13855 “Cous” Medric Cousineau – Paws Fur Thought Campaign

13855 “Cous” Medric Cousineau is a member of the Class of 83 and a Star of Courage recipient. The gregarious and affable Cous is on a personal mission to raise funds to support operational stress injured veterans. In his own words, his goal is “50 PTSD service dogs for 50 veterans in 50 days via a series of 50 half marathon walks… the Long Walk to Sanity.” His charity campaign is being facilitated by the Canadian Legion which is the organization which provided the support to make Thai possible. Cous and Thai were also featured in the documentary “The Working Dog” which recently aired on May 5th on Eastlink.

Michael Gorman of The Chronicle Herald has written the following article which superbly captures the motivation behind Cous’ incredible personal journey both past and present.

“Thai, the yellow Lab, has had such an impact on Medric Cousineau’s life that the former military man is preparing a remarkable fundraising effort to help purchase 50 post-traumatic stress service dogs for 50 veterans. He’s passionate about the issue, in part because he understands it so well.”

For the full article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1127764-military-veteran-fights-for-service-dog-benefits

Itinerary

Cous and Thai will kick off their first half marathon in Dartmouth and Halifax Nova Scotia on 1 August 2013. He will be in Gagetown in 15 August and Valcartier on the 17th and CMR St. Jean on 20 August. He will be in Toronto on 23-24 August and he will arrive at RMC in Kingston on 8 September followed by Petawawa two days later. Cous will wind up the Long Walk to Sanity in Ottawa on September 19th.

How to support The Long Walk campaign?

While donations are the primary means, he is also looking for manpower, accommodations, and vehicle support to name but a few ways. There are plans for funding raising BBQs as part of the “hot dogs for service dogs” and the sale of “dog tags”.

How to contact Cous?

E-mail – pawsforthought1@gmail.com or via his Facebook page, Medric Cousineau.

Donations

Donations to this cause are fully tax receiptable through the good offices of the Royal Canadian Legion in Nova Scotia. At this point in time, only cheques are being accepted and must be made payable to Paws Fur Thought/NSNU Benevolent Fund. Please mail your cheques to the following address:

Valerie Mitchell-Veinotte

Secretary Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command

The Royal Canadian Legion

61 Gloria McCluskey Avenue, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B3B 2Z3

Additional Contact Information

www.ns.legion.ca

v.mitchell-veinotte@ns.legion.ca

902-429-4090 (Tel.)

13855 “Cous” Medric Cousineau – La campagne “Paws Fur Thought”

13855 “Cous” Medric Cousineau, récipiendaire de l’Étoile du courage, fait partie de la Classe de ’83. L’affable et grégaire Cous s’est donné pour mission d’amasser des fonds pour venir en aide aux Anciens Combattants aux prises avec une blessure de stress opérationnel. Selon ses propres mots, son but est d’obtenir « 50 chiens d’assistance pour troubles de stress post-traumatique à 50 Anciens Combattants en 50 jours via une série de 50 demi-marathons à la marche… la Longue Marche vers la santé mentale (« the Long Walk to Sanity »). Sa campagne caritative est soutenue par la Légion canadienne, l’organisation qui permit, par son soutien, de faire de Thai une réalité. Cous et Thai figurent d’ailleurs dans le documentaire « The Working Dog », qui fut diffusé le 5 mai sur Eastlink.

Michael Gorman du journal The Chronical Herald a rédigé l’article suivant, qui résume avec brio les motivations qui poussèrent Cous à entreprendre cet incroyable cheminement personnel.

« Thai, le Labrador, a eu un tel impact dans la vie de Medric Cousineau que l’ancien militaire organise une levée de fonds pour fournir 50 chiens d’assistance pour troubles de stress post-traumatique à 50 Anciens Combattants. Il est un fervent défenseur de cette cause, en partie parce qu’elle le touche directement. »

Pour l’article complet : http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1127764-military-veteran-fights-for-service-dog-benefits

Itinéraire

Cous et Thai entreprendront le premier demi-marathon le 1er août 2013 à Dartmouth et Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Ils seront à Gagetown le 15 août, à Valcartier le 17 et au CMR Saint-Jean le 20 août. Ils seront à Toronto les 23-24 août et arriveront au RMC de Kingston le 8 septembre, puis à Petawawa deux jours plus tard. Cous va clore la Longue Marche vers la santé mentale à Ottawa le 19 septembre.

Comment soutenir la campagne Paws Fur Thoughts?

Les dons sont les bienvenus, mais vous pouvez aussi soutenir Cous en lui offrant votre aide bénévole ou en lui fournissant logement et véhicule de soutien, entre autres. Des activités pour amasser des fonds sont planifiées, comme l’activité BBQ du « Hot dogs for service dogs » (hot dogs pour chiens d’assistance) et de la vente de médailles pour chiens.

Comment contacter Cous?

Par courriel, via pawsforthought1@gmail.com ou via sa page Facebook (Medric Cousineau)

Les dons pour cette cause sont admissibles à l’impôt par l’entremise de la Légion canadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse. En ce moment, seuls les chèques sont acceptés et doivent être faits à l’ordre de Paws Fur Thought/NSNU Benevolent Fund. Prière d’envoyer vos chèques à cette adresse :

Valerie Mitchell-Veinotte

Secretary Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command

The Royal Canadian Legion

61 Gloria McCluskey Avenue, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B3B 2Z3

Coordonnées supplémentaires:

www.ns.legion.ca

v.mitchell-veinotte@ns.legion.ca

902-429-4090 (Tel.)

eVeritas Update #2

From the Implementation Team of the Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada

For the Strategic Review Report “The Road Ahead”

Current Status

This is a quick update on progress being made by the Implementation Team addressing the recommendations outlined in “The Road Ahead”, the report based on the year-long Strategic Review of the RMCCC conducted last year under the direction of the General Council of the Club.

Work Teams

The project is progressing, with 3 working teams having been created, as follows:

Major Category - #Recommendations

Organizational Structure & Governance – 7

Programmes & Services – 11

Communications – 10

Triage

All 28 recommendations have now been analyzed, and a “triage” has been done to prioritize the work, as defined by the following:

Tier 1 – Recommendations which are “Early Wins”, i.e. which can be implemented quickly with minimal resources.

Tier 2 – Recommendations which are more difficult to implement, but can be implemented within the current year.

Tier 3 – Recommendations which will need to be implemented in the coming years, based on complexities, or more significant resources.

Progress on Implementation of the Recommendations

Implementation Plans for Tier 1 Recommendations have now been approved by the Executive Committee of the Club.

In the coming months, under the leadership of our new Executive Director Bryan Bailey, you will begin to see a number of new initiatives, including:

1 – Cadet Wing Liaison Position in the Club – A 4th year Cadet Wing position will be created to act as a liaison between the Wing and the Club. This cadet will be a member of the Executive Committee of the Club during the graduation year, providing feedback to the Wing about the Club’s involvements to encourage interest, and providing information to the Club about Cadet needs/interests/expectations which will make the Club more responsive to the needs of our younger members. The selected cadet will also be the Class Secretary after graduation, keeping the class informed of Club activities and events, and coordinating class participation in 5 year reunions.

2 – Business Networking and Career Transition Programme – The Executive Director will connect with leaders of organizations like Treble Victor, Canada Company, True Patriot Love, and LinkedIn Groups like “Hire Canadian Military”, “Royal Military College of Canada” etc., as well as the appropriate offices of Veterans Affairs and DND. The bridge between the Club and these organizations will be a 2 way street, exploring ways in which each can give as well as receive services from the other, for the overall benefit of our members. A big focus will be on maximizing the existing services through more effective communication, rather than trying to create and resource competing services.

3 – Increased Support for Club Branches and Classes – The Executive Director will also provide more support to the Branches and Classes. For Branches, this will include such activities as helping the branches to create a model branch charter/constitution template (based on existing best practices) which can be adapted to individual branch needs, and engaging with Branch Executives in quarterly conference calls to exchange ideas on services, events, availability of top speakers, fund raising activities, etc. For Classes, this will include better two way communication to make the Club more responsive to the needs of its members of all ages, and to provide more support to the classes regarding such major activities as Reunion Weekends.

One of the major enablers of these initiatives will be improved communications vehicles (web-site and social media) about which more will be reported in the coming months.

Submitted by 9143 Bruce McAlpine

Implementation Team Leader

Bruce.McAlpine@fulcrumsearchscience.com

416.847.4989 OR 866.409.4990

Mise à jour eVeritas #2

De l’équipe de mise en œuvre du Club des Collèges militaires royaux du Canada

Pour le Rapport d’évaluation stratégique “The Road Ahead”

État de la situation

Il s’agit d’une mise à jour rapide sur les progrès qui ont été réalisés par l’équipe de mise en œuvre en rapport aux recommandations que contenait “The Road Ahead”, un rapport basé sur l’évaluation stratégique d’un an effectuée par le CCMRC sous la direction du Conseil général du Club.

Équipes de travail

Le projet progresse et les trois équipes de travail suivantes ont été formées:

Catégories principales    – Nombre de recommandations

Structure organisationnelle & gouvernance  -  7

Programmes & Services  -  11

Communications -  10

Triage

Les 28 recommandations ont maintenant été analysées et triées afin d’établir des priorités, tel que présenté ci-dessous:

Niveau 1 – Recommandations qui peuvent être mises en œuvre rapidement et avec un minimum de ressources.

Niveau 2 – Recommandations qui sont plus complexes à appliquer, mais qui peuvent être mises en œuvre dans l’année en cours.

Niveau 3 – Recommandations qui devront être mises en œuvre dans les années à venir en raison de leur complexité ou des ressources qu’elles requièrent.

Progrès dans l’application des recommandations

Les plans de mise en œuvre pour les recommandations de Niveau 1 ont été approuvés par le Comité exécutif du Club.

Dans les mois à venir, sous la direction de notre nouveau Directeur exécutif Bryan Bailey, vous constaterez un certain nombre de nouvelles initiatives, dont:

1 – Poste de liaison de l’escadre des élèves-officiers – Un poste d’élève-officier de 4e année sera créé pour servir de liaison entre l’escadre et le Club. Cet élève-officier, qui sera membre du Comité exécutif pendant son année de promotion, offrira de la rétroaction aux élèves-officiers sur l’implication du Club pour accroitre leur intérêt pour celui-ci et fournira de l’information au Club à propos des besoins/intérêts/attentes des élèves-officiers afin que nous puissions mieux répondre aux besoins de nos jeunes membres. L’élève-officier sélectionné deviendra aussi le Secrétaire de classe suite à sa promotion et aura pour tâche d’informer la classe des activités et événements organisés par le Club ainsi que coordonner la participation de la classe aux réunions de 5 ans.

2 – Programme de réseautage d’affaires et de transition de carrière – Le Directeur exécutif entrera en contact avec les dirigeants d’organisations telles que Treble Victor, Canada Company, True Patriot Love, les groupes LinkedIn comme “Hire Canadian Military”, “Royal Military College of Canada” etc., ainsi que les personnes appropriées au sein d’Anciens Combattants Canada et du MDN. Le pont entre ces organismes et le Club sera un boulevard bidirectionnel qui explorera les avenues par lesquelles les uns et les autres pourront à la fois offrir et recevoir des services, et ce au bénéfice général de nos membres. L’accent sera mis sur la maximisation des services existants à travers une meilleure communication plutôt que la création et l’entretien de services concurrents.

3 – Soutien accru des Classes et des Chapitres du Club – Le Directeur exécutif fournira aussi plus de soutien aux Chapitres et aux Classes. Pour les Chapitres, ça inclut fournir de l’aide pour créer un modèle de charte ou de constitution (basé sur les meilleures pratiques existantes) qui pourra être adaptée aux besoins individuels des Chapitres, prendre part à des conférences téléphoniques trimestrielles avec l’exécutif des Chapitres pour échanger sur les services, les événements, la disponibilité des conférenciers, les activités de financement, etc. Pour les Classes, ça signifie de meilleures communications bidirectionnelles afin que le Club soit davantage à l’écoute des besoins de ses membres de tous âges et qu’il puisse fournir plus de soutien aux Classes pour des activités importantes telles que la Fin de semaine des retrouvailles.

L’une des principales mesures qui sera prise en ce sens a trait à l’amélioration des moyens de communication (site Internet et média sociaux), dont nous vous tiendrons informés dans les mois à venir.

Soumis par 9143 Bruce McAlpine

Chef de l’équipe de mise en œuvre

Bruce.McAlpine@fulcrumsearchscience.com

416.847.4989 OU 866.409.4990

We’re still looking for business partners and sponsors

A few weeks back we sent out a cry for help to obtain business partners and sponsors for both the Veritas magazine and e-Veritas. We want to thank those who have stepped up and either helped us obtain an Ad for the magazine and / or a sponsorship for e-Veritas.

In particular, we want to recognize and thank the following folks for their most recent tangible support:

15737 Bryan Brulotte; 11623 John Carswell; 4803 Thomas H. Marshall; 11756 Les Chapman; 9885 Dave Bathurst; 8378 Bas Wheeler; 9143 Bruce McAlpine; and Kellie Brennan.

As we near the deadline for going to press with the magazine we are still short of our goal. We are still needing Ads for the magazine and various sponsors for e-Veritas.

If you or someone you know are in a position to help us out – please contact Bill Oliver right away.

william.oliver@rmc.ca

English PDF – Rate_Card_Veritas2013_Final – updated

French PDF – Rate_Card_Veritas2013_Fr_Final – updated

For your convenience the link to the Word Document has been added below:

Veritas Magazine Sponsors

For the second time in about a year and half we find ourselves in the Chair of the Editor-in-chief for the Veritas magazine.

Thanks to a number of great writers we have ample articles; we are confident that regular readers will find the content both enjoyable and interesting.

Off the top we want to thank, in particular, those Ex cadets who have already helped us out by either taking an Ad out themselves or being in a position to have their company and /or business take out an Ad. Also, those Ex cadets who have obtained outside business Ads for us. Very much appreciated.

We still need more help in this area for the magazine to be financially self sufficient. How you the reader can help: If you are in a leadership role in a company or business (small, medium or large) please consider the advantages of being a partner with us.

Most Ads in the magazine will also be placed in e-Veritas.   Please look over the rate cards below (Click to enlarge).

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

In the Fall of 2011 we raised $8,000 through individual “individual sponsorships” which ensured we met our goal of having that edition self-sufficient. A full page was dedicated to the “sponsors” including college number and name of the individual sponsors.

Three sponsorship levels are available: Bronze -$100, Silver – $250, and Gold -$500. Our “sponsors” may include -  Ex cadets, staffs, family & friends of the colleges.

In short, we need revenue either through regular business type Ads and / or sponsorship. Please contact Bill Oliver if you are in a position to help us out or require more information.  william.oliver@rmc.ca

Nous avons besoin d’un coup de pouce!

Pour la deuxième fois en un an et demi, nous nous retrouvons dans le poste de rédacteur en chef du magazine Veritas.

Grâce à un bon nombre de grands écrivains nous avons en main un éventail d’articles; nous sommes convaincus que nos lecteurs réguliers trouveront le contenu à la fois agréable et intéressant.

Au départ, nous tenons à remercier les anciens cadets qui nous ont déjà aidés, soit en achetant une annonce eux-mêmes ou en influençant leur entreprise ou société pour l’amener à acheter une annonce dans Veritas. Il ne faut pas oublier d’ajouter à ce groupe les anciens cadets qui ont sollicité d’autres entreprises pour qu’elles achètent une annonce. À tous, sincèrement merci.

Cela dit, nous avons encore besoin d’un coup de pouce dans ce domaine pour assurer l’autonomie financière du magazine. Vous pouvez nous aider comme lecteur et particulièrement si vous avez un rôle de leadership dans une société ou une entreprise (petite, moyenne ou grande) en songeant aux avantages de devenir un partenaire de Veritas.

La majorité des annonces dans le magazine paraitront également dans l’e-Veritas. S’il vous plaît, consultez la cédule des coûts ci-dessous (cliquez pour agrandir).

POSSIBILITÉS DE PARRAINAGE INDIVIDUEL:

À l’automne de 2011, nous avons recueilli 8000 $ par l’entremise du « parrainage individuel »; cette somme nous a permis d’atteindre notre objectif d’assurer l’autonomie financière de cette édition. Une page entière du magazine a été consacrée aux « parraineurs », mettant en évidence le numéro de Collège et le nom de ces derniers.

Il existe trois niveaux de parrainage : Bronze – 100 $, Argent – 250 $, et Or – 500 $. Nos «parraineurs» peuvent inclure – les anciens cadets, le personnel, la famille et les amis des Collèges.

En bref, nous avons besoin de revenus réguliers, soit par la vente d’annonces de type commercial ou par l’entremise du parrainage. Nous vous prions de communiquer avec Bill Oliver si vous êtes en mesure de nous aider ou pour obtenir de plus amples informations. william.oliver@rmc.ca

English PDF  -  Rate_Card_Veritas2013_Final – updated

French PDF - Rate_Card_Veritas2013_Fr_Final – updated

For your convenience the link to the Word Document has been added below:

Veritas Magazine Sponsors

RMCC Awards Parade Recognizes Accomplishments

Article and Photos by 25366 Mike Shewfelt

The events have become a bit of a fixture at the College in the last few years. Twice a year, as the Semester nears its end, the College community takes time out to recognize deserving individuals from all areas of RMCC with an Awards Parade. The Winter 2013 Awards Parade was held this past Wednesday morning, and saw a number of individuals from the Cadet Wing, the Training Wing, Support Staff, and the Academic Wing recognized for their accomplishments. Awards passed out include Canadian Forces decorations, Commandant’s Commendations, and Commandant’s Coins.

College Commandant, BGen Eric Tremblay, took the opportunity to address the various members of the College. He thanked the Staff and Cadets for their efforts so far, and then took time to address the Cadets specifically. “Your RMCC tool box is just about full,” he told the Class of 2013, “but your professional development must never end. Graduation is almost here, and you deserve it. Time spent at military college is a huge commitment and sacrifice, and you deserve it. So sprint to the finish, be proud but humble, and don’t forget to have fun. It is an honour to be your Commandant, and I’m looking forward to continuing at the Canadian Defence Academy.”

The following individuals received Canadian Forces decorations:

The individuals listed below received commendations. The citations for each are provided.

In recognition of exceptional commitment to the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces, Sarah Allinson, Isabel Vidal, Suzanne Gilbert, and Catherine Fugère, are commended for their tireless efforts in the management of the Comptroller Section. During a year of financial reductions and tightening of regulations, they have consistently maintained a high level of service, while continuing to provide financial advice to all sections of the College. Changes in regulations, and the implementation of new policies have resulted in many challenges. In addition, as a result of these changes, their work load has increased, causing longer work hours, and working under extremely stressful conditions. They have provided direction to CR-04 financial assistants, and have inspired them to do their best.

Much more. Read the rest of this entry »

(Les membres du Club des CMR actuels à l’échelle d’immatriculation au Collège.) 

(Click on graph for better viewing)

MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2013 NOW DUE…

Membership fees are due for 2013. For those who are life members and others who have already submitted payment for 2013 thank you.

For those of you whose membership have just recently lapsed or are about to expire – thank you for your past support.

Many e-Veritas readers have for one reason or another have not submitted an annual membership payment in quite some time. Now is the time to step-up…PLEASE. It would be greatly appreciated if you would renew (or take out a life or annual membership for the first time) as soon as possible.

Friendly lifetime membership payment options are available.

Membership details available:  http://www.rmcclub.ca/index.php/join-or-renew-now/

Or call the Panet House office (613 541-6000 Ext 6849) … Or, 1-888 – 386-3762 …Or rmcclub@rmc.ca…

Or: RMC Club of Canada; 15 Point Frederick Drive, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4

The graph above reflects the challenges we have in getting our membership base up to respectable numbers. We are still working on obtaining UTPMNCM membership totals.

The support of all ALL our readers has made e-Veritas a strong voice in keeping everyone connected to current happenings and memories from the past.

This includes: Ex cadets from ALL members of the Canadian Military Colleges; other students of all stripes – including UGs & PGs; current & former staffs; family & friends.

We promise to continue to serve you to the best of our abilities. Please respond with tangible support.

Bill & Rolande Oliver

IL EST TEMPS DE RENOUVELER VOTRE CARTE DE MEMBRE POUR 2013….

Votre adhésion au Club des CMR est maintenant due pour l’année 2013. Nous remercions tous les membres à vie et tous ceux qui ont déjà payé leur adhésion pour 2013.

Pour ceux dont l’adhésion est périmée ou est sur le point de l’être – merci de votre soutien constant.

Pour une raison ou pour une autre, plusieurs des lecteurs d’e-Veritas n’ont pas renouvelé leur adhésion annuelle. Il est temps de le faire….S’IL-VOUS-PLAIT. Il serait grandement apprécié si vous renouveliez (ou preniez une adhésion annuelle ou à vie pour la première fois) le plus tôt possible.

Il existe différents modes de payement pour une adhésion à vie.

Pour de plus amples renseignements :

http://www.rmcclub.ca/index.php/join-or-renew-now/

Ou téléphonez au bureau de la Maison Panet (613-541-6000 poste 6849)…Ou 1-888-386-3762…Ou rmcclub@rmc.ca

Par courier: RMC Club of Canada/Club des CMR du Canada, 15 Point Frederick Drive, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4

Le graphique ci-dessus vous indique les défis que nous devons surmonter afin d’atteindre un niveau respectable d’adhérents de base. Nous sommes à l’œuvre afin d’obtenir le nombre total de membres PFUMR.

Le soutien de TOUS nos lecteurs a fait d’e-Veritas une voix forte pour vous informer des activités courantes et des souvenirs d’antan.

Y compris : les Anciens de TOUS les Collèges militaires Canadiens; tous les autres étudiants – y compris ceux du premier cycle ainsi que des études supérieures; employés présents et passés; famille et amis.

Nous promettons de vous servir de notre mieux. Une réponse avec un soutien tangible serait grandement apprécié.

Bill et Rolande Oliver

Cadets Take Time to Remember at the Arch and Across Ontario and Quebec

Photos by 26346 OCdt (II) Dan Ryan and 25366 Mike Shewfelt

Article by 25366 Mike Shewfelt

The traditional Remembrance Day Arch Parade was significantly smaller this year as the Cadet Wing supported remembrance ceremonies across the province of Ontario and in Quebec. Cadets in Scarlets represented the College at 26 different ceremonies, including local ceremonies in Kingston and the surrounding communities, parades in Montreal and Toronto, a ceremony at the National War Memorial, and others.

After those Cadets heading to the other ceremonies had departed, what was left of the Cadet Wing formed up on the Parade Square on a bright, warm November day. They then marched to the Memorial Arch, where “Last Post” and “Abide with Me” were played, “In Flanders’ Fields” was read, and three wreaths were laid. College Commandant, 14835 BGen Eric Tremblay, and his wife, G146 LCol Brigid Dooley-Tremblay, laid a wreath on behalf of the Cadets and staff of the Royal Military College, MGen Pierre Forgues, Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA), laid one on behalf of the CDA, and A118 Ray Dignum, President of the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club of Canada, and Cadet Wing Commander 25586 OCdt (IV) Brenden Clark laid a wreath on behalf of the RMC Club.

A reception following the ceremony was held at the Senior Staff Mess.

Photos from the College Arch Ceremony and reception (click to enlarge):

____________________________________

Remembrance Day Parade in Montréal

Article by 25798 OCdt (IV) Shona Couturier

As a part of the College’s effort to have Cadets present at Remembrance Day ceremonies across central Canada, 50 Cadets participated in the ceremony held at McGill University in Montreal. The contingent was commanded by 25663 OCdt (IV) Dmitri Sapeguin, the Cadet Wing Training Officer, his 2I/C 25561 Ocdt (IV) Michael Salov, and the parade sergeant-major, 25824 OCdt (IV) Michael Findlay. The parade began at the Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) Armoury, and was comprised of Cadets from RMCC, RMC St-Jean, an honour guard from the CGG, and the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, HMCS Donnacona, and local cadet units. The parade marched from the armoury to McGill campus where they were joined by members of the legion, as well as veterans, and city officials. The province’s Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duschesne was present as the Queen’s representative, along with the city’s acting major, Lachine councillor Jane Cowell-Poitras. (Notably, MPs Marc Garneau and Justin Trudeau were present to lay wreaths on behalf of their constituents.)

Once the contingent arrived at McGill, the parade began with the normal military formalities, and soon after began the ceremony of remembrance. At 11 o’clock guns were fired to commemorate the armistice signed at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, in year 1918, and continued to fire a 21 gun salute throughout the parade. Helicopters flew over the campus as the guns fired, and a moment of silence was observed by all present. The parade continued with the playing of the last post, the lament, the reading of the act of remembrance, and a word from the padres present. Several wreaths were laid on behalf of diverse organizations; a poignant moment of the parade was the laying of the wreath on behalf of mothers and widows by a silver-cross mother, Claudette Pépin.

I am honoured and proud to have been a part of the parade. It was a humbling experience to stand on the McGill grounds, and remember conflicts such as the First World War. McGill and the city of Montreal made large sacrifices for the war effort. A total of 3 059 McGill students enlisted for the First World War; of that large number, 363 died and 791 received various military decorations including two Victoria Crosses. The grounds we marched on are rich in history and represent the sacrifices which helped build the country we serve and defend today. Participating in parades, in places as McGill, remind us as Cadets of the true meaning of the commitment we have made, and the role we are soon to assume as professional officers in the Canadian Forces. Unlimited liability becomes more than a concept in a textbook, and its implications become very real to all present. “Dying has made us rarer gifts than gold.” TDV

Article in the Montreal Gazette

____________________________________

Hockey Team in Cambridge

The RMC Paladins Hockey Team took time to stop in Cambridge, Ontario (while on route home from 2 away games in Windsor) for the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cambridge Cenotaph. The team members joined approximately 500 members of the public, Legion members, Police, Fire, local Cadet Units and The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada in remembering our fallen.

____________________________________

Remembrance Day in Whitby

Article by 26659 OCdt (I) Danielle Andela 

We Will Remember. As children we repeat these words, sitting on our parents shoulders trying to see what’s going on. As teenagers we say it, thankful for the break in class. As an adult at the Royal Military College of Canada, I have gained a new appreciation for these words.

I was one of the lucky cadets who got to attend the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at home, in my home town of Whitby, Ontario. It was an honour to participate in the parade that I have watched every year, with a new appreciation and a new perspective. I may not have been a member of the Canadian Forces long, but I have been in long enough to feel truly moved by the ceremonies I witnessed and it has been my privilege to be able to be back home on this somber and important occasion. I also got a chance to spend some time with the local 2 VandenBos Air Cadet Squadron at the parade and tell them a bit about life at RMC. As well it was great to get together with the legion members after the ceremony at the local branch and talk about their experiences and years gone by.

Overall it was an amazing day, one I will not soon forget but will highly recommend to others. Above all else, we will remember them.

____________________________________

RMCC Cadets Attend Sikh Remembrance Day Service

Article by 26285 OCdt (II) Saajandeep Sarai

This past weekend, 26288 OCdt (II) Sarabjot Anand, 26628 NCdt (I) Tejvinder Toor and myself attended the Sikh Remembrance Day service which was held at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener, Ontario. This cemetery holds the only military grave in Canada belonging to a Sikh soldier.

Private Buckham Singh was born on December 5th, 1893 in the farming town of Mahilpur, India. Since India was still a British Colony, many Sikhs enlisted in the British Army due to their warrior tradition. At the age of 14, Singh departed for British Columbia and left behind his homeland. When he arrived, he faced many racist laws in the province and therefore moved to Ontario and worked as a farmer in Rosebank. When World War I was declared, Singh enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and became one of just nine Canadian Sikhs to fight in World War I.

He was sent to Barriefield Camp near Kingston and joined the 59th Battalion. On his registration papers, he recorded himself to be a follower of the “Church of England” as there was no option for Sikh.

He fought in France and was hit in the head with shrapnel on June 2, 1916 and due to this, he was hospitalized at St.Eloi. This very hospital was run by LCol. John McCrae, the author of “In Flanders Fields”. After about 8 months, Singh was sent to rejoin combat but due to severe tuberculosis that he developed he was sent back to Canada. Upon his return, he was discharged and spent the remaining days of his life at Freeport Military Hospital. He died on August 27, 1919. His grave is the only known Canadian Sikh soldier’s grave in existence.

Since 2009, Sikh members of the Canadian Forces (CF) have attended this annual event. This year RMCC received an invitation by the event organizers for any Sikhs at the College to attend the service. We gladly accepted and represented RMCC at the event in uniform. The event had a huge audience, a large amount of media and a lot of political presence. Various members of the CF also attended. 13260 Brigadier General Matthew Overton, CD, Assistant Chief of Military Personnel, was also present at the event as the Guest of Honour. The service was also to honor the local soldiers that served from the Kitchener/Waterloo area, as their graves were also located at the cemetery. A moment of silence was given to remember all the sacrifices that our soldiers have made.

It was a true honor to be invited to the event and to represent RMCC.

More…

Process Well Underway to Find Replacement Executive Director…

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RMC CLUB OF CANADA

CLUB DES CMR DU CANADA

Patron/Président d’honneur

H26223 His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, CC, CMM, COM, CD

Vice Patron/Vice-président d’honneur

H4860 General (Ret) John De Chastelain, OC, CH, CMM, CD, RMC

Honorary President/Président honoraire

H2951 General (Ret) Ramsey Withers, CMM, CD, RRMC/RMC

Honorary Solicitor/Conseiller juridique honoraire

H3356 Robin Cumine, QC, RMC

Honorary Chaplain/Aumônier honoraire

8457 Capt (Ret) Reverend Paul Robinson, MA, CD, RMC

Adjutant Emeritas – Old Brigade/Adjudant émérite, Vieille Brigade

H2612 BGen (Ret) Michael H.F. Webber, CD, RMC; and

H3918 Mr. Al Roberts, RMC

Executive Committee/Comité Exécutif

 President/Président

9889 LCol (Ret) Bob Benn, CD, CMR

bennr@videotron.ca

Past President/ Président sortant

 M0058 LCol (Ret) Marc Drolet, CD, CMR

Marc_l_drolet@hotmail.com

1st Vice President/1er Vice-Président

12059 Mr. Jacques J. Gagné, BA, CPP, LSM

gagnejp@mts.net

2nd Vice President/2e Vice-Président

agoode@eastlink.ca

Treasurer/Réassurer

15946 LCdr (Ret) Jill Carleton, CD, RMC

Executive Director/Directeur exécutive intérimaire

14356 LCol (Ret) Michael A. Rostek, CD, Ph.D., CMR/RMC

Michael.Rostek@rmc.ca

Canadian Forces Liaison Officer/Officier de liaison des Forces canadiennes

14245 MGen Richard Foster, CD, CMR/RMC

richard.foster@forces.gc.ca

Adjutant Old Brigade/ Adjudant de la Vieille Brigade

5611 LCdr (Ret) Gerry Stowe, CD, RRMC/RMC

old.brigade@gmail.com

Assistant Adjutant Old Brigade/Adjudant adjoint de la Vieille Brigade

6116 BGen (Ret) Claude Archambault, OMM, CD

clocloarch@sympatico.ca

Past President Foundation/Président sortant de la Fondation

7076 Lt(N) (Ret) John van Haastrecht, RRMC/RMC

Retiring Members

Members Retiring 2012

8120 Cdr (Ret) Bill Gard, CD, RRMC/RMC

10263 Capt (Ret) Don Lovell, CD, RRMC/RMC

Members Retiring in 2013

8828 Capt (Ret) Wayne Kendall, RMC

14559 Steve Gable, RMC

Members Retiring in 2014

9143 Capt (Ret) Bruce McAlpine, B.Eng., MBA, CPC, CMR/RMC

4459 Cmdre (Ret) Ed Murray, OMM, CD, RRMC/RMC

M0157 Col (Ret) Bryan Righetti, CD, RRMC/RMC

Members Retiring in 2015

19330 Lt (Ret) Michael Della Fortuna, RMC

5780 Col (Ret) Bernard Laliberté, CD, CMR/RMC

10030 LCol (Ret) Michel Reid, CMR

18249 Maj (Ret) Paula Sams, CMR/RMC

M0264 Maj (Ret) Frank Vellone, RMC

Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada – “The Road Ahead”:

A Strategic Review of the RMCCC Membership Environment

Mike Rostek Leaving Executive Director’s Position

14356 Mike Rostek, RMC Club of Canada – Executive Director, has handed in his resignation effective 3 Nov. He is expected to remain in the position, part-time, until 31 Dec when it is expected that a permanent replacement will have been hired.

Mike has made a big positive impact in the running of the Club during the 12 months of his tenure. The main reason for his departure is to pursue academic interests.

All members of the Club Executive and Panet House staff thank him for his contributions to the successful year while he was at the helm and wish him well as he moves forward to new and exciting challenges in his career.

The search for his replacement is now underway. Note the article following.

 ________________________

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (ED)

THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGES CLUB OF CANADA (RMC CLUB OF CANADA)

The RMC Club of Canada is seeking to fill the position of ED.

The main objective of the RMC Club of Canada is to establish and maintain a strong link between the RMCs, their alumni/alumna, and members of the Club at large.

The ED is a full-time employee of the RMC Club of Canada. He/she is responsible to the Executive Committee (EC) and the General Council (GC) for the day to day management of the Club. The ED supervises the planning and implementation of the different programs, with the objective of promoting the vision, mission, values and objectives of the RMC Club of Canada. The ED is expected to collaborate with the RMC Club of Canada Foundation for the mutual support and benefit of two Colleges and one Club.

From a day to day perspective, the ED ensures the link between the different stakeholder groups. The ED is responsible for managing the day to day affairs of the Club, supervising of the Club employees, acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Club magazines, identifying and implementing ways or methods to generate revenues, implementing the strategic plan in conjunction with the EC, and offering bilingual services to its members, while insuring a solid and structured management of the Club and its finances. The ED is also expected to maintain interaction with Officer Cadets at the Colleges.

The ED works in close collaboration with the President of the RMC Club of Canada, the Officers of the Club, the EC and the Branch Presidents in implementing the Club Strategic Plan, the Work Plan and the different programs of the Club.

The preferred candidate is a confident self-starter, bilingual, and a team player seeking a challenging position where he/she may contribute to the success of the RMCs through the RMC Club of Canada. He/she has extensive military knowledge, a good understanding of financial, budgets and basic accounting principles, and knowledge of the Military Colleges, their structure and culture.

Remuneration: $70,000 – $80,000 per annum based on experience and competence.

Please send your Curriculum Vitae before 14 November 2012, along with a covering letter capturing a summary of your competences in team building, leadership at the executive level, collaborative initiatives, working in virtual or distributed teams, and financial management. Also describe how this position meets your aspirations. Please forward information in electronic format and in confidentiality to :

Robert Benn, President / RMC Club of Canada – Robert Benn (Bennr@videotron.ca)

DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL (DG)

LE CLUB DES COLLÈGES MILITAIRES ROYAUX DU CANADA (CLUB CMRC)

Le Club des CMRC cherche à pourvoir le poste de DG.

L’objectif principal du Club des CMRC est d’établir et de maintenir le lien entre les Collèges militaires royaux, le groupe des ancien(nes) élèves et les membres du Club.

Le DG est un employé du Club des CMRC. Il est responsable auprès du Comité exécutif (CE) et Conseil général (CG) de la gestion courante des affaires administratives internes du Club. De concert avec le CE, Le DG supervise la planification, l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des programmes dans le but de promouvoir la vision, la mission, les valeurs et les objectifs du Club des CMRC. Le DG doit collaborer avec la Fondation du Club des CMRC pour le soutien mutuel et le bénéfice des deux Collèges dans un Club.

Au quotidien, le DG assure le lien entre le Club et les différents intervenants. Le DG a la responsabilité de gérer les affaires courantes du Club, ce qui inclus entre autres : superviser les employés du Club, agir comme Éditeur en chef des magazines du Club, explorer et développer des sources alternatives de revenus, instaurer (en conjonction avec le CE) le plan stratégique du Club et assurer une gestion saine et structurée du Club et de ses finances. Le DG devra aussi établir un lien avec les élèves-officiers dans les collèges.

Le DG travaille en étroite collaboration avec le Président du Club des CMRC, les Officiers du Club, le CE et les Présidents de Chapitres, pour mettre en œuvre le plan stratégique, le plan d’affaires et les programmes du Club.

Nous recherchons une personne confiante, bilingue, capable de prendre des initiatives, aimant le travail d’équipe et qui cherche un poste stimulant lui permettant de contribuer au succès des Collèges militaires royaux du Canada par l’entremise du Club des CMRC. Le DG doit avoir une connaissance de l’environnement militaire, de la comptabilité, des budgets et des finances ainsi qu’une bonne compréhension des collèges militaires, de leur structure et de leur culture.

Rémunération : 70 000 $ – 80 000 $ selon les compétences et l’expérience. Svp envoyez votre candidature et votre curriculum vitae au plus tard le 14 novembre 2012, avec une lettre explicative contenant un sommaire de vos compétences en travail d’équipe, en leadership au niveau de la haute direction, en initiatives de collaboration, de travail virtuel ou avec équipes satellites et en gestion financière. Dites-nous également comment ce poste satisfait vos aspirations. Les documents devront être fournis en format électronique et à titre strictement confidentiel à :

Robert Benn, Président du Club des CMRC – Robert Benn (BennR@videotron.ca)

Note : dans le but de ne pas alourdir le texte, le genre masculin a été privilégié et désigne à la fois les hommes et les femmes.

Strategic Review Approved!

In August, Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada (RMCCC) General Council received the final report of the Strategic Review Steering Committee (SRSC) which was appointed last year to assess the membership of the Club to determine the causes of dissatisfaction and decreasing engagement of graduates. The report was unanimously approved, and Council issue a motion to appoint an implementation team to act on the recommendations of the report.

The SRSC consisted of 11 members under the co-chairmanship of Reg Watts and Bruce McAlpine. They studied existing data on membership associations, and conducted a survey of top alumni associations in Canada and the military academies in the USA and Australia. They then held 40 personal interviews with a broad range of Club members/potential members across the country. All of this was used to design the full member survey launched online in April, 2012 to which an astounding 2660 members responded.

The overall impression from that response is that graduates really care about the college, their classmates, and the Club. As suspected however, the Club is not serving the needs of all very well. The traditional programs and services are not enough to fit with the various generational needs and attitudes of the Club’s potential membership.

An incredible number of suggestions were made by survey respondents, and it took months of work to consolidate this information into a report which makes 29 specific recommendations under the major headings of :

1 Restructuring of the organizational structure and Governance Model of the Club to make it more effective and more responsive to the needs of its members;

2 Tailoring and delivery of programs and services to meet the varying needs of our multi-generational membership;

3 Better, more robust, meaningful two-way communications.

The totality of the report became the outline of a new Vision for the RMCCC. It addresses the generational diversity of membership and proposes strategies to re-engage the members. In the interest of proving to members that the Club means business, the implementation team will be tasked to accomplish as many of the recommendations as possible within 12 months.

During the following months details from the report will be shared with the membership as an initial stage of improving dialogue.

The Best of the First Half…

By: WJO

We are well into July. The weather at least in this neck of the woods has been “hot & sticky” for quite some time.

We had the opportunity last week in a nice air conditioned room to review the January to end of June (2012) editions of e-Veritas. Most people would say that the view from Panet House is pretty good too!

The photo by OCdt 26069 C. W. Kunkel speaks for itself

Some of the articles over the past six months that caught our attention:

Jan

Cadets Take Officer Training to New Level

Winter Finally Arrives

Go RMC! Beat Army! Photos and Some Memories…

Feb

West Point Weekend: Winter Sports Day & More…

Mar

What are these 24 Up to these Days

HEADS UP!

Apr

Pillbox Being Replaced – New Headgear Available for Grad

Budget Cuts Hit Home – Staff & Cadets Briefed by Commandant

RMC Stands Tall In Grueling Sandhurst Competition

May

Cadets March into Town for Tradition: “It makes me so proud to be a Canadian.”

“Looks like a Military College Again…”

DEGREES – Bestowed Amidst Pomp and Circumstance

Canadian Forces welcomes 274 new officers

University with a Difference

Jun

The Way It Was…In Photos

Class Notes

More Winners than Losers in Sports Shakeup

Support our Realtor partners

Partners 212 – Various Business Professionals – Join Us!

A life in the military is not simple, and members of the Canadian Forces will need more personalized guidance during their training and deployment in order to be at their strongest-possible position in life; the cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada are no exception. Major Heather Smith (Chaplain) became a member of the RMCC family in July of 2011 and now finds herself advising the commandant on the spiritual and ethical wellbeing of the college, providing church services every Sunday, counselling cadets and staff, and holding the position of senior chaplain in charge of a team which has temporarily been reduced to only her. She has undoubtedly had an amazingly busy – but rewarding – first year.

Heather Smith joined the Canadian Forces in 1996 and was first posted in Trenton, Ontario. She soon found herself in Norfolk, Virginia where she worked with the American Navy while undergoing a year of post-graduate studies in clinical pastoral education – which she claims is “essentially a counselling degree.” From there, she has also been posted in Victoria, BC; Comox, BC; Winnipeg, and Germany before undergoing another two-year post-grad program in Ottawa. Upon completion, she was posted to RMCC where she hopes to stay for a long time.

“My favourite part of being here is the ministered presence. I like to be with the cadets and staff,” says Major Heather Smith, “I can’t advise the commandant if I don’t have a sense of what the cadets’ joys and frustrations are – as well as the staffs’.

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A job as a counselor to the commandant, students, and staff certainly has its challenges, however; Heather Smith explains, “Problems do not occur from eight to four. They often occur at two in the morning!”

Despite any stress her job may cause at times, Heather Smith is very active within the school and on a personal level. She enjoys taking advantage of the local area and bases her activities on it. She bikes to the peninsula whenever possible, and her current hobbies (with little surprise considering Kingston’s magnificent waterfront) consist of numerous water sports – including kayaking, rowing, and sailing with RMCC’s sailing club. She also enjoys a visit to the wineries of Prince Edward county once in a while. She advises the cadets to “Know yourself, know your people, know your stuff –  if you know who you are as a person, understand the things that push your buttons, and pursue the things that make you happy, you have self-awareness and will go far.”

~By OCdt 26069 C. W. Kunkel

Current College Sports Administrators Making Their Own Mark!

By: WJO

Not since the days when Major Danny McLeod directed the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) has the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) had such significant leadership positions, at both the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) levels.

The original Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) Central was founded in 1906 and existed until 1955, composed only of universities from Ontario and Quebec. With the collapse of the CIAU Central in the mid 1950s, calls for a new, national governing body for university sport accelerated.

Once the Royal Military College of Canada became a degree granting institution, Major W.J. (Danny) McLeod, Athletic Director at the RMC directed the establishment of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) in 1961. Major McLeod ran the CIAU from his office at RMC as the first CIAU Secretary-Treasurer. In the 1960s the CIAU functioned as a voluntary, autonomous, educational sport organization which represented by the various universities from coast to coast.

Fast forward to 2012.

At the recent Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Annual General Meeting, two RMC staff members were selected to leadership positions within the organization: Current Director Athletics, Darren Cates was named to the OUA Management Committee and was also selected as Chair of the OUA Marketing and Communications Committee. College Varsity Manager, Guy Dube was selected to serve a ninth year on the OUA Sport Committee.

The OUA provides leadership, stewardship and policy direction for university sport and governs sanctioned interuniversity sport competition in Ontario on behalf of its member institutions. Currently there are 19 member institutions and RMC competes in ten OUA sports.

The OUA Management Committee of the Board has the jurisdiction, power, authority, and duty to do all things necessary to carry out the objectives and policies of OUA. They have the capacity to make decisions, which affect OUA and its members and to generally administer the day-to-day affairs of OUA.

The OUA Marketing and Communications Committee is an important and high profile one. They provide direction for the annual OUA marketing & communications plan; identifying OUA properties & developing new OUA properties. As Chair of this Committee, Mr Cates will lead a number of his colleagues in moving the OUA forward in this very crucial business side of University Sports.

Guy Dube was selected to serve a ninth year on the OUA Sport Committee. The Sport Committee deals with all technical matters for all OUA sports to ensure consistency of rules, procedures and regulations for all OUA sports. The is a game-to-game grind once the varsity seasons start.

Mr Cates’ and Mr Dubes’ appointments to these important positions is certainly a feather in the cap for RMC and a reflection of the esteem and respect both have from their sports administrator colleagues.

“The Major” and others who were formerly in the business are indeed proud of the college sports leadership too. Well done Darren and Guy!

Cadet Initiative Points Camera at College

By WJO

Many of our readers have been following the “University with a Difference” video series headlined in eVeritas these past two months, and the RMC Club has received much positive feedback on the campaign’s unique style and compelling promotion of RMCC activities. Thanks are owed to the series cadet-creators, director 25881 OCdt Anthony Matlock (left) and producer 25783 OCdt Jordon Hennessey (right).

Each week these two enterprising cadets, among their other contributions to eVeritas and honours-level studies, commit themselves to producing high-quality short-films which, in their own words, “aim to share glimpses of College life with the RMCC community, while helping spur continuous personal growth and teamwork among cadets who have been granted unique officer-training and educational opportunities.”

This series has brought College activities to life through topics ranging from RMCC’s unique physical education program to high-profile events such as the Graduation ceremony. Doing this, however, is no easy task, requiring an average of twenty hours for each short film! The process begins well in advance of any video recording, when director, Anthony, drafts a script for coverage of upcoming activities. It is then the job of  producer, Jordon, to scout locations and secure special permissions, props and participants.  Once the week of video recording arrives it is all hands-on deck for some careful filming.

Technically speaking, the raw recording is accomplished with Sony HDV cameras and two “GoPro” miniature videocameras, which allow for unique point-of-view angles and provide the video series with its signature fish-eye lens effect.  Anthony then transfers the footage to the editing program, Adobe Premier Pro, to build the video, synch the music, generate transitions and add titles.  The final video product is released on eVeritas via Youtube. The promotional quality of the series speaks for itself, and certainly adds value to eVeritas’ mission of constantly delivering relevant and cutting-edge coverage of the College for the RMCC community.

It is through the efforts of  dedicated volunteers like OCdts Matlock and Hennessey that e-Veritas can keep turning out informative and high quality editions 50 times per year. For the most part, the equipment used is personally owned or “borrowed” – all at zero costs to the RMC Club operating budget.

The efforts of these two individuals is way beyond “the call of duty” – and for that, Rolande and I thank and salute them!

To watch University with a Difference, click here.

Layoff list at RMC includes principal

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Photo of Panet House painting used with the permission of Wendy Trethewey

 “This is not JUST ANOTHER SURVEY!”

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More Feedback from April1:

Belated congratulations on a very clever and amusing April Fool’s Day joke.

It was sent us by our grandson – Andrew Ernst now at RMC in his second year and we started off by being horrified at the American look of the alleged replacementof the pillbox, even though we know that many of the cadets are not particularly enamoured of the latter. However as I had worn the pillbox at Royal Roads from 1949-1951 I felt and still feel that the traditional pillbox should remain the headgear of the cadets.

So it was with great relief when we discovered that you had caught us and many others in an April Fool’s Day joke.

Once again congratulations for giving us a big laugh.

Garry Ernst 3121

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Any others with three rosettes?

I was awarded my third rosette in 2010 having joined CMR in 1968 and was released at CRA 60 in 2011 (my release papers indicated that I have served 42 years and 317 days).

I was wondering if the RMC Club has information (or can access such information) about RMC grads having been awarded CD3 after full time service in the CF (I know some Honorary Colonels have been awarded CD3s).

If that information is available, I would be grateful if I could be sent a list of the names of these individuals (with Class/College numbers).

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards

9592 Claude Perras