To those of you who will be celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus on the 25 December – Merry Christmas. To everyone – Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!!

Pour ceux qui célébrerons la naissance de Jésus le 25 décembre – Joyeux Noël.
Et à tous joyeuses fêtes et bonne et heureuse Année!!

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In This Issue 45:

Kipling’s Ultraman;

Insider’s View: Major Geneviève Lehoux;

Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY);

Dîner Vimy 2008;

Where are they now?

An Officer, A Gentleman, And Then A CISM TKD Competitor;

Ex-Cadets in the News;

Catching Up With the News;

Commandant Series;

Who Am I?

Notices / Avis;

Deaths / Décès:

BIRCH-JONES, Sonia (nee Rubenstein); and
3397 RICHARD SETTEN;

The year in Snapshots; and

We Get E-Mails.

Rudyard Kipling said it all: ” If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two Impostors just the same; Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.”

KAILUA-KONA- Hawaii – Lieutenant Colonel Tony O’Keefe is in charge of 1,054 cadets at Canada’s version of West Point. It is his job to prepare men and women to go into battle in the world of terrorist ambushes, in the very cruel lands that Rudyard Kipling wrote about, and act with the highest levels of integrity when life and death are separated by a rusty razor’s edge.

And so on the field of play on the Big Island of Hawaii in a rigorous three-day aerobic adventure called Ultraman, O’Keefe keeps his cool whether things are going well or poorly. “At age 47, sure it hurts,” says O’Keefe, who if not for a few grey hairs, could pass for 20 years younger. “I’m getting older. It’s great to be racing against top professionals, but I never take anything for granted.”

O’Keefe won the first day’s 10k swim and 90 mile bike. But he knew better than to gloat. “This thing can backfire and end up in a disaster,” said O’Keefe. “All these guys are stronger athletes. My strength is mental.” On Sunday, the third day of this post Thanksgiving, 320-mile triathletic circumnavigation of Hawaii, O’Keefe let three men go early in the morning on the double marathon heading south from Hawi to Kailua along the Queen K Highway made famous in October’s single day Ironman. A lesser man might have overreached and tried to stay with the blazing trio headed for a 2:57 first marathon, but O’Keefe knew his best day from four years ago was a pair of 3:12s. And a lesser man might have looked at his three straight runner-up finishes from 2002 through 2004 and lost his head in pursuit of vain glory. A lesser man might even have been bitter that a deployment to Sarajevo cost him training and a more immediate rematch with Ultraman, just as his peak athletic years were slipping away. A lesser man might even have wasted adrenaline worrying about the footsteps of 1996 champion Erik Seedhouse, just three years younger and one of two men to break 6 hours during the Ultraman double marathon, stalking him from behind.

But instead, Tony O’Keefe followed the famous maxim of Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry: “A man’s got to know his limitations,” and kept his own counsel, running a conservative downhill first half marathon – 1 hour 30 minutes to the leaders’ 1:26. Knowing the reality of the battlefield, O’Keefe said, “Things can always get worse.”

Read the rest of the article HERE.

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Barely off the plane from Hawaii, LCol Tony O’Keeffe could not keep away from RMC and “came home” to a small gathering of staff and friends, proud to congratulate him on his impressive success.  Despite the incredible fatigue and his body having “taken a beating”, he was very energetic in relating his experience competing in the Ultraman.  The small crowd couldn’t help but be impressed by his tale involving jellyfish, sea lice, a scorching sun, extreme fatigue, and seemingly insurmountable water currents…  He was quick to point out that he had received great help and motivation from his support team, and that even the journalists appeared to be rooting for the Canadians.  Never content to rest on his laurels, LCol O’Keeffe hinted that he was looking forward to June 2009 when he would once again brave the Race Across America.

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LCol Tony O’Keeffe Endurance athlete goes the distance

Posted By MIKE KOREEN, WHIG-STANDARD SPORTS REPORTER

Ten years ago, tony o’keeffe was flipping through the pages of Rolling Stone magazine when he noticed a story on Ultraman World Champion Peter Kotland.

“There was this cool pic and it [called Kotland] the fittest man alive,” the director of cadets at Royal Military College recalled yesterday.

“That’s what caught my attention.” That picture, headline and story inspired O’Keeffe, an experienced endurance athlete, to try to follow Kotland’s footsteps in an event that makes a marathon feel like a walk in the park -the three-day Ultraman World Championship in Hawaii, featuring a 10-kilometre swim, a 421-kilometre bike ride and an 84-kilometre run.

Ten years later, it is Kotland doing the following. This past weekend, both men competed at the Ultraman. Kotland placed fourth, two spots behind O’Keeffe, 47, who finished second for the fourth time in as many tries.

“We talked and he asked me if I wanted to come back next year and [be on his support crew]. I told him I’d rather come back and kick his [butt],’” said a laughing O’Keeffe, who also competed in the event from 2002-2004.

A 22-time participant in the more-famous Ironman race, which is about half thedistanceof theUltraman, O’Keeffe makes tremendous sacrifices to train for the latter event.

Every second day, he wakes up at 4:30 a. m. and runs 21 kilometres to work and does the same thing to get home. The personable O’Keeffe doesn’t actually live that far from RMC, but he takes a scenic route to add distance to his run.

When he doesn’t run, O’Keeffe bikes an even longer distance to and from work.

There is only one problem – he can’t swim to work.

“Instead of going for lunch, I just go out in the [pool] for a swim,” O’Keeffe said, giving a simple solution.
The training obviously paid off. With his support crew of his wife, Jackie Cowley, who also works in the military, and military colleague Mike Ward and his wife, Jill, alongside, O’Keeffe finished the event in 22 hours 31 minutes 54 seconds, a time that would have won the race in most years.

“Most folks think, ‘Holy smokes, I wouldn’t drive that far,’ ” O’Keeffe said. “To be honest with you, I see it in people’s eyes [that they are thinking] ‘I wish it was me’ but not enough to actually do all the training.”
O’Keeffe, who has several sponsors, including the Canadian Forces, did give himself a mini-vacation in Hawaii after the Ultraman. He returned to work yesterday after taking the red-eye home.

“I flopped down in the sand and didn’t move,” he said. “I’m trying to get my joints back into some sort of semblance. I’m not walking too straight.”

Still, O’Keeffe plans to keep pushing himself. If you think the Ultraman is tough, it’s a piece of cake compared to the event he plans to enter next year.

For the second time, O’Keeffe will compete in the Race Across America, a non-stop bike race that starts near San Diego and finishes in Atlantic City, N. J. The race takes about 11 days.
In 2006, O’Keeffe finished ninth in the event.

“It’s freaking difficult,” he said. “I can’t see myself doing it again [after next year]. It’s a killer.” But O’Keeffe certainly isn’t done with the Ultraman. “I’d like to win the Ultra overall, really at [the age of] 50 [in 2011],” he said. “I’d really dig it. It has never been done.”

Of course, that won’t be the end of the line, either.

When asked how long he’ll keep competing O’Keeffe said, “Until I’m dead. I really don’t know the answer to that. I’m just going to keep going. It keeps me young.”

20633 Major Geneviève Lehoux (CMR RMC ’97) enrolled in the CF in June 1992 in Trois-Rivières (QC). She completed three years at CMR St-Jean and graduated from RMC in May 1997 with a bachelor degree in Civil Engineering. While at CMR and RMC, she was a member of the varsity women soccer team. She completed basic training and trade training in Chilliwack (BC). In November 1997, she was posted to 17 Wing Construction Engineering, Winnipeg, (MB). Promoted to Lt in May 1998, she became the 171 Airfield Engineer Flight Commander and later the Construction Engineering Operations Officer. She was promoted to Capt in May 2000. In 1998 she had a tour in Kumanovo, Macedonia and in 2000 a tour in Aviano, Italy. She was posted to 3 Wing Construction Engineering, Bagotville as the Study and Design Officer in April 2001. In July 2002, she was posted to RMC to complete Post Graduate Studies. She graduated in June 2004 with a Master Degree in Civil Engineering. She is currently the Royal Military College Engineering Officer and an assistant professor in the Civil Engineering Department. She is also one of the assistant coaches with the varsity women soccer team.

Interview by E3161 Victoria Edwards (RMC ‘03)

E-Veritas: Comment on your role as College Engineering Officer and as assistant professor. What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

Major Lehoux: The RMC College Engineering Officer serves as project director and project implementer for the engineering projects undertaken for or by RMC in conjunction with CFB Kingston. On a day-to-day basis, I work in construction project management – planning and development for short and long term construction projects. The design and construction or renovation for minor projects is done in house/CFB Kingston, while major projects are contracted out to consultants or contractors. The Commandant serves as the project leader and the Project Sponsor is Chief of Military Personnel. Since I manage 50 people, which includes Cleaning Services, Maintenance Services, and a few construction project managers, my day to day work consists of human resources and financial administration. My staff is engaged in rehabilitation, repair, maintenance and operation of RMC campus physical facilities. I ensure that expertise in all trades is available either on staff or on call and ensure that all personnel have the necessary knowledge and skills and are aware of their responsibilities, liabilities and legal requirements through directed training, and professional development. In addition, as an assistant professor, I teach for five hours a week in the Civil Engineering Department.

E-Veritas: What is your view on skylarks? What skylarks (practical jokes) do you recall?

Major Lehoux: I enjoy a good, imaginative skylark which results in no or minimal cleaning or damage to infrastructure. When I was in 4th year, some cadets took advantage of the sodding of the campus near the dorms to set up a soccer field in one of the male soccer player’s dorm room. Baby powder was used to represent the lines and a soccer jersey represented the players. I recall that the skylark resulted in a lot of clean up and the sod rolls were very smelly. The cadets are responsible for the first clean up, and if necessary, my staff will go in afterward with proper cleaning products.

E-Veritas: Do you have any ghost stories from the military college(s)?

Major Lehoux: When I was driving onto the College grounds on Halloween this year, I saw a horsewoman riding towards me. In the `Legend of Sleepy Hollow` by Washington Irving, the horseman is a Hessian soldier from the Revolutionary War who was decapitated by a cannonball and now roams on the back of his horse, with his severed head resting upon the pommel of his saddle. The RMC headless horsewoman was actually a lady cadet on the soccer team who was participating in an informal 200 days before graduation parade, in which the first years acted as fourth years. It was a nice, imaginative skylark with no damage done. It must have been quite impressive to see a horse coming out of nowhere during a morning parade.

E-Veritas: Comment on the knowledge and skills which are most commonly a prerequisite for College Engineering Officer.

Major Lehoux: The College Engineering Officer must have a strong understanding of construction and maintenance practices and the project management and financial management that goes with it. It is critical to have an understanding of building codes, federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations. It is important to have strong computer skills, specifically using Excel, Word and Construction Forces Engineering Management System (CFEMS) to develop the technical documentation (i.e. Engineering Change Proposals, specifications) and know how to read documentations from AutoCAD and the Financial Management Administration System (FMAS). It is necessary to read blueprints and schematics. Licensing by federal, provincial and local governments is most often required. It is important to understand the extensive responsibilities that life cycle materiel managers have towards environmental protection, through the, selection, storage, transportation, use and disposal of materiel.

E-Veritas: Have you found yourself concerned with any facets of engineering since returning as College Engineering Officer?

Major Lehoux: A major refit project, such as the retrofit of the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system into Sawyer and Girouard buildings is expected to improve energy efficiency and air quality in accordance with the DND/CF Climate Change Plan for Canada. The Hewett house renovation project, which includes a new elevator, applies barrier free access and universal design integration in building designs. A project involving the reuse of an existing building, for example Rideout Row as office space, applies green building concepts and sustainability. Projects must comply with archaeological and heritage legislation and policies. Workers didn’t find anything of archaeological interest during a project involving basement waterproofing and foundation repair of the Currie and MacKenzie buildings, however water lines and manholes were found that were not on the drawings. It may be necessary to address such surprises with remedial action plans, contingency measures, or risk management programs as appropriate.

E-Veritas: Comment on the requirements that construction and major retrofit projects at the College meet.

Major Lehoux: DND/CF must comply with all federal laws, regulations and policies (including territorial laws and regulations, and international standards if they are incorporated in federal laws), and they must be otherwise compatible with provincial and international standards to the extent required by federal or DND policy. It must also ensure safe and adequate Realty Assets by acquiring, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and disposing of Realty Assets in accordance with health, environmental, nuclear/radiological, accessibility, safety, building, fire, engineering, acts, regulations, codes and standards. To reflect the 2005 Canadian Building Code, for example, columns and steel bracing against hurricane force winds or earthquakes will be added to the Sawyer building when renovated.

E-Veritas: How do you feel about civil engineering in such a storied institution as RMC?

Major Lehoux: The former 1812 British naval base during the War of 1812 is now the site of the RMC. The Rideau Canal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard is a National Historic Site of Canada. Several of the College buildings are on the Registry of Historic Places of Canada including Mackenzie building, Currie building, Hewett House, Fort Lasalle, Fort Frederick, Old gym, Stone Frigate, Yeo Hall and Gatehouses 3 & 14. The Heritage Character, which means the synthesis of a building’s heritage values, of Crown-owned buildings derive from historical associations, architectural significance and environmental importance. Construction and engineering projects must follow archaeological and heritage legislation and policies. There is a requirement, for example, to do archaeological studies when you dig on the Peninsula. To prevent or control water and wind erosion and soil loss on the peninsula, a physical barrier, including rock and vegetation was created to absorb some of the energy of the wind or water that is causing the erosion. It is necessary to follow the chain of command. I report to the Chief of Staff, Commander Rich, who reports to the Commandant, BGen Lawson. On various construction engineering projects, I work with the base construction engineering officer Major Parker. The project funding comes from Canadian Defence Academy (CDA), Chief Military Personnel (CMP), and the RMC.

E-Veritas: Do you see yourself as a role model for lady cadets at RMC and/or for girls/women interested in a career in engineering?

Major Lehoux: I actively encourage a greater representation of women in engineering at RMC and in the Canadian Forces. I see myself as a positive influence on lady and male cadets. I hope they see that I am happy in what I do and that they aspire to the same type of career. I have direct contact with officer cadets as an assistant professor and as an assistant coach to the varsity women’s soccer team.

E-Veritas: Which women in engineering have influenced your work?

Major Lehoux: Brigadier-General Christine (Chris) Whitecross OMM CD, who holds a Masters Degree in Defence Studies from the RMCe, is my role model in the Canadian Military Engineers branch. She was appointed Deputy Commander/Chief Operations and Plans, Canadian Operational Support Command Headquarters in July 2008. Her postings have taken her from Germany, the former Yugoslavia to almost every province in Canada. In addition, she is a Foster parent, who plays an essential role by providing homes for children whose families are temporarily unable to look after them. I am impressed by her work life balance.

E-Veritas: Comment on your views on women in engineering.

Major Lehoux: In Canada, women have not traditionally been involved in engineering at a proportion equal to their general proportion in society. Although I was the only woman out of thirty in my troop, during my initial military engineering training, I was always accepted. In the civil engineering class I taught at RMC last year, there were more women than men although in previous and current terms, there have been more men then women. When I deployed to Macedonia in 1998, the French engineers were surprised to meet a female engineering officer. Among the 350 French serving in Macedonia, the 4 women were all NCM clerks. Among the 50 Canadians serving in Macedonia, the 3 women served as engineers (one carpenter, one electrician and one officer), and one as a clerk.

E-Veritas: What skills did you learn at CMR/RMC that have since been of great value to you?

Major Lehoux: As a cadet, I learned to be organized, and to multitask. I developed good communication skills (phone & email). I found that studying civil engineering and soccer were higher priorities for me than my social life. As a soccer player, I learned skills which I may be able to pass on as an assistant coach to the RMC women’s soccer team for the last five years.

Sgt. Curtis White is the program staff of the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY) at CFB Kingston. He is also the National Military Chair of the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG). Before joining the staff of the ALOY program, he served as a Canadian Forces recruiter.

Interview by E3161 Victoria Edwards (RMC ‘03)

e-veritas: What is the purpose of the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY) program?

Sgt. White: The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity is a Canadian Forces educational program that was offered at the Royal Military College of Canada commencing in August 2008. The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year is a one year program that will be offered to Aboriginal Canadians. It will provide a highly positive, productive and preparatory educational leadership experience, including sports, field trips, leadership development and military training, as well as an academic program and cultural support activities. The young men and women in the program are expected to become role models for others in their communities.

e-veritas: What do you tell potential candidates about the Royal Military College of Canada?

Sgt. White: The Royal Military College is a national university for educating and developing leaders committed to serving Canada and Canadians. A Royal Military College education is both demanding and rewarding. It consists of four key components – academics, leadership, athletics, and bilingualism – that together provide Royal Military College graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to become Canada’s next generation of leaders and innovators.

e-veritas: What do you tell potential candidates about the contribution of Aboriginal peoples to the Canadian Forces?

Sgt. White: Aboriginal People have served in the Canadian Forces with great honour and distinction throughout our history. Today, this proud tradition of service continues at home in Canada and around the world. The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year program is a new opportunity for Aboriginal Canadians to continue this proud tradition of service while receiving first-class education and leadership training at Royal Military College.

e-veritas: What are the terms of the ALOY program?

Sgt. White: Applicants must: be at least 17 years of age (with parental/guardian consent) or older; have completed at least Grade 12, Secondary 5, or the GED in the current academic year; be physically and medically fit; and be an Aboriginal Canadian. Aboriginal candidates are enrolled in the Canadian Forces for a period of one year and receive full subsidization at RMC. The candidates are paid as an Officer Cadet and receive free tuition and issue of textbooks and uniforms. Rations and Quarters are deducted from their pay.

e-veritas: What is the relationship between the ALOY program at the Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) or Reserve Entry Training Plan (RETP)?

Sgt. White: Provided they meet the academic requirements candidates will be given the opportunity to apply to continue at RMC in a degree program and will be converted to service under the terms of the Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP). Alternately, some participants may be offered the opportunity to continue at RMC under the Reserve Entry Training Plan (RETP). Some graduates may be offered the opportunity to continue a military career in another entry program. Alternatively, participants may opt to cease participation and return to their community without further obligation, either during the program or after completing Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year.

e-veritas: Based on an assessment of academic attainment, ALOY candidates are provided the opportunity to develop an individual learning plan

Sgt. White: Yes. Based on an assessment of academic attainment, Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year participants will be provided with the opportunity to develop an individual learning plan comprised of non-credit preparatory courses and/or first year university courses as listed in the Royal Military College calendar. Second Language Training may also be available. The ALOY program will include sports, field trips, leadership development, military training and cultural support activities. Cultural support activities will be offered in partnership with centres in the Kingston area that support Aboriginal post-secondary students at Queen’s University. After completion of the academic year (Sep-May) there will be a Leadership practicum.

e-veritas: Are cultural support activities offered?

Sgt. White: Yes. At RMC, cultural support activities are offered in partnership with centres in the Kingston, Ontario area that support Aboriginal post-secondary students at Queen’s University. Weekly Men’s and Women’s groups led by elders to help students learn about there culture.

e-veritas: Where can we go for further information?

Sgt. White: We believe that the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year will be of interest to many young Aboriginals. I encourage you to go the recruiting web site www.forces.ca or contact a recruiter toll-free at 1-800-856-8488 for further information on this exciting new programme. For more information on ALOY, follow this link. http://www.rmc.ca/news_avis/0712aloy_e.html

e-Veritas: Describe the marketing of ALOY last year in comparison to what is now happening for ALOY today.

Sgt. White: The ALOY program was announced at the Aboriginal Contributions to the Canadian Forces Conference at RMC in 2006. Word went out about the ALOY program at relatively short notice. Many of the 22 candidates in the first year of ALOY read the blurb about the ALOY program on the CF website or heard about the program by word of mouth. Many of the candidates are athletes who have competed or volunteered with the North American Indigenous Games, which gathers the North American Aboriginal communities together to celebrate, share and teach their customs and traditions through sporting and cultural events. This year, there was more time and opportunities to get the word out to the Aboriginal media and RF recruiters, who are familiar with related CF Aboriginal programs including Bold Eagle, Raven and the CF Aboriginal Entry Program. The response from the Aboriginal community including the National Aboriginal Veteran’s Association has been positive. Some applicants may have family members who served in the forces and/or they may have some prior experience with the Canadian Forces through Cadets Canada or the Junior Ranger program. We expect that candidates may hear about the ALOY program from various sources including CF recruiters, RMC liaison officers, members of the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group and alumni. The ALOY staff are available to answer questions.

e-Veritas: Do you have any practical tips to share?

Sgt. White: Recruiting involves educating and making people aware the Canadian Forces have opportunities where Aboriginal people might fit. Increasing Aboriginal recruitment and retention and aid in integration are challenges, but it’s necessary to make the Canadian Forces representative of the communities we serve. Advertise opportunities in the Aboriginal Media e.g. Windspeaker (newspaper), Aboriginal Voices Radio, and Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network (APTN).

e-Veritas: Since you have been a staff for the ALOY program, what have been your favourite special events?

Sgt. White: During the Silver Lake Powwow, we introduced the 22 candidates by name and nation to the Algonquin people. I also enjoyed giving a presentation on the ALOY program at a RMC club luncheon in Kingston.

Dîner Vimy 2008

Article par élof Nicolas Plourde-Fleury

Vendredi le 14 novembre dernier, huit élofs du CMR St-Jean avons eu la chance d’assister au dîner Vimy qui a eu lieu au Musée canadien de la guerre à Ottawa. La réception eut lieu dans la Gallerie LeBreton, endroit où des véhicules blindés et canons de toutes les époques sont exposés Choix très inspiré puisque le récipiendaire de la décoration Vimy, le Général a la retraite Hillier, ainsi que l’actuel Chef de l’état-major de la Défense, le Général Natynczyk, font partie de l’Arme blindée. La soirée fut organisée par L’Institut de la Conférence des Associations de la Défense afin de remettre la distinction Vimy et le prix média Russ Munro. C’est le général à la retraite Hillier qui a eu l’honneur de recevoir la distinction Vimy 2008. Nous avons pu profiter de l’éloquence notoire de M Hillier lorsqu’il a prononcé un discours dans lequel il nous a partagé sa passion de la profession des armes ainsi que quelques autres anecdotes inspirantes, spécialement pour de jeunes élèves-officiers. Quant au Prix média Russ Monro, il à été décerné à Alec Castonguay, correspondant parlementaire au journal Le Devoir, en reconnaissance de sa contribution à la compréhension du public des questions liées à la défense et à la sécurité nationales.. La très honorable Beverly McLachlin, Juge en chef du Canada, était présente et a fait un discours sur la justice dans les états défaillants et sur l’importance de continuer à construire une paix et des infrastructures favorisant l’État de droit. Notre groupe d’élèves-officiers du CMR St-Jean avons participé à cet évènement en tant que délégation du Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean. Ce dîner fut pour nous une chance exceptionnelle ainsi qu’une expérience mémorable.. Nous avons eu la chance de discuter avec plusieurs personnes, notamment avec des vétérans de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, plusieurs anciens militaires, des attachées militaires provenant des nations alliées et au général Natynczyk lui-même. Tous ces gens ont eu la générosité de partager leur expérience et parfois même certaines anecdotes avec nous. Nous nous sommes entretenus plus particulièrement avec un homme qui a commandé une troupe de chars Sherman sur la plage Juno en 1944; ce fut un moment inspirant et très solennel pour nous futurs officiers canadiens. Nous avons pu constaté la fierté et le sens du devoir de cet homme qui a servi son pays. Cette soirée fut pour nous une expérience enrichissante et unique qu’il nous a été donné de vivre en tout début de carrière. Nul doute que nous mettrons à profit la chance et la somme phénoménale d’expérience qui nous a été partagée au cours de cette soirée.

Vimy Dinner 2008

Article by OCdt Nicolas Plourde-Fleury

On Friday November 14, eight Officer Cadets from RMC St-Jean had the opportunity to attend the Vimy Dinner at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The evening was organized by the Conference of Defense Association Institute to present the Vimy distinction and the Russ Munro Media Award. The event was held in the LeBreton Gallery, where armored vehicles and guns from different times are exhibited. This was an inspired choice, given that the recipient of the Vimy decoration, General Hillier (ret), and the present Chief of the Defence Staff, General Natynczyk, are both members of the Armoured Corps.
It is General Hillier (ret) who had the honor of receiving the 2008 Vimy distinction. We appreciated and enjoyed his notorious eloquence when he gave a speech in which he shared his passion for the profession of arms as well as other stories that were especially inspiring for young Officer Cadets. The Russ Munro Media Award was granted to Alec Castonguay, parliamentary correspondent for Le Devoir, in recognition of his contribution to the public’s understanding of issues relating to Canada’s defence and security. Present at the reception, the Right Honorable Beverly McLachlin, Chief of Justice of Canada, made a speech on justice in failing states and the importance of building peace and infrastructure supporting the Rule of Law. Our group of OCdts had the opportunity to participate in the event as a delegation from RMC St-Jean. It was a memorable experience to attend this dinner. We had the opportunity of speaking with many people, notably to veterans of the Second World War, former military members, military attachés of allied nations and to General Natynczyk himself. These people were generous in sharing their experience and some of their stories. We talked with a man who commanded a troop of Sherman tanks at Juno beach in 1944, and that was an inspiring and most solemn moment for us future Canadian officers. We were able to see this man’s pride and sense of duty for having served his country. This evening was an enriching and unique experience that we had the opportunity to live right at the beginning of our career. No doubt we will build on the great amount of experience that was shared with us that evening.

2444 RAdm (Ret`d) John A Charles (RMC ’35) CMM, CD, MID RCN

Born in Rouleau Saskatchewan 27 Mar 1918, John Charles joined the R.C.N. directly from the Royal Military College on 1 September 1937. He was immediately sent to the Royal Navy for cadet, mid-shipmen and Sub-Lieutenant training. At the start of war of WWII, was a mid-shipman in H.M.S. BERWICK which patrolled northern waters and later, Norwegian operations. After the fall of France in 1940, was second in command of a party mounting guns around the south coast of England. That fall, he joined HMCS RESTIGOUCHE for convoy duty as part of the Clyde Escort Force. In 1942, after a signals course in the U.K., joined HMS LAFOREY for operations as Signal Officer, 19th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean for operations in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and points in between. Upon returning to Canada in 1944, he performed staff
signal duties at St. Hyacinthe, Esquimalt and Washington, DC. He took command HMCS CRESCENT on 1 Jan 1948. After RN and JSSC staff course, joined HMCS MAGNIFICENT. He was appointed Director Naval Communications and in the fall of 1953 took command of HMCS. HAIDA. On arrival in Korea, he became Commander Canadian Destroyer Far East and promoted to Captain then as Commandant, Royal Roads College for three years from 1954 to 1957 then back to Ottawa as Director of Naval Operations.

He returned to Esquimalt as Commander 2nd Escort Squadron and in 1961 assigned as Commodore, R.C.N. Barracks Esquimalt. After a National Defence College course, he returned to NDHQ as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff. On 1 Aug 1966, he went back to the west coast as Maritime Force Commander Pacific as Rear-Admiral. He returned to Ottawa in 1969 as Assistant C.D.S. Plans and later as Chief of Maritime Operations. He retired in 1974 from the post of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. He founded the Friends of Hatley Park Society, a group of volunteers who now work with Royal Roads University to preserve the grounds and gardens. He was awarded an honorary degree at Royal Roads University in 2008.

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4809 Colonel Mark ID Egener (RMC ’60) was appointed Colonel of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regiment on 18 July 2003. He was born in Toronto, Ontario in July 1938 and spent his formative years in London, Ontario. He attended the Royal Military College in Kingston Ontario and the University of Western Ontario where he was granted a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Mechanical Engineering) in 1961. He was posted to The Fort Garry Horse and held a series of Regimental appointments in Petawawa and North West Europe. In 1964 he attended the Technical Staff Course at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, UK. He returned to Canada to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School, Trials and Evaluation Unit, in 1966. He was a student at the Canadian Army Staff College in 1967 and joined the Strathcona’s as a Squadron commander in Germany in 1968. On return to Canada in 1970, he completed a two-year Master of War Studies program at the Royal Military College. This was followed by a tour as Senior Canadian with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. In 1973 he was appointed Commanding Officer of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in Calgary. Following regimental command, Colonel Egener served as Assistant Military Attaché (Army) and Acting Military Attaché in Washington D.C. In 1977 he returned to Kingston on the Directing Staff of the Army Staff College. In 1978 he accepted a position with Nova Corporation of Alberta (then Alberta Gas Trunk Line) to be involved with a small group in the development of the Western Petrochemical Project. Here he occupied a number of challenging positions before being transferred on executive loan to the Alberta Government in Edmonton in 1983 to be Managing Director of Alberta Public Safety Services (a Deputy Minister level position). He remained in the public service of Alberta for the next twelve years as Chief Executive Officer of this provincial government agency responsible for the development of legislation, advising the minister and cabinet and administering the organization responsible for disaster and emergency preparedness, response and recovery and hazardous material regulation in Alberta. Also during this period he was instrumental in the establishment of the Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada and he served on the Council’s Board of Directors and as its Chairman. In 1995 he retired from public service and formed a consulting company, Summit Enterprises International Inc (S.e.i.), which focussed on crisis and risk management as well as general management services. In 1998, S.e.i. became associated with Global Change Strategies International Inc., one of Canada’s leading consult a ncies in the climate change and global warming field. His clients include the federal, provincial and municipal governments, leading Canadian corporations and a number of international governments and agencies. Colonel Egener lives in Edmonton with his wife Julia. They have two grown children and five grandchildren in Ottawa and Canmore, Alberta.

Source: Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regimental Manual © Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regimental Society, 2004

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18239 Major David Proteau (CMR ’92) was born in Forestville, Quebec. He joined the Canadian Forces in June 1987 and studied at the College Militaire Royal de St-Jean where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation in the summer of 1992, Maj Proteau attended the Canadian Forces Air Navigator School (CFANS) where he earned his Air Navigator wings in June 1993. Maj Proteau’s first operational tour was with 407 Squadron in Comox, British Columbia where he flew on the CP-140 Aurora, first as an Acoustic Sensor Operator (ASO) then as a Tactical Navigator (TacNav). He finished his tour in Comox in 1998 after serving as the Squadron Training Tactical Navigator for one year. In September 1998, Maj Proteau was posted back to CFANS where instructed Officer Development and Tactics before becoming Tactical Cell lead for his last year at the Unit. He was posted to 17 Wing in 2001 and worked as Executive Assistant to the Wing Commander for a period of two year before being transferred to 405 Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia in the spring of 2003 to start his second Operational tour flying on the CP-140 Aurora. From 2003 to 2005, he worked as Lead Navigator on crew and participated in many anti-submarine exercises in places such as Jacksonville, Florida, Kinloss, Scotland and Nimes-Garon, France. Maj Proteau was promoted to his current rank in June 2005 and posted to CFSSAT as Commandant. In June 2008 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Air Command Band.

Online Bio

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7326 Ed Allard (RRMC RMC ’68) grew up in Thunder Bay via England

His father, Rheal Allard, was a Canadian soldier overseas during the Second World War when he met his future wife, Joyce Felton, who was with the RAF. The couple married, but tragically Rheal was killed during the Falaise Gap battle in August, 1944, only a month after landing in France.

Joyce, then in her third trimester with Ed, decided to move to Canada from Brighton, England, to be closer to her late husband’s family following the birth of her child.

Ed wanted to pursue engineering studies and, with the encouragement of a guidance counselor, he successfully enrolled at the former Royal Roads Military College, in Victoria, B. C. He later transferred to Kingston’s Royal Military College where he graduated with a civil engineering degree.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

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“The [Advanced Survival, Evade, Resistance, Escape (SERE) course] course is by all means physically demanding,” says 18067 Maj Jean Bernier (CMR ’91), Commandant of the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT). “This is done purposely so that candidates learn how to apply survival skills while under a great deal of stress and fatigue.” As such, special emphasis is placed on evading enemy forces, resisting interrogation if caught, and escaping from the enemy after capture. “At this point, candidates should all agree that their worse day on the run is always better than their best day in captivity,” said Maj Bernier. The CFSSAT provides initial and continuation training for all CF aircrew on such diverse topics as life support equipment and human factors, search and evasion as well as disorientation and night vision.

Read the full article HERE.

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15658 Rohan JP Maxwell (RRMC 1986) has been Chief of Politico-Military Advisory Section at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo since February 2005. He provides integrated analysis, planning and implementation support to the Commander and the Political Advisor/Director Defence & Security Sector Reform, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.
He served as a Combat Engineer with the Canadian Army from 1982 – 2005 (23 years). He holds a MA, War Studies from RMC, 2003 with a dissertation topic: peacebuilding and military operations. He earned a BSc, Physics, Computer Science, 1982 – 1987 from Royal Roads Military College.

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10162 Commander Brian Palmer (RMC 1974) enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1970 as a cadet at the Royal Military College in Kingston and graduated in 1974 with a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1993, he attended the Royal Navy Staff College in Greenwich, England where he also received a master-of-arts degree in Defence Studies from the University of London. He was promoted to this current rank in 2000 and appointed as Head of the Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine, Lessons Learned and Standardization Section within the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Group in National Defence Headquarters. In July 2003, he was assigned to the Headquarters of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia where he developed new concepts of operations to enhance NATO’s capability for the twenty-first century. Commander Palmer assumed the position of Commanding Officer of the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Atlantic) on 2 October 2007. Commander Palmer and his wife, Judy, reside in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Source

23179 Captain John Kim

Written by: 25057 Ocdt (II) Nalae Yang

The weekend of November 15th and 16th was one of the biggest annual Tae Kwon Do (TKD) competitions in Toronto. When I arrived at the site to get registered as a competitor on early Saturday morning, a member from my team tapped on my shoulder, notifying me that Captain John Kim is competing this weekend. He was just over my shoulder when I found him under a dark blue cap in a red and black CISM TKD suit, talking to the other CISM TKD athletes.

John Kim is an athlete in the CF TKD community well-known for his high achievements in national competitions. In fact, everybody in my RMC Varsity team including myself recognize him for setting an example of an excellent Tae Kwon Do athlete.
During his time at RMC, he has won several medals at major competitions.

2002 CF National- Silver
2002 Canadian National- Gold Poom Sae
2003 Canadian National- Gold Poom Sae
2004 Canadian National – Silver (light weight category), Gold Poomsae
2005 Canadian National – Silver (welter), Gold Poomsae
2004-05 Male Athlete of the Year – Tommy Smart Cup Winner

After graduation, he continued to perform at a high level and won the following competitions:

2006 Canadian National – Bronze Poomsae
2007 Canadian Pan AM Games Team Trial – 4th

When I met him this weekend, he was kind enough to accept my request to interview him despite his many other obligations.

Here is some background information about Lt John Kim:

Full Name: John Kim

Home town: Toronto

Unit: Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) aka LdSH(RC)

Current Position: Troop Leader, B Squadron

Year of Graduation from RMC: 2005

SQN at RMC: 9 and 7 Sqn

Studied Program at RMC: Honour’s Politics, Minor Psychology

Captain Kim won a silver medal on this particular weekend and the following is the interview with this exceptional Tae Kwon Do athlete.

Q How many years have you trained for?

I started competing at civilian provincial/national circuit in 1996.

Q When did you start TKD?

I started TKD in Korea in 1989. After moving to Canada I re-started TKD in 1993.

You can see from the pattern when I peaked as an athlete. My last two years at the college (04-05) is when I was most successful. You can see the reverse of that as well. As soon as I graduated and began focusing my efforts towards military career, TKD had to be on the back-burner. My not being able to make the podium in the 2006 national was a result of me training on my own between field exercises and career courses in Gagetown. After Jan 07, I virtually ceased all TKD activities once I received my badge as an Armour Officer and became slated for overseas deployment.

Q What have you done since graduating from RMC?

I completed 2 months OJT at Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters in J3 Ops. This enabled me to train in Kingston to compete at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey to represent Team Canada in Aug 05. At this time, I was nationally ranked #2 in my weight category for TKD. In Turkey, I advanced to the round of 16 defeating a fighter from Peru in my first match. I lost to Iran in the second match who ended up winning silver in welter weight category. I was one of two Canadian fighters who won a match in that competition. The other fighter was Jocelyn Addison. (Records could be found at the FISU website, www.fisu.net). Upon returning to Canada from the competition I immediately got posted to CFB Gagetown at the Armour School in order to complete my phase training. I spent two years in Gagetown completing Ph. 3, Ph. 4, and my tank commander course including my OPMEs. While in Gagetown I continued to train and compete on my own time where I participated and won gold in both poomse and sparring at the 5th International Open TKD Championship in Portland, Oregon in Oct 06. I also competed at the 2006 Canadian National in Halifax where I won bronze in poomse. My last competition was in 2007 where I competed at the Olympic Team Trials in Montreal. I came 3rd in that competition for Olympic 3rd division. I ceased all training and competition after this tournament in order to focus on completing the rest of my military trade qualifications. This was a difficult thing to do for me as I loved TKD but had to make a choice to focus on my career. Although everyday I miss training and being in the circuit, I have found something equally rewarding as TKD, and that is leading troops. I am currently slated for Task Force 3-09 where I will lead troops in a tank squadron in Sep 09.

Ed:  John was just recently promoted to Captain.  Congratulations!!

Q Where are you currently training and who are you training with? How many hours a week do you train in a week?

Any training I do I do by myself, on my own time. I currently have no coach, trainer, or team to train with. It has been this way for me since I arrived in Gagetown after grad. My advice to you: enjoy your time at RMC because it will never come again. I was very pleased and proud of you and the entire RMC team when I saw you compete in Toronto. Keep up the great work!

Q Do you think that being at RMC was helpful for you as an athlete? How did your life at RMC affect your life as an athlete in the military?

My time at RMC was invaluable. The relationships I had formed as team captain while I was there, and equally important, the relationship I had formed with my coach Peter Nicol was what enabled my success. Talent can only take you so far, and I had very little of it. What enabled my success was the support I received from the college and the training staff. In the 4 years I had been at the college, I competed all around the world representing RMC, the CF, and Team Canada. I was ranked #2 in my weight category for two years with 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze at the Canadian National Championship.

TKD was, and still is, to me, a martial art before it is a sport. The values I have learned from training and the humbling lessons learned from defeat in competition have all enabled me to become a better leader and better soldier in the CF. There is an article I wrote regarding the values of being a TKD competitor at the college and its greater implications as a combat arms officer in the CF. You may be able to get a better perspective if you take a read. It can be found at the E-Veritas website:

http://www.rmcclub.ca/eVeritas/2005/200504.htm
http://www.rmcclub.ca/eVeritas/2005/200506.htm

Q If you can go back to when you were at RMC, would you have done anything different?

Not a thing.

Q What are the things that you like and dislike about being a TKD athlete/ CISM athlete?

If one was to ask me, “Has TKD at RMC shaped your life or have you shaped TKD at RMC,” my response would be TKD has shaped my life. If there is something for me to complain about being a TKD athlete, then it would mean I have something to complain about my life. I am grateful for my having had the opportunity to do something I love doing and bringing greater pride to the college and the CF. I have no right to dislike anything about being a TKD athlete.

Q Which competition was your most memorable? What was memorable about it? Could you tell me some of your personal experience?

Out of all the different competitions I attended around the world, I would have to say that my CISM competition in October 2006 was the most memorable. It took place 18-26 Sep. It was most memorable because it was in Korea. The last time I had visited Hangook before this time was over ten years ago. Not only did I have my most successful CISM fight at the game, I narrowly escaped a bronze medal against Greece, but I also got to spend some valuable quality time with my relatives that I haven’t seen in years. I also flew my mom down from Canada as a birthday present and she got to travel and move around with the team throughout the week. Although none of the fighters from the CF came back with a medal, to be able to fight and compete in the country where TKD was founded inspired all of us and brought out the best in us. This was my experience in Korea.

Q How do you prepare for a competition? (Mentally and Physically)

When I was in the competitive circuit, I used to follow a routine which I did every single time before competition. I would plan at least a year in advance a competition to prepare for, usually CISM or Canadian National. That 1 year training plan would then be broken down into segments, with each segment focusing on a particular aspect of the game. For example, months 1-2 would focus on purely physical conditioning (cardio, plyo, weight management, and diet). Months 3-4 would focus on sparring techniques and so on and so forth. The latter part of the training plan sees a shift from the physical aspects of the game to the mental aspects such as concentration, visualization, and simulation.

One of the most important things about training is to have a clear goal. I did a lot of research into sports psychology to understand the road to success followed by other successful athletes. In reality, every athlete has their own taste and style of preparing for a competition. The important thing for one starting out is to find your own style and experimenting. Once you have a set of procedures down in place, apply it to future competitions and analyze if it works. In order for this approach to work, however, you need to have an excellent feedback mechanism in place. This means that you and your coach/trainer must be constantly talking back and forth. The relationship I had with my coach was truly excellent and this is what enabled me to succeed.

As we talked very briefly in Toronto, each experience (it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose) has something very valuable to teach us. As smart TKD practitioners, we must take in the lesson that each competition teaches us. Like I told you, I have lost many more games than I have ever won and I hazard a guess that this is a streak that I will never break. I do not let this fact distress me, however, because the greatest lessons we learn are those we learn when we lose. Don’t be afraid of losing. Only be afraid of not getting better.

Q Now that you have experiences outside of the RMC boundaries and see the bigger picture, what advice can you give to the student athletes at RMC?

The advice I would have applies to all TKD athletes, but I hope that my message strikes a particular cord with you and your teammates: this is because we are not mere athletes; we are officers in the CF and martial artists first. This carries with it a greater responsibility than just being athletes. It means that you must prepare for life, not just competition. Right now, as Officer Cadets, your world naturally and rightfully revolves around the college. Make the best of it while it lasts because we can never return to our college years once it’s done. Remember that sports and physical fitness is only 1 of the 4 pillars at the college. The rest are equally important: academics, bilingualism, and military training. I know the tendency as a cadet is to just get by each day so that it brings us 1 day closer to becoming a senior cadet or 1 day closer to graduation. However, once we leave the safe confines of the campus, reality hits us quick and mercilessly. Use every opportunity you have at the college to Seek and Accept Responsibility. First of all, as officers, we don’t brush aside our duties (don’t be a ghost cadet). Second, as TKD practitioners, we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Why? We are not just athletes. First and foremost, we are officers and martial artists. Truth, Duty, Valour. Don’t let this motto just to be a cliché. Let it stand as something to strive for. When you speak the truth, when you perform your duties, and you demonstrate valour in everyday living, you will become a successful person- this is what I was alluding to when I said that you must prepare for life, not just competition.

Q Anything else you would like to add?

Please pass on my best wishes to the team.

Captain Kim exhibited the qualities and techniques he described during his bouts at the Toronto Open. His actions during the competition reflected his beliefs of being a CF Officer and martial artists first. Watching such an experienced CF athlete in competition motivated me to appreciate each opportunity I have and use them to become a better OCdt and athlete.

Before a large crowd of spectators and invited guests, the last graduating class of “Air Navigators”, comprised of three members each from the Canadian and Portuguese Air Forces received their navigator’s wings from 11330 MGen Angus W Watt (CMR ’77), Chief of the Air Staff. With rapid technological advancements and the introduction into the Air Force of new equipment, the actual role of the air navigator has evolved far beyond the traditional tasks associated with navigating an aircraft. So much so that beginning in January 2009, air navigators will be re-named as Air Combat Systems Officers (ACSO) — a moniker that more accurately reflects their current and future roles. “The contributions made by navigators to the defence of our nation, the wings you now wear proudly upon your uniform, and the traditions established will be carried on by ACSO’s,” said LGen Watt, “It is only the name Air Navigator that will cease to be used by the Air Force.” At the end of the graduation ceremony, navigator 18239 Major David Proteau (CMR ’92) said that he was “proud to have been an Air Navigator but was looking forward to becoming an ACSO and exploring the many opportunities the occupation has to offer.”

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Tough Economic Times

As the world reacts to the economic challenges so too must we all look at how we can make a difference. From the continuing bad news about the financial stresses on markets, governments of all levels and most
importantly the people of each and every community, we have to find the best path through the maze to ensure our futures.

We have all been impacted in one way or another. Not one individual in our community has or will be unaffected by the economic situation. However, Kingston is and will continue to be a city that has a unique
strength and will to meet every challenge head on. We are known for our volunteerism, philanthropic, and charitable nature towards our community and region. Now more than ever we need to stick together to ensure we all as a community work through the times ahead so that we are best placed to take advantage of the good times that will come again. Investing in ourselves, our community and giving within the community is now a key component to sustaining our livelihoods and quality of life. I ask everyone to reach out to neighbours, friends and families when and where you can or are able to get us through the recession that is
coming. This is not something new to any of us…helping each other.

Buying local, supporting local endeavours, being involved in local events and activities will all go a long way to help our community to move forward positively. The strength we will all gain from working together in partnerships will bring long lasting relationships and understanding. I am confident that with everyones best efforts that Kingston can and will be one of the better placed communities to ride through the economic storm. We simply have to find the common ground, work together for the people of our community, and be involved not only in community activities but in the services and support networks in the community.

Let us never forget that we have to actively listen to each other, understand the message and find the common piece that we can build upon to keep each other strong, healthy and able to build a positive future
for ourselves and the City of Kingston as a whole.

Sincerely,

14444 Capt (ret`d) Dorothy A Hector (RMC ’84)

City of Kingston, Councillor Lakeside District

http://www.dorothyhector.com/

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14872 Pierre Lemieux (CMR RMC ’85)
Député/ Member of Parliament
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Friday, November 23, 2007

Pierre Lemieux encourages soldiers’ families and friends to take advantage of free postage for mail to soldiers:

“Our troops in Afghanistan know that we support them, particularly if they receive mail from us.”
- Pierre Lemieux, MP

Ottawa – As of October 26, Canada Post is offering free delivery of letters and packages from family and friends to Canadian troops deployed abroad, until early 2009.

Seeing this as a worthwhile program, the Member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Pierre Lemieux, stated: “As a former soldier, I know how important it is to have the support of loved ones during missions, especially around the holidays. The value of correspondence with our soldiers should not be underestimated, since words of encouragement from their family and friends mean so much to them. Our troops in Afghanistan know that we support them, particularly if they receive mail from us. ”

This offer is available to the family and friends of the men and women serving in the operational zones of Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, the Sinai, Jerusalem, and on Canadian ships.

The letters and parcels need to be sent from a Canada Post post-office. Letters and packages dropped in regular street letter boxes will not qualify for free delivery. Mr. Lemieux has also offered his four riding offices as a drop-off location for these letters. All mail must be addressed to a specific soldier, including rank and the mission on which he is serving.

“This is a very positive initiative and I hope everyone in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell who has a loved one currently serving abroad will take advantage of this service offered by Canada Post. I urge them to do so,” concluded Mr. Lemieux.

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The Late Colonel Karen Ritchie – Tribute

Debates of the Senate (Hansard) 1st Session, 40th Parliament, Volume 145, Issue 6 Thursday, November 27, 2008

Hon. Lucie Pépin: Honourable senators, Colonel Karen Ritchie died as the result of an automobile accident on October 13, 2008. At that time, she was commander of 5 Area Support Group in Quebec. She was 45 years old. The Canadian Forces and Canada have lost a devoted officer, a woman and leader who had much to offer.

I had the pleasure of meeting Colonel Ritchie on several occasions. Each time I was impressed by her vitality. She was an extraordinarily tough woman who was also deeply human. She served Canada for 28 years at various levels. Karen Ritchie entered the Royal Military College in Kingston at the age of 17. She was the first female graduate of the college to reach the rank of colonel. She dreamed of becoming a pilot but the regulations did not permit women to enter that profession. She joined the army where she found her way and specialized in electrical and mechanical engineering. She was promoted to captain in 1988. Transferred to Germany, she served as a support officer, platoon commander and maintenance officer. When she returned to Canada in 1991, she served with the Land Force Command Headquarters G4 Staff. She was subsequently assigned to Gagetown.

After earning a master’s degree in logistics, she was promoted to the rank of major. She was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 2000. In 2002 she was deployed to the Persian Gulf as Deputy Commanding Officer of the Operation Apollo National Support Unit. She returned to Canada and assumed command of Area Support Unit Toronto. In 2003, she was re-assigned to G4, Land Force Central Area Headquarters and was responsible for the logistical support of all Army elements in Ontario. She was promoted to the rank of colonel in June 2004 and, as I mentioned earlier, was the first female colonel. Colonel Ritchie managed several projects at Headquarters in Ottawa.

Gender integration in the armed forces was very important to Colonel Ritchie. Her experience in the Canadian Forces showed her that women could aspire without reserve to the same positions as men. To that end, she participated in the advancement of the gender integration program of the Canadian Forces and was a member of a NATO committee that looked at the issue of gender equality. Colonel Ritchie was a role model for female soldiers and also for members of the Girl Guides of Canada, who she helped become leaders in their communities. Colonel Ritchie was taken from us prematurely, but she will be remembered forever by all Canadians who knew her.

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From Air Cadets to Afghanistan

23245 Captain Gina Lee Decarie (nee Snyder)

Canada loses navy great
2399 Rear Admiral William Landymore OBE, CD

Top commander plays down combat milestone

What they represent, collectively, is military professionalism and a willingness to sacrifice

14378 Brigadier-General Denis Thompson

Tributes pour in after oldest polar bear dies in Winnipeg

The RMC Polar Bear Connection

Tributes and remembrances of Debby, who was the world’s oldest living polar bear, flooded into the Winnipeg zoo on Tuesday after officials announced the bear was dead.

The 42-year-old polar bear was born in the Russian Arctic in 1966 and came to Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo as an orphan a year later. The bear’s health had been failing in recent months and she was euthanized Monday as her organs began to fail.

Debby gave birth to six offspring with her mate, Skipper, who died in 1999 at age 34. All her cubs are still alive.

Few polar bears reach age 20 years in the wild, but many have survived into their early 30s in captivity.

Earlier in 2008, at age 41, Debby entered the Guinness Book of World records as the oldest living polar bear. At 42, she was within the top three record-holders for longevity among all eight species of bears, the zoo said. More…

What, exactly, is the link between polar bears and RMC?

“Mascots had been popular in the university sports scene. While I was Commandant of CMR de Saint-Jean, we had designed a mascot and the officer cadets seemed to enjoy its presence at games and other activities. It was suggested to the RMC officer cadets that they consider acquiring one for RMC. Since this initiative moved more independently and more quickly than the change of name for the sports teams, the officer cadets decided on a polar bear as a mascot. When the mascot was designed, not surprisingly, they decided to dress the bear in a scarlet uniform and pillbox hat. The cadets also decided to give the bear a rather fierce look (Most mascots have a friendly look and use gestures to show their mood.). The mascot was used a lot and accompanied us down to West Point for the annual hockey game. The mascot (officer cadet) got so enthusiastically engaged in supporting our team at one point that he/she ended up with a 10 minute bench penalty!

Unfortunately, when it came time to giving the bear its first dry cleaning, the bear’s fur went from straight to curly and the mascot began to look more like a fierce sheep than a polar bear. This apparently put him on the benches for good. (ed. The RMC polar bear is currently featured in the RMC museum colouring book. 5611 LCdr (Ret’d) Gerald GL Stowe (RRMC RMC ’62) makes up teddy bears with RMC pillboxes and tunics for sale in the Panet House gift shop.)”

Extract from our Commandant Series interview with 6496 BGen (Ret’d) Charles JCA Émond CD (CMR RMC ‘65)

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U.S. Military Academy at West Point Launches ‘Center for Oral History,’ an Archive of Soldier Experiences, from Oldest Living Vets to Troops

Online Content Accessible to Cadets, Historians and the Public; Center Seeks to Reverse Nation’s Military ‘Illiteracy’; Storied West Point ‘Class of 1967′ and Comprehensive History of War in Iraq Among Center’s Initial Projects
Center to include interviews from Secretaries of State and Defense on wartime planning strategy; Among advisory board are documentarian Ken Burns and former presidential advisor Brent Scowcroft, as well as Pulitzer Prize war correspondents; Early segments capture vivid sense of being tested in heat of combat
WEST POINT, N.Y., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ — The United States Military Academy at West Point, whose graduates are commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army, has launched an ambitious Center for Oral History to serve as a living archive on the experiences of American soldiers in war and peace. The Center aims to be a powerful learning tool for West Point cadets and an important research center for historians, as well as a destination for the public to gain greater understanding of the essential and unique calling of the U.S. soldier

Much more

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Army Professor Cheers for Navy?
Navy News|by Sgt. Vincent Fusco
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Lt. Col. Donald Outing, an instructor at West Point, said he will proudly wear Army green Saturday, but will be rooting for Navy when the two academy teams play.
Outing played football for the U.S. Naval Academy from 1979 to 1982. He was recruited by then-Navy football coach George Welsh and played as a defensive tackle until Welsh left in 1982.  More

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A Teacher speaks out on students bullying teachers. Robert Smol holds degrees from McGill and Queen’s universities and the Royal Military College. Robert Smol was a full-time graduate student in the RMC War Studies department from 1988-1990. He received his MA in 1991. He also holds degrees from McGill and Queen’s and a journalism diploma from Humber College. He has taught with RMC’s Continuing Studies department on several occasions since 1997. For most of the last 15 years, he has been teaching elementary and high school students in the Greater Toronto Area. A 2005 survey conducted by the Canadian Teachers Federation revealed that 35 per cent of teachers had witnessed a student physically assaulting or intimidating a teacher. The same study found 60 per cent of teachers had seen a student verbally abusing a teacher at a level “more than just an angry exchange.” Overall, almost 40 per cent of teachers in this province reported having been bullied by their students. Of this group, the most severely affected are the intermediate (Grades 7-9) teachers, where 50 per cent reported having been bullied by their students. Why are teachers being bullied so much? To answer th i s, we have to look at what I call the three problem p’s: permissiveness, parents and principals. Source

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Keith Neilson, Professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada, co-wrote ‘The Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1854-1946′, which was published by: Routledge, 4th December 2008. Chief among the personnel at the Foreign Office is the Permanent Under-secretary, the senior civil servant who oversees the department and advises the Foreign Secretary. This book is a study of the twelve men who held this Office from 1854-1946. Source

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The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point is pleased to announce the release of “The Globalization of Martyrdom: Al Qaeda, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks,” by Dr. Assaf Moghadam, Senior Associate at the Combating Terrorism Center. This groundbreaking volume examines the rise and spread of suicide attacks over the past decade. Sorting through 1,270 terror strikes between 1981 and 2007, Dr. Moghadam attributes their recent proliferation to the mutually related ascendance of al Qaeda and its guiding ideology, Salafi Jihad, an extreme interpretation of Islam that rejects national boundaries and seeks to create a global Muslim community. He uses individual examples from the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Europe to show how the elite leaders of al Qaeda and affiliated groups and their foot soldiers interact with one another and how they garner support—and a growing number of converts and attackers—from the Muslim community. Based on over a decade of empirical research and a critical examination of existing thought on suicide attacks, Dr. Moghadam distinguishes the key characteristics separating globalized suicide strikes from the traditional, localized pattern that previously prevailed. This unflinching analysis provides new information about the relationship between ideology and suicide attacks and recommends policies focused on containing Salafi Jihadism.
The book is available for purchase from the Johns Hopkins University Press – Here

More

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Spouses of slain soldiers to get first dibs at government jobs

CAPTAIN HONORED FOR 52 YEARS SERVICE IN CANADIAN FORCES

NORAD’s Santa-Tracking Website Opens for 2008 Season

IX Commandant RRMC: 1963 – 1965 / XXVI Commandant RMC: 1967 – 1970

(Researched by E3161 Victoria Edwards)

2576 Commodore William “Willy” Prine Hayes (RMC ’37) was the 26th Commandant of RMC and the 9th Commandant of RRMC. He was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan in December 1919. He was an Officer Cadet at Royal Military College of Canada in 1937. He served as a Naval Cadet, RCN (Special Entry No. 49) in 1939. He was a Midshipman, with the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940. He was assigned to HMS Liverpool in 1940 for training and torpedoed in HMS Liverpool with the bow being blown off her south of Crete. He was assigned to HMS York for training and torpedoed in HMS York at Suda Bay. He was posted to HMS Isis for training in 1941 and the HMS Issis was hit by a bomb during the Syrian Campaign. He was posted to HMS Valiant for training in 1941, then to Naden in 1942. He served as First Lieutenant on HMCS Iroquois (Tribal Class Destroyer – C89) in 1942. He was awarded Mention in Despatches as per Canada Gazette of 20 June 1945 and London Gazette of 14 November 1944. He was posted to Stadacona in 1945. He served as First Lieutenant on HMCS Nootka in 1946. He was posted to HMS Excellent for RN Long Gunnery School in 1946. he performed Gunnery Duties on HMCS Magnificent in 1948. He was posted to Stadacona for Gunnery School in 1949. He attended the RN Staff College Course in 1951. He was assigned to Niobe as Staff Officer (Gunnery) in 1951. He served as Commanding Officer of HMCS Cayuga (Tribal Class Destroyer – 218) from 23 February 1953 to 31 December 1954 (Korean War Service). He was promoted Commander in January 1954. He was posted to Naden as Executive Officer of RCN Barracks in 1955. He was assigned to Naval HQ as Director of Naval Gunnery in 1956. He served at Naval HQ as Director Surface and Air Warfare 1957. He took the Naval Command Course for Senior Foreign Officers at United States Naval War College in 1958. He was the First Commanding Officer of HMCS Columbia (II) (Restigouche Class Destroyer Escort – 260) from 7 November 1959 to 25 April 1961. He was promoted Captain in 1961 and made Commander Fifth Canadian Escort Squadron. He was posted to National Defence HQ (NDHQ) with Joint Missile Defence Staff in 1961. He served at NDHQ with Directorate of Strategic Studies in 1962. He served as the 9th Commandant, Royal Roads Military College from 1963 to 1965. He was Commander Fourth Canadian Escort Squadron in 1965. He was posted to National Defence College of Canada (Course 20) in 1966. He was promoted Commodore in 1967 and served as 10th Commandant, Royal Military College of Canada from 1967-1973. He was made Honorary AdC to Governor General in 1967. He was Commander Canadian Flotilla Atlantic and Senior Officer Afloat in 1970. He served as Commandant Canadian Forces Staff College in Toronto in 1971 and retired in 1973.

Further information available HERE.

Who am I?

By E3161 Victoria Edwards (RMC ‘03)

• I was born on May 28, 1871, in St. Catherines, Ontario.
• I moved out to Victoria with my family where I was educated and then I attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario where I graduated with honours.
• My father served as a Colonel.
• Returning to British Columbia, I assisted with surveys on the coast under Dominion Land Surveyors R.E. Palmer and J.H. McGregor.
• I worked as assistant engineer on the Victoria and Sidney railway location and construction under J.H. Gray (C.E. and P.L.S.).
• I articled to C.E. Perry and received my British Columbia Land Surveyors commission in April 1893.
• I continued working on the coast and Vancouver Island till 1896 then moved to the Kootenays where I engaged in mining and railway surveys till 1908.
• In 1898 I took on the role of treasurer/secretary for the Association of Provincial Land Surveyors of British Columbia.
• I worked as a Civil Engineer and Surveyor between 1902 to 1908.
• I led #4 Company Rocky Mountain Rangers. From 1908 to 1912 I was their Commanding Officer.
• From 1909 – 1914, I completed a number of government consignments mostly on Vancouver Island, including the survey of Strathcona Provincial Park.
• I went overseas in 1915 in command of the 48th Battalion which I had mobilized and trained and which later converted to the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Corps under his command. At the end of the war I was in command of the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp at Etaples, France.
• I was invested with the D.S.O. and was mentioned in dispatches of General Haig.
• After the war I renewed field surveys of the British Columbia government until 1930 mainly on triangulation control surveys on the coast.
• I performed road location surveys in China for the Cantonese government in 1922.
• For several years prior to retiring in 1943, I looked after the Air Photo Library of the provincial Surveys Branch.
• I was a prominent Mason and took an interest in Veteran’s activities.
• I passed away at the age of eighty-three in the Veterans’ Hospital in Victoria, on July 10, 1954.
• H.D. Parizeau, of the Hydrographic Service Department was responsible for naming an Inlet on the coast of British Columbia after me in 1934. I was engaged in triangulation surveys in this district in 1913.

a) 187 Mr MJ Murphy (RMC 1884)
b) 221 C.M. Dobell (RMC 1890)
c) 229 Mr EM McDougall (RMC 1886)
d) W.J.H. Holmes (RMC 1891)
e) 293 C.J. Armstrong (RMC 1893)

Click HERE for the answer…

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www.rmcclubfoundation.ca

A Tax Tip….

Consider a Gift of Stock to the RMC Foundation

• If you hold appreciated stocks you may give a gift of securities to the RMC Foundation that is completely free of capital gains. You may obtain a tax-receipt for the full market value of the gift. As a rule of thumb, if your stocks have doubled you can gain more tax relief than its actual purchase price! This is a win/ win situation for you and The RMC Foundation!

Have your investments been hit this Fall?

• A TAX LOSS is no exception. You may donate a fallen share to the RMC Foundation, claim a capital loss as normal AND receive a tax receipt at the donated price. The loss will apply against your capital gains and the donation against all income!

For information on how to make a gift of securities to the RMC Foundation:

Call our staff 13731 Mr. Steve France, Executive VP, RMC Club Foundation, 1-888-386-3762 or check our site: www.rmcclubfoundation.ca

“Give a Gift of Stock to RMC”

DO YOU OWN ‘ BCE’ ?

You may donate your shares of BCE. If you donate your shares (or a portion ) you will eliminate your capital gains. You will also receive a charitable gift receipt. Even a fraction of your holding can offset gains on the rest!

A Gift of Secrurities is a practical tax decision and advances The College and Cadets

www.rmcclubfoundation.ca

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The Hamilton RMC Ex Cadet Club will be hosting its annual meet and greet at HMCS STAR in Hamilton

WHERE: HMCS STAR WARDROOM

WHEN: DECEMBER 22, 1730-2000

COST: $10 per person for Ex Cadets

Free for Serving and Prospective Cadets

Every year, the Hamilton RMC Ex Cadet Club invites current Cadets, Ex Cadets and prospective Cadets to the Wardroom at HMCS Star for an evening of information, revelry and catching up. It is a great opportunity to hear the latest about RMC right from the Cadets that are attending. A light meal is provided, and a full bar is available.

Please RSVP as soon as possible to help us get the numbers correct. To do so, please call Paul Southall at 905-632-1392, or send him an email. No advance tickets required.

BIRCH-JONES, Sonia (nee Rubenstein)

Sonia left us on November 27, 2008 in her home in Qualicum Beach after a brief illness and battle with her returning cancer. She died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Sonia was predeceased by her first husband, Squadron Leader Houlston, a wartime RAF hero who was shot down in his Mosquito Fighter Bomber over Germany, and her second husband, Charles Croucher, a British, Indian and Canadian naval officer. She is survived by her husband Peter, and their combined seven children; Sonia’s two wonderful daughters Brooke (Bob) and Beverly (Hermie), and Peter’s five children who found a wonderful, warm and loving step-mom in Sonia; Christopher, David, Jennifer (Suzzanne), Michael (Sandy) and Timothy (Pam). Sonia and Peter’s combined families of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and spouses number 39, all of whom were a source of great joy to Sonia. Sonia had a long, adventurous and very full life. She was born in Pontypridd, Wales in1921 to Simon and Beatrice Rubenstein. After attending Cardiff Polytechnical College, she joined the RAF a few months before the beginning of WWII in 1939, serving as a code and cypher officer. Later in the war, she went to India to join Mountbatten’s Special Force where she met and married Charles Croucher, then seconded to the RIN. After the birth of their first daughter Brooke and following India’s independence, Sonia and Charles returned to the post-war UK, where shortly after their second daughter Beverly was born, they emigrated to Canada in 1952 where Charles joined the RCN. Sonia and Peter met in 1973, were married in Victoria in 1975 in the navel chapel at Naden, and so began 33 of the best years of their lives. Sonia had numerous responsible and interesting jobs both in Victoria and Ottawa before retiring from the University of Victoria in 1987, after serving six years as a member of the University’s Board of Directors, as well as being Director of Alumni. Sonia was also a prolific writer of short stories, children’s books and murder mystery plays, the latter which she wrote and produced for charitable organizations in both Victoria and Qualicum Beach. Sonia also served as Chair in a number of Victoria organizations for which she was formally recognized for her many volunteer contributions: in 1983 she was the recipient of the CFAX Victoria Community Leader of the Year award, and in 2000, was recognized by the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria for her contributions to the arts and humanities. In addition to these many achievements, what set Sonia most apart was her wonderful warmth and generosity of spirit to all whom she touched, having a remarkable talent for making family and friends feel good just to be around her. A truly loving person, Sonia herself was much loved by many, and will be very much missed by all who knew her. The family would like to thank the many friends for their expressions of love and kindness throughout Sonia’s battle with cancer, as well as the wonderful heath care staff who cared so well for Sonia at the Palliative Care Unit at Nanaimo Hospital, and subsequently during her return home to be with her family and her wonderful view of the islands and the Georgia Straits which she so enjoyed. There will be a private service for Sonia’s family at St. Anne’s and St. Edmund’s. On Saturday, January 17th, 2009 at 2:00 pm there will be a celebration of Sonia’s life to which her many friends will be invited and welcomed, also to be held at St. Anne’s and St. Edmund’s in Parksville. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the B.C. Cancer Society or Oceanside Hospice. 515371

Dear family and friends,

I am writing on behalf of my Dad, Peter, to let you know that our dear Sonia died peacefully on Thursday, November 27th, at home with her family. We are so very thankful to have had Sonia back at home for the last few weeks of her life where she could be with her daughters and Peter, waking each time to the marvellous view of the islands and the Inside Passage which she so loved. As was the case with the rest of her life, Sonia brought grace, kindness, humour and strength to her battle with cancer, drawing on her family and her faith for the support she needed.

Should you wish to get in touch, we would ask that you respond by mail or phone (Sonia was the computer whiz in the family!) at 103-431 Crescent Road W, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 2K2, 250-752-4595.

Apologies for any duplication.

Sincerely,

RCNC102 Peter Birch-Jones

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3397 RICHARD SETTEN

It’s with great sadness that we are writing to tell you that our father, Richard Setten passed away on Friday morning December 5th. Adele and her five children are all together and we are celebrating his life and all the joy, wisdom and love that he brought to each of us. Words cannot begin to express how much he meant to the family as a leader, a moral compass and a shoulder to lean on. We are planning a wake at Hawley Lincoln Memorial Funeral in Guilford Ct on Friday December 12th and a Funeral at St.Margaret’s Church in Madison Ct on Saturday December 13th.

As soon as the details are available, we will send out another e-mail. We hope to see you there but if not please say a prayer especially for our Mom. If there is a story that you remember about our Dad that exemplifies his spirit and zest for life, please share it.

Thank You for keeping us in your prayers,
The Setten Family.

Dear Friends:

I am writing to provide details concerning Richard’s arrangements.

The wake will take place on Friday December 12 from 4:00 – 8:00pm at Hawley Lincoln Memorial Home 1315 Boston Post Road Guilford, CT 203 453-5790.

(http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl)

The funeral will take place on Saturday December 13 at 11:00am. It will be held at St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church at 39 Academy Street Madison, CT (203) 245-7971.

( http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl)

If you have any trouble accessing these links or difficulties with directions please let us know and we will provide further details.

Many thanks and much love,

The Setten Family

To see the rest of the RMC 2008 photos, click HERE…

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I am not sure how to start this but I will give it my best shot. For those of you who have followed E Veritas for the last year or so you will of noticed that I have been contributing off and on (more off than on as of late). I would like to announce that this will be my last official posting on E Veritas. As of next semester I will be taking time to focus on school and the sprint towards graduation.

Writing for E Veritas has been an excellent opportunity for me as a cadet. It has allowed me to get to know more about the Ex Cadet community and the RMC community as a whole. In the course of writing about RMC events, I have received some excellent feedback which has helped my self improvement as an officer. If any of you wish to contact me I can be reached at s24359@rmc.ca. Until then good night and good luck!

24359 Stephen Paish

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How the Interest Only Students Help the Varsity Sports program

Here is a link for a great photo of RMC student Tio Raharjo, who just
won two medals for RMC, at the Senior Canadian Championships in Calgary.
Tio is sporting his RMC Fencing jacket which clearly shows the college
crest! Great PR for RMC.

Mr Raharjo is here at RMC as an Interest Only (IO) student, due to a delay in his 08 application file, and he has since completed and resubmitted his ROTP application to the Kingston Recruiting Centre.

Besides being a top Canadian athlete with international experience, Tio is tri-lingual, coaches at RMC’s Cutting Edge Program and achieves top grades academically. He has also been invited to join the National Fencing Team High Performance Program (HPP). The last RMC fencers to achieve this were Capt Marilyne Lafortune 23022 and Lt Natalie Jones 23705 in 2004-05.
RMC Fencing is pleased to have recruit candidates of his calibre who are interested in attending RMC in the future.

Mr Raharjo hopes to receive an ROTP offer to RMC for the fall of 2009 to pursue a science degree. Great job Tio!!!

Patricia Howes
Head Fencing Coach

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It (CF Sports Award Ceremony) was indeed another great evening. The host venue was the Canadian War Museum, which I believe is the first time for it to be held there. Very appropriate for such a military event. It was too bad that poor weather had forced some of the East Coast attendees to miss the evg. The overall CF winers (as the RMC Fencing Team) are not announced until the end of the evg, having been previously selected from all the Environmental winners. I was very pleased to have been selected as the Canadian Forces 2007 Male Athlete of the Year. Although I have been the various Env winner several times I had never received the overall award until this past Sat. FYI.

11338 Maj BB Barteaux (RMC ’78)