KINGSTON, Ontario – More than 200 Officer Cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) will celebrate their graduation on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15. The Class of 2009 invites the public to attend their very last day as undergraduates at Canada’s military university.
Thursday 14 May, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Convocation Ceremonies, Kingston Military Community Sports Centre Field House – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, will present graduating students with their Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Honorary Doctorate degrees will be bestowed on Dr. John Scott Cowan, past Principal of RMC; Dr. James Downey, Officer of the Order of Canada and former Principal of Carleton University, the University of New Brunswick and the University of Waterloo; and Dr Pierre Laviolette, past Principal of Collège militaire royal de St-Jean.
Thursday 14 May, 7:20 to 9:30 p.m. - Sunset Ceremony, RMC Parade Square – Officer Cadets will demonstrate some of the College’s oldest traditions through the Old 18 Historic Drill Team, the Sandhurst Military Skills Team, tae kwon do and fencing teams, the changing of the Colour Party, and dynamic performances featuring RMC`s own Brass and Reed and Pipe and Drum bands, as well as the Highland Dancers. Fireworks will conclude the evening.
Friday 15 May, 10 to 11:30 a.m. - Graduation and Commissioning Parade, RMC Parade Square – General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, along with Environmental and Operational Commanders, will present graduating students with their Officer’s Commissions in the Canadian Forces. RMC Officer Cadets will display their foot drill and sword movements, and fire a ‘Feux de Joie’– a rifle salute performed by a 300-person guard with accompanying field artillery – all in honour of their graduating friends and fellow cadets. In addition, several aircraft will be performing flypasts. The parade will end at the Memorial Arch, through which the graduates will march for the last time as Officer Cadets.
Visitors may also visit the RMC Museum, which will be open from noon to 5 p.m.
Note to editors: Please confirm your attendance with Capt Daniel Madryga, RMC Public Affairs Officer (613-541-6000 ext. 6484), before Tuesday 12 May.
