Pillbox Being Replaced – New Headgear Available for Grad
Posted by rmcclub on April 1st, 2012
From Pillbox to this…
Pillboxes off to Parks Canada
By: WJO
E-Veritas has become aware that both Royal Military College of Canada and Royal Military College St Jean will hand-over their entire supply of pillboxes currently in use by both Cadet Wings to Parks Canada. The immediate result will be no pill boxes on any ceremonial parade, including graduation, for the foreseeable future.
Parks Canada will distribute over 1500 pillboxes to a number of communities across the country in conjunction with celebrations associated with the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. The commencement date for these celebrations is scheduled for the long weekend in May – just over six weeks away.
The pillbox has been pretty well a staple part of the cadet uniform since RMC opened in 1876. There was a brief period during World War 1 when a flat hat was introduced. This hat was blue with a red band and very similar to those worn in the U.S. civil war. However, it was not long before the new hat was discarded and the pillbox reissued.
Our sources in Ottawa have indicated that this same type of flat hat, gray (not blue) with a red band will be used by cadets for the 2012 graduation parade and likely for the next few years. The first shipment is due to arrive at both locations within 14 days.
The majority of the Ex cadets we have contacted are not very impressed with this decision. Some of the initial reaction:
“The pillbox represents the traditions of the colleges and everything they stand for.”
“Take away the pillbox and you remove the most vital part of the cadet uniform.”
“Personally, I feel that the pillbox is the only headdress suitable for cadets in scarlets.”
Not all the Ex cadet feedback has been negative:
“I believe that the pillbox, although suitable in bygone days, has no place whatsoever in the makeup of the college uniform.”
The Chain of Command from both colleges were unavailable for comment at press time.
We would appreciate hearing your reaction:
Is supplying Parks Canada with all available pillboxes from both college a good decision? If yes, why? If no, why not? (Leave us a reply.)
April Fool’s Day
Thanks everyone for being such good sports. e-Veritas readers are the greatest!
Following is a small sample of some of the e-mails we received.We omitted the names of the sender to save some red faces.
Bill & Rolande
I know better than to fall for your April fools day jokes after 5 years!!!!!!!
OMG THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHAT IMBECILE THOUGHT THIS UP.
DARN!!!!! This is a April Fool’s joke, isn’t it?????
Nice one Bill. Had me for a second then I saw the date. See you in a few hours.
I’m so gullible. April foollllssss
Omg. You had me there for a moment. Furious, then laughing out loud.
Happy April 1st to you too!
Great April Fools Joke!
April Fools! You definitely had me raging for a moment before I realized the date.
I liked the one last year (a few years ago?) when they wrote the article about the parade square being turned into a parking lot.
Man those responses were great.
You always stir it up a bit on April Fool’s Day. Looks like you caught a bunch of people again! Well done, my friend.
April fools sir?
Haha nice one Bill…you certainly had me at 2 in the morning last night…
Touche good sir, touché
Good joke Bill !!!! It rates way up there with other April Fool’s jokes, the most recent local one being the renamming of Barrack St to Barack in 2010. Nice to see the grey weather has not dampened your sense of humour.
Looks like you got a lot of people wound up who forgot to look on the calendar for the date today…
Good one Bill!
I am totally opposed to the change from the traditional RMC Pillbox to the US Confederate Army style cap. Who ever came up with this nightmare? I’m sure it wasn’t an Ex-Cadet.
What an excellent April Fools spoof. It took a minute as I read your write-up to digest the details and then I remembered the date. Well done.
Thanks for the morning smile. Keep up the great work.
Great April Fools Joke!
Good one, Bill! April fools! All the best,
This is a terrible decision. The Grey Hat does not match the Scarlet Uniform and looks more American than Canadian. Did someone get a bargain on e-Bay?
Bill you didn’t get me this year. Good try.
A few points if I may.
First of all, the new style cap is known as a kepi and has its origin with the French and not the US Army. The US Army of the mid-nineteenth century was patterened after the French and had adopted many forms of their dress.
Secondly, what will Parks be doing with the Pill Boxes? This was certainly not a form of headdress in the British Army or the Canadian miliita during the War of 1812. They did have one style of fatigue cap that was vaguely similar but I cannot fathom what the RMC Pill Box has to do with that conflict. (part one)
Okay, you got me! Once I stop laughing I am going to plot your downfall! (part two)
Good one Bill. Very sneaky. But you didn’t get me this year!
The old folks have short memories from previous years. How many did you get last year?
Anyway, Happy Sunday!
You had me for about an hour. “D” too. We just stopped laughing.
My “hat” is off to you.
Brilliant ! Just brilliant … and look at the date! But … but … it’s too bad the story is …. ahem … somewhat doubtful … because it would be wonderful to get rid of those damn pillboxes!
April Fool to you!
is it april already? thanks for the chuckle.
Pretty good one this year Bill. I bet some people fell for it!
Good one, Bill. Happy Air Force Day.
Ha! Ha!
Great April Fools joke Bill and Rolande. Keep smiling, it matters for sure
There is a huge US Military influence in Canada – and at RMC. This would not surprise me if it were true!!!
Did the US army not send out the same message last April 1???
And a happy April Fools day to you as well, Bill
Ah yes! April 1 rolls around again! Thank you for this. The first April 1st email quip of the day!
Congratulations.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:20 am
Donating our pillboxes will be an excellent contribution to the remembrance of the War of 1812, plus fewer people will lose their headdress on parade.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:21 am
It is a good thing we are getting rid of the pillbox. Cadets look like monkeys in them. Only time will tell if the new headdress is any better than the old one.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:25 am
I think this is a great way to mix it up, I know we are all pretty sick of looking like wind-up monkey clappers on parade at the college.
Growing up with a civil war buff in the household, the alternate hats look very cool indeed.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:39 am
I have spent 5 years in the RMC system ( at both RMC and CMRSJ), and have worn the pillbox throughout. Though I do find the pillboxes leave something to be desired, I would not want to go on grad parade wearing something other than the pillbox. I have a difficult time imagining anything other than the pillbox with the scarlets. The scarlets present a very impressive and glamorous image whereas the new headdress does not seem to present the same theme. This is purely my opinion though.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:27 am
I was wondering why the email was sent out so late!
April 1st, 2012 at 5:46 am
Loll …april fool troll
April 1st, 2012 at 8:01 am
Wow, almost got me until I saw the pictures, good one
April 1st, 2012 at 8:03 am
I personally love the look of the pillbox on parade. While I might entertain the idea of another form of headdress, I think this flat hat looks horrible and rather like an odd baseball cap.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:08 am
Living in Australia I am rather out of touch with the bicentennial of the War of 1812-1814, so I will not comment on the donation of pillboxes to Parks Canada.
My pillbox (frequently whisked of course) and swagger stick sit on the hall stand and I think that is an appropriate place for them. During my four years at RMC (1957-1961)I thought the pillbox was an anachronism and should have been replaced by a proper peak cap and I still think that. This is a golden opportunity to take the plunge and introduce a peak cap, and not something that looks like a relic of the American Civil War…
April 1st, 2012 at 8:10 am
April Fool’s day anymone?
April 1st, 2012 at 8:15 am
Nice one…Happy April 1st!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:22 am
So now Canada’s CSC cadets will look like fugitives from a regiment of Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War. Well done Ottawa bureaucrats !
I’d prefer to see our cadets graduate bareheaded this year.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:22 am
As my kids said: the pillbox looks great! The other one… No so much! I think the new hat would be quite warm as well and looks quite American Civil War… My vote is for the pillbox.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:23 am
April Fools?????
April 1st, 2012 at 8:28 am
I just hope that this is a hoax. Why on earth would we abandon the pillbox, an important piece of our proud tradition, in favour of a US-style pseudo-ball cap? No way.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:31 am
Wait until Monday April 2 when Bill announces gotcha!!!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:35 am
Happy April Fools day!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:38 am
And what is today’s date?
April 1st, 2012 at 8:42 am
Great April Fool’s piece. Reads so much like DND press releases one sees on the other 364 days of the year that it is believable.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:45 am
The pillbox, like the scarlet tunic, is a tradition that should not be changed! The West Point Shako has undergone some minor changes since the Academy was established in 1802, but nothing as drastic as this. It does sound, however, that this ill-advised change is fait accompli.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:53 am
Ha ha! April fool’s!
Though the believability of this story doesn’t say much for our faith in our decision makers!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:55 am
Dear Sir,
Apparently, a not very funny April Fool’s Day joke is taking time away from an ex-cadet club which could be focussing it’s efforts elsewhere and not clogging my email account with garbage.
Take 20 circles, 5 extra-drills.and 2 weeks of defaulters!!!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:59 am
Not a bad April Fool’s joke. Well done.
April 1st, 2012 at 9:00 am
Happy April fools day everyone! Too bad it’s not true
April 1st, 2012 at 9:07 am
Hmmm…. Happy April Fool’s Day!??
April 1st, 2012 at 9:17 am
RE: Sqn Ldr C C MacLachlan
Dear sir,
for giving away the joke please take 30 circles 10 extra-drills and 3 weeks of defaulters and enjoy the extra garbage in the mailbox
April 1st, 2012 at 9:25 am
I vote no change. A change in tradition such as this needs a strong business case. I can’t think of what the reasons would be to change (it is not about looks or comfort), but I hope it is not because someone was looking for a gimicky give away for the Parks Canada celebration! Plus the new suggestion is ugly and will have its own problems in looking professional.
April 1st, 2012 at 9:37 am
In my opinion, it is unfortunate that the cadets of RMC may lose the pillbox for a few years especially considering the tradition associated with the piece of kit. I wonder whether it would ever come back.
Personally, I would like to know more about the historic link to RMC’s history, if any, of the proposed distinctly “Confederate-looking” head dress. Now that the “cat is out of the bag” so to speak, it is too bad that there was not a well, thought out “story” to go along with this change that would foster the acceptance. I suspect that if an effort had been made to establish some sort of historic link to RMC that could have been an important factor in acceptance of this change…
April 1st, 2012 at 9:37 am
I can’t see a need for a change, I was unaware parks canada was replacing the staff with trained monkeys to wear the pillboxes, oh maybe I was mistaken on that?
I agree with Dave, there is no financial reason to change, the pillboxes have served well for over 130 years, my god, we can surely get another 70 years out of them before they need replacing!
Just think by then, the price of gold will be $4000/ounce, and the gold on the pill box would pay for it’s replacement!
April 1st, 2012 at 9:46 am
Congratulations on a great April Fool prank!! The thought of replacement headgear being made available in less than 4 years following a decision to change brought tears of laughter to my eyes. And worst of all, the new headgear design you chose was of course that worn by the U.S. Army in their War of Independence. Good thinking, if you wanted to get a “rise” from the ex cadet club en mass.
Back when I first arrived at RMC as a recruit back in September, 1948 to open the college following the 2nd War, there were no uniforms available and we were issued “blue jean” trousers and jackets as a “uniform”.
That was our uniform for a very very long time. So you will understand by diffululty in “swallowing” your story that the Pillbox is to be replaced and the new headgear would be arriving shortly. Of course, to make matters worse you elected to “Americanize” the uniform. But you are to be congratulated on a very good effort!!
2944 Reid, J. D.
Brockville, Ontario
April 1st, 2012 at 9:54 am
Bill:
You had me fooled for a while too, Great imagination! You have an unbroken steram of April Fool successes.
Reg
April 1st, 2012 at 10:03 am
Glad to see the April Fools pranks still play a crucial role in both cadet and ex-cadet life!
April 1st, 2012 at 10:11 am
I just can’t believe what I see. Replacing the Pill Box, whatever, let’s talk about it. Replacing it temporarily for the 1812, fine. Replacing it temporarily or not by a hat that looks like the Southern US Confederation Army during the Civil War is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard (seen). By the way, and I am a French-canadien, that very US hat was inspired by the French army at the time, so you have two reasons why it has nothing to do with the British tradition or the Canada for that matter.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:11 am
LOL
April 1st, 2012 at 10:16 am
Has anybody noticed the date of this announcement?
April 1st?
Seriously?!?
Let’s wait until April Fool’s day is over, and see if this isn’t a little bit of inventive pot-stirring on the part of the people running e-Veritas.
Good joke, folks!
12584
Class of 1980
April 1st, 2012 at 10:19 am
Ha ha, April fools. Your not going to fool me twice. Nice try guys.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:21 am
Who cares it is just a hat.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:23 am
Thanks for that joke, Bill!
April 1st, 2012 at 10:28 am
I trust that this is another of your April Fools jokes. However, in my personal opinion, getting rid of the pillbox would be one of the better ideas the government could have. I wore that stupid thing for four years, and never once did it keep the rain off my head, or the sun out of my eyes. Your proposed “confederate” cap might well serve those purposes, but I think it would look awful.
In any event. let us hope that the bureaucrats in NDHQ can eventually come up with something more practical that that damned pillbox!
Another good April Fools joke!
3506, Class of ´56
April 1st, 2012 at 10:34 am
Nice April Fools prank! Thanks for the laugh!
April 1st, 2012 at 10:34 am
I was getting worked-up and just realized that it maybe an April fool’s thing. Coolers heads will prevail. I wonder how deep the conspiratcy goes….. Branding is everything. History on a similar note: recall the Coke re-branding fiasco in 1985.
Pierre Rivard
12860
Class of 1981
April 1st, 2012 at 10:38 am
The pillbox was meant as an “Undress” head gear and not to be worn with Scarlett’s in full ceremonial. That was where the white (colonial style) helmet came in. In the UK, infantry line regiments would have worn the black helmet with brass trimmings. The white was for overseas service (like Cda). I am assuming that after WWII, we kept the pillbox for most cadets vice the white helmet mainly because it was cheaper to produce. Also, the pillbox was not worn in the 1812 War.
That blue hat shown looks like an old French Army kepi!
(And yes I know this is an April Fool’s joke.)
April 1st, 2012 at 10:39 am
It’s the 21st century. Can they not come up with a more modern look than something that looks like 1812 circa? With all the great designers in Canada have a competition and find something that looks sharp and is useful.
Daughter of ex-military.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:47 am
You had me at “Pillboxes.off”. Mine, including the masking tape from grad parade 78, is still on display in my home. I am surprised you only had 21 responses by the time I read this out here on the left coast. Slowly inching its way off, dangling from an ear, or being kicked around the parade square… the pillbox challenge was a central mil col theme. Depriving future generations of cadets such memories was a sad Sunday morning thought… until i was reminder of the date. BZ!
11962 Alfred Smith
April 1st, 2012 at 10:49 am
Had me going there for a minute, thinking the same “Confederate uniform” thoughts as some others, and then the light came on. (Hey wait a minute – e-Veritas doesn’t come out on Sundays …..)
The pillbox will be around as long as the College. And so will the Skylark.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:57 am
Good one!
April 1st, 2012 at 10:57 am
Happy April FOOLS day!…..
Like 135 years would just go down the tubes…
April 1st, 2012 at 10:59 am
My first impression was that the cadets would be wearing a replica of the US Confederate Army, it would look very tasteless. Totally uncool. I then started reading through the comments, got down a few, & then realized that today was April 1 & got the joke before even seeing the first reference to this hat ” image re-branding” as being another April Fools prank. Well done.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:13 am
For Virginia!
In all honesty, I would not be sad to see the pillbox go away. It makes me feel like I should be carrying suitcases whenever I’m wearing it.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:27 am
Bill,
Well done. This is one of the most credible of all your 1 Apr hoaxes. Now, if you could figure a way to show this in a “doctored” Federal Budget document, we would all be really wondering about whether this was true! That said, changing out the pill box to a peak cap would be a practical idea as it would reduce impact of direct sunlight in the eyes.
Looking forward to 1 Apr 13!
Kevin
Class of 1983
April 1st, 2012 at 11:38 am
I certainly hope that this is an April Fool special, because if it is true, it is one of the worse decisions ever made about the RMC uniform. Tradition is a major part of RMC life and to substitute a basic part of the uniform for a “Confederate” cap is beyond belief.
I had my share of laughter about the Pillbox, including from my childhood sweatheart of the time, but was always pleased to wear it with dignity. I still have my pillbox and have only one concern, what happens to it (and to my Scarlets) when I pass on.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:41 am
Get a job! This propsed change in headress is not a great move! RMC cadets will resemble US civil war combatants.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:42 am
April Fools Day………..:)
April 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am
Bill
BZ! Clever of you to prepare the ground for a successful ‘coup’ with your earlier email about the ‘impending’ announcement on possible change to headdress.
You may have outdone Michael Enright on CBC with his April 1 Romney skit.
Cheers
Yet another Bill
April 1st, 2012 at 11:56 am
Happy april fools!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I believe that this is a result of simple poor planning by Parks Canada. They have had 200 years to plan to distribute pillboxes (to who, by the way?). The only source in the world is to strip them from current cadets? Essentially, these pillboxes are going to be discarded, as it is very likley no one will find a use for them after the ‘celebrations’.
So, now DND must purchase an equivalent number of US civil war re-enactment hats to clothe cadets for the next few years while pillbox production ramps up to fill the void.
Wearing 1876 scarlet uniforms in todays military is a tie to the days when the college was created, and pillboxes are as traditional as the scarlets are. They should remain.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I just have to think that this is an April Fool’s Day prank. A good one at that!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Your best one yet, Bill! Still, the idea is not without merit. Since the Cadet Wing started facing the sun on parade, thereby relieving the poor spectators and dignitaries of this burden – they who are in no way restricted from moving about, shading their eyes, fanning themselves with programmes, removing jackets, or hiding under umbrellas while the Wing suffers in silence – the lack of a brimmed hat has been a glaring shortcoming. The only thing missing from the new head-dress is the crest of a Canadian NHL team of the individual cadet’s choice.
Keep them coming, my friend!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I can’t say I was terribly attached to my pillbox. There are more important, and relevant traditions at RMC such as saluting the Arch. I think it was a far greater loss to stop saluting the National flag in 2005, than losing an inconvenient, comical headdress. In this day and age I believe the only thing civilians can associate it with is the monkey’s hat in Disney’s Aladdin.
I remember in particular bad sunburns and chinstrap chasing from hours on the parade square in the sun practicing for grad parades. I think the alternative design, with a brim, will improve the welfare of the cadets on parade.
Also they won’t have to worry how horrible it looks when a chinstrap breaks and someone’s headdress is lying on the parade square.
Also for a good cause!
April 1st, 2012 at 12:42 pm
For a few moments, I was incensed, but then realized that it is April Fools’ Day, and had a good laugh. However, the prank made me remember the irritation that I felt as a cadet in scarlets, when I was mistaken for a bell-boy in a Montreal hotel in 1957. So, a change shold not be ruled out. If RMC were to exchange tradition for utility, I would recommend either the pith helmet (the RMC band always looks great) or something similar to the traditional Australian military (“slouch”) hat. Both are more impressive than the pillbox, and more effective for screening the sun on long parades, while waiting for the dignitary.
April 1st, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I should have caught on at first reading that this was an April’s Fools Day prank, since the rumour started last week, and there is no way the government could move that fast!
However, in the past year, I have heard talk about changing the pillbox to something else. To me, that would be a big mistake. The pillbox is part of the ceremonial dress just like the scarlet jacket. You can’t take away a part of it. What do you think would be the reaction of the Guards regiments if someone was to suggest the replacement of the bearskin hats? Up in arms!
Some have suggested replacing the pillbox by a peaked cap, to provide shading on the forehead, which would relieve the cadets of sunburns since, as Don Peterson has stated, the Cadet Wing started facing the sun on parade. The easier and more practical solution to this problem is to have the cadets facing back as it was before and let the spectators face the sun! Besides, I think the peaked cap was withdrawn from service back at the time of unification.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I have been at the School since 2008. I agree with many that the Pillbox is a long standing tradition at the college. I feel though that the change will represent what has actually been going on at the college in the past couple years. Traditions are progressively being taken away leaving only a strict environment void of any sense of belonging. The removal of the pillbox without even consenting the Cadet Wing before hand acts as only another sudden decision imposed on the college.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Do not doubt the possibility that this could become real even if it was originally intended to be an April fools joke.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Done in same tongue and cheek as last year’s announcement at http://www.army.mil, that the US Army was going to replace its headgear for the Cavalry hat.
Well done!
April 1st, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Good one, Bill! I knew it was April Fools Day before reading this message, but I was kind of hoping the entire wing could wear the white pith helmets from now on. That would look cool. They would be ready to fight the Boer War all over again!
- Lars
April 1st, 2012 at 2:23 pm
“Stonewall” Jackson would have been delighted!
April 1st, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Nice try Bill. Having suffered the April fool day through my wife schemes a few hours before my colleagues Canadians (New Zealand time),I am on the watch!!!!
April 1st, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Well, as Canada was sort of a haven of Confederate spies during the U.S. Civil War, I suppose it is somewhat appropriate to look like rebels. But isn’t it a little risky, given the very recent re-establishment of the RMC vs. West Point hockey game? Surely the USMC hockey team is exclusively Yankees from New England, upstate New York, and Midwestern states like Minnesota and Noth Dakota. Won’t they feel insulted to be received by hosts who look half British (scarlet tunics) and half Confederate?
On the other hand, the pillbox was utterly useless at RMC. At Royal Roads it was useful, because we could go to the Empress Hotel in Victoria and earn tips by pretending to be bellboys. That’s why RRMC cadets were so much richer than RMC purebred cadets. I don’t think RMC cadets were able to pull it off at the Holiday Inn in Kingston, were they?
April 1st, 2012 at 3:48 pm
As something of an outsider never having worn the pillbox (RCNC53) I hesitate to comment, bur as brother of John Stairs (2198) and nephew of James Stairs (??? but probably <500), I have to say that the pillbox means "RMC" to me.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Great joke! You always had a good sense of humour.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Although I read this well into April 1, you still got a rise out of me and I was composing my flaming email as I read to the end of the post. Great joke! The post did have me reminisce on “pillbox” memories. For parades, it was the extensive use of masking tape to have the pillbox stuck on my head. I never lost a pillbox on parade, but I did lose hair every time I tried to take it off afterwards. The one other distinctive memory was during the degree granting ceremony at grad. With me bent on one knee, the Minister of Defence did his magic and in doing so knocked my pillbox off and sent it rolling across the stage. I’ll never forget his “benediction” – “congratulations… sorry about the hat”.
Gary Moore, ’72
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
Congraulations! You had me mad as a snake, before I had come close to the end of the story – super April Fools!
E.P. the D.P.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Good April Fool’s Joke! I was surprised to discover though that there is somewhat of a connection between the late Confederacy and RMC. #352 Charles Carroll Wood, who is commemorated on our Memorial Arch, was the son of John Taylor Wood, Captain of the Confederate cruiser Tallahassee. Charles’ father’s last appointment was as Brigadier General in charge of coastal artillery. That makes the choice of the scarlet trim on the Kepi plausible. Had the trim been gold (cavalry) or blue (infantry) I would have known right away it was a joke!
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Bill: I not only made a complete idiot of myself over your clever ruse, but I compounded the effect by sharing my stupidity with my entire class by bringing the change of headgear to their attention in our monthly newsletter and questioning the origins of the new design.
It’s not fair to take advantage of elderly retired folk – we barely know what day it is, let alone what date!
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Sad to see the pillbox replacement looking like a cheap US military academy headpiece. Suggest the passing on to Parks Canada will save a few $$ and most will end up as discards to waste or some storeroom
#6247 RR/RMC
April 2nd, 2012 at 4:07 pm
I had a big grin of relief when I got to the April Fool part – I was composing my reply which would have made reference to the closing of Royal Roads and other assaults on our traditions etc. Sure glad it was a joke – well done.