumni who entered military college 50+ 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. | |
| Skylarks |
Practical joke A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or... or prank Neptune Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Named for the Roman god of the sea, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter and the third largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times... stairs where the Director of Cadets held his morning parade. University of Victoria The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students... copper dome was painted 'RRMC #1' in 1982. |
|
| Sweetheart broach | Officer cadets gave their dates an enamel Vitreous enamel Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C... brooch Brooch A brooch ; also known in ancient times as a fibula; is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material... in lieu of a corsage Corsage Corsage refers to a bouquet of flowers worn on a woman's dress or worn around her wrist.* Corsages are often worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom at a wedding ceremony in some countries.... for formal dances at Christmas, and Graduation. |
|
| White peacock | Blue Indian peafowl have lived free on the college grounds since the 1960s. Albert, a rare white peacock resident since RRMC days, died in 2003. |
Commandants
| # | Name | Year | Significance | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain (N) John Moreau Grant John Moreau Grant Captain John Moreau Grant CBE was the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Royal Roads in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The Grant Building at Royal Roads University was named in his honour.-Education:... , CBE |
1940-42, 1942–46 |
|
||
| Captain (N) Creery, CBE, CD Canadian Forces Decoration The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the... , RCN |
1946-48 | 2nd Commandant, RRMC | ||
| Captain (N) Herbert Sharples Rayner Rayner, DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... (Bar), CD, RCN |
1948-49 | 3rd Commandant, RRMC; As Vice Admiral, Rayner was 8th & last Chief of the Naval Staff 1960-1964. | ||
| Air Vice Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in... James Bert Millward DFC (Bar), GdG(F), CD, RCAF |
1949-52 | 4th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| 2253 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... Cameron Bethel Ware Cameron Bethel Ware Major General Cameron Bethel Ware, DSO, CD, was born 9 August 1913 at London, Ontario. He joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment on graduation from RMC in Kingston, Ontario in 1935 .-Career:... DSO, CD, PPCLI (RMC 1931) |
1952-54 | 5th Commandant, RRMC | |
| 2444 | Captain John A. Charles, CMM Order of Military Merit (Canada) The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada... , CD RCN (RMC 1935) |
1954-57 | 6th Commandant, RRMC | |
| Colonel Cooper OBE, CD, L Edm R | 1957-60 | 7th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| Group Commander Alan Frederick Avant DSO, DFC, CD, RCAF | 1960-63 | 8th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| 2576 | Captain William Prine Hayes William Prine Hayes Commodore William "Willy" Prine Hayes CD, ADC was a Canadian Commodore and educator. He served as the Commandant at Royal Military College of Canada from 1954-7. He served as the Commandant at the Royal Roads Military College.-Education:... CD, |
1963-65 | 9th Commandant, RRMC | |
| Group Captain Wurtele, CD, RCAF | 1965-68 | 10th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| RRA18 | Colonel Kenneth E. Lewis CMM Order of Military Merit (Canada) The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada... , CD CF (RRMC ‘47) |
1968-70 | 11th Commandant, RRMC | |
| Capt(N) Desmond Piers Desmond Piers Rear Admiral Desmond William Piers, CM, DSC was a rear-admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy. Born in Halifax and long-time resident of Chester, Nova Scotia, Piers served in the RCN from 1932 to 1967. In 1930, he was the first graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada to join the RCN... CD CF |
1970-76 | 12th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| Colonel Roddick CD, CF | 1976-79 | 13th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| 3912 | Colonel George L. Logan CD CF (RHC) (RRMC/RMC ‘57) | 1979-83 | 14th Commandant, RRMC | |
| Capt(N) Draper CD CF | 1983-84 | 15th Commandant, RRMC | ||
| 6440 | Captain (N) A.J. ('Tony') Goode CD CF (Royal Military College Saint-Jean/RMC 1965) | 1984-87 | 16th Commandant, RRMC | |
| 7264 | Colonel Ross K Betts CD CF (RMC 1967) | 1987-89 | 17th Commandant, RRMC | |
| 8335 | Colonel Claude JEC Naud CD A de C. CF (CMR/RMC 1970) | 1989-91 | 18th Commandant, RRMC | |
| 8241 | Lieutenant-General (ret'd) Vaughan Michael Caines, A de C, CF (CMR/RMC 1970) CMM Order of Military Merit (Canada) The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada... , CD |
1991-94 | 19th Commandant, RRMC; Chair of the DND/CF Ombudsman Advisory Committee | |
| 9318 | Captain (N) (ret'd) David B Bindernagel CD (RRMC RMC 1972) | 1994-95 | 20th Commandant, RRMC |
Principals
| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Commander Ketchum | 1942-45 |
| Captain Ogle | 1945-51 |
| Professor Brown | 1951-55 |
| Professor Cook | 1955-61 |
| Professor Graham | 1961-84 |
| 3237 Doctor John J.S. Mothersill (RMC 1954) | 1984-95 |
Notable professors
| # | Name | taught | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir C. S. Wright C. S. Wright Sir Charles Seymour Wright, KCB, OBE, MC was a Canadian member of Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic expedition of 1910-1913, the Terra Nova Expedition.... |
RRMC 1967-69 | explorer, Terra Nova Expedition Terra Nova Expedition The Terra Nova Expedition , officially the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, was led by Robert Falcon Scott with the objective of being the first to reach the geographical South Pole. Scott and four companions attained the pole on 17 January 1912, to find that a Norwegian team led by Roald... |
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| Frank Davey Frank Davey Frankland Wilmot Davey is a Canadian poet and scholar.Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he grew up in the Fraser Valley village of Abbotsford. In 1957 he enrolled at the University of British Columbia where, in 1961, shortly after receiving his BA, he became one of the founding editors of the... |
RRMC 1963-1966; 1967–1969 | poet, author
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Notable alumni
| # | Name | Grad | Significance | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13705 | Constable Jose Manuel Agostinho | RRMC 1982 |
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| 14008 | Mr Alan Cumyn Alan Cumyn Alan Cumyn is a Canadian novelist who lives in Ottawa, Ontario.Alan Cumyn studied at Royal Roads Military College in 1983, and Queen's University before earning an M.A. in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor... |
RRMC 1983 | Canadian novelist | |
| RCNC115 | Honourable Douglas Everett Douglas Everett Douglas Donald Everett is a Canadian automobile dealer, lawyer, and retired Senator.Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he attended the Royal Canadian Naval College in Royal Roads, British Columbia from 1943 to 1945 and served as a Sub-Lieutenant from 1943 to 1947... |
RCNC 1943-45 | Canadian automobile dealer, lawyer, and retired Senator | |
| 11510 | Barry Kennedy | RRMC ‘77 | fighter pilot, comedian, author, host of Discovery Channel Discovery Channel Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav... 's Out In The Cold |
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| RCNC40 | Bev Koester Bev Koester Charles Beverley Koester, was a Canadian naval officer, civil servant and Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons.... |
RCNC40 1944 | Canadian naval officer, civil servant and Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons. | |
| 3528 | General (Ret) Paul David Manson Paul David Manson Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD is a retired Canadian general, fighter pilot, and businessman.-Education:He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1956, student # 3528.... O.C. Order of Canada The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit... , CMM Order of Military Merit (Canada) The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada... , CD, B.Sc., D.M.S. |
RRMC 1956 | Military leader, business executive and volunteer; former Chief of Defence Staff | |
| 13738 | Colonel (Ret'd) Chris Hadfield Chris Hadfield Chris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International... |
RRMC/RMC 1982 | Astronaut |  |
| 5576 | Leonard Lee Leonard Lee Leonard G. Lee, CM is a Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Lee Valley Tools and Canica Design. Born in 1938, near the hamlet of Algrove in central, rural Saskatchewan, he grew up in a log cabin without electricity or running water.... |
1960 (RRMC); 1962 (RMC) | founder of Lee Valley Tools and Canica Design. | |
| 12320 | General Walter Natynczyk Walter Natynczyk General Walter J. Natynczyk , CMM, MSC, CD is the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces.-Biography:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1958, where he grew up with his two sisters, Natynczyk is the son of a Polish father and German mother. He worked as a Winnipeg Free Press paperboy and a... CD, |
RRMC CMR 1979 | Military leader, Chief of Defence Staff |  |
| Hubert Seamans Hubert Seamans Hubert James Seamans is a businessman and former political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Riverview in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1985 to 1991 as a Liberal member.... |
RRMC 1973 | businessperson, banker, politician | ||
| RCNC205 | Jim Thompson (powerboat racing) Jim Thompson (powerboat racing) James "Jim" G. Thompson is a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and sportsman. He is best-known for designing and building the Miss Supertest hydroplanes.... |
RRMC 1944 | businessman, athlete, | |
| RCNSE54 | Rear Admiral Robert Timbrell Robert Timbrell Rear Admiral Robert Walter Timbrell, CMM, DSC, CD, Royal Canadian Navy was the first Canadian to be decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross during the Second World War... , CMM Order of Military Merit (Canada) The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada... , DSC, CD, |
RCNC 1937 | Military leader | |
| 14098 | Mr Chris Wattie Chris Wattie Chris Wattie is a Canadian journalist who writes predominantly for Canada's National Post newspaper. Wattie is based in Toronto, Canada.-Education:Mr Chris B Wattie studied at the Royal Roads Military College in 1979, student #14098.-Career:... |
RRMC 1979 | soldier, journalist, author |
Quotes
| # | Name | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Kasper, 3rd Session, 35th Parliament, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament .... |
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Filming location
The campus of Royal Roads has been used as a film set for:- Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the "X-Men (film)X-Men (film)X-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
" movies.http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Royal%20Roads,%20Colwood,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Royal%20Roads,%20Colwood,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada - The Luthor Mansion, the estate belonging to Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
in TV series SmallvilleSmallville (TV series)Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October... - The Shady Glen School in the 1997 movie, MastermindsMasterminds (film)Masterminds is a 1997 comedy action film starring Patrick Stewart.-Plot synopsis:Oswald "Ozzie" Paxton initiates a highly illegal hack, and begins pirating a soon-to-be-released game, "Scream II". His download is interrupted when his younger stepsister enters his room without permission...
- The hideout in MacGyverMacGyverMacGyver is an American action-adventure television series created by Lee David Zlotoff. Henry Winkler and John Rich were the executive producers. The show ran for seven seasons on ABC in the United States and various other networks abroad from 1985 to 1992. The series was filmed in Los Angeles...
, season 5, "The Legend of the Holy Rose, part 2" - The home for the Royal Family in the Seven Days TV series, episode 9, season 2, "Love and Other Disasters"
- Little Women, starring Winona Ryder (1994)
- The Changeling, starring George C. Scott (1979)
Books
- Peter J.S. Dunnett & W. Kim Rempel Royal Roads Military College 1940-1990, A Pictorial Retrospective (Royal Roads Military College, Victoria, BC 1990)
- Maurice Robinson, Bev Hall, Paul Price Royal Roads : a celebration (Natural Light Productions, Victoria, BC, 1995)
- "Royal Roads - a public university with a difference" : a proposal prepared by Hatley Educational Society for presentation to the Advisory Panel on the Future of Royal Roads (Hatley Educational Society, British Columbia 1995)
See also
- Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of CanadaThe Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
- Royal Military College Saint-JeanCollège militaire royal de Saint-JeanRoyal Military College Saint-Jean is a Canadian military academy located on the site of Fort Saint-Jean , originally built 1666, which is now part of the town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 40 km south of Montreal, Quebec...
- The Canadian Crown and the Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Crown and the Canadian ForcesThe place of the Canadian Crown in relation to the Canadian Armed Forces is both constitutional and ceremonial, the sovereign of Canada being the supreme commander of the forces, while he or she and the rest of the Canadian Royal Family hold honorary positions in various branches and regiments,...
- Monarchy in British ColumbiaMonarchy in British ColumbiaBy the arrangements of the Canadian federation, Canada's monarchy operates in British Columbia as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. As such, the Crown within British Columbia's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of British Columbia, Her Majesty in...
- Royal Roads UniversityRoyal Roads UniversityRoyal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
- Canadian Military CollegesCanadian Military CollegesCanadian Military Colleges was a group of military academies in Canada.Formed in 1948 following the reorganization of the tri-services colleges of the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army following World War II into a grouping...
External links
- http://www.hmcshaida.ca/webber.html
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005284
- Hatley Castle
- http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=15413Stay in School National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of CanadaThe National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(1964)] Documentary about high school students who tour Royal Roads