Celebrating the Royal Military College of Canada’s 150th anniversary
Video / June 02, 2026
Transcript
Hello everyone,
Today marks one hundred fifty years of operation of the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and the service and contribution of its graduates to our country.
Soon after Confederation, when Canada became responsible for its defence, RMC was created to train and educate junior military officers for our armed forces.
Since the first class of students arrived on campus, over 20,000 naval and officer cadets of RMC have graduated from the Regular Officer Training Plan and the University Training Plan for Non-Commissioned Members. Over 5,000 Canadian and international military students from Graduate Studies, and over 1,000 other Canadians completed bachelor’s degrees.
In addition to delivering university degrees closely aligned to the profession of arms, RMC has provided professional development to hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members and Department of National Defence personnel, ensuring that Canada’s Defence Team remains prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
These graduates, as well as those of Royal Roads Military College and “le Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean" have served with distinction in every conflict and peace support operation in which Canada has been engaged, as well as times of national crisis and disaster.
They have risen to the highest levels of service to Canada, and continue to lead with distinction here and around the world. Their leadership is woven into the fabric of our national story, reflected in contributions across domestic assistance and disaster relief. International operations including conflicts and United Nations missions, science and engineering, academia, medicine, law, business and finance, public service and governance, political life, humanitarian action, human resources, and sport.
The selection of five graduates for Canada’s astronaut program stands as a powerful example of the caliber and impact of an RMC education. It reflects an institution that is continually evolved alongside Canadian society, embracing its diversity, strengthening its excellence and remaining responsive to the demands of an increasingly uncertain, complex and rapidly changing world. Today’s graduates embody the diversity of modern Canada, while remaining firmly anchored and enduring values of ‘Truth, Duty, Valour’. Values that define both the Canadian military ethos and the Royal Military College tradition.
This milestone is a moment to reflect on RMC’s enduring contributions to Canada and the world, and to reaffirm its place as a strong, proud, equitable, diverse and inclusive national institution, dedicated to developing the leaders of character in service to Canada.
RMC is a military university that Canadians can be proud of.
Happy anniversary RMC!