Royal Military College Saint-Jean Welcomes Honorary Colonel

News Release

December 12, 2014

OTTAWA – The Royal Military College Saint-Jean is proud to announce that Mr. Geoff Molson has been appointed as its first honorary colonel (HCol) by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence.

Colonel Carignan, Commandant of Royal Military College Saint-Jean, introduced HCol Molson to Royal Military College Saint-Jean officer cadets and staff at the traditional Troop Christmas Dinner.

Quick Facts

HCol Molson is the owner, President and CEO of the Club de hockey Canadien, Bell Centre and Evenko and is involved in the numerous community initiatives of the team and the Montréal Canadiens Children’s Foundation.
HCol Molson sits on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations, including St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
Military service is not new to the Molson family. HCol Geoff Molson’s ancestor, Captain Percival Molson, was awarded the Military Cross for gallant leadership during the First World War and currently his brother, Andrew Molson, is the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Montréal Regiment.
Stemming from British military tradition, the Canadian tradition of honorary nominations at the unit level dates back a little more than a century. The very first person to be nominated as Honorary Colonel in Canada was Ontario government Secretary, the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. Gibson. He was nominated Honorary Colonel of 13 Infantry Battalion in 1895.

Quotes

“We are honoured to welcome Honorary Colonel Geoff Molson into the Defence team family. He is a highly respected member of the community, who will foster esprit de corps for our future leaders within the Royal Military College Saint-Jean.”
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence

“We are very happy about Mr. Geoff Molson’s nomination as the first Honorary Colonel at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. His leadership and engagement in the community are demonstrative of the values on which military service and the Royal Military College’s programs are founded.”
Colonel Jennie Carignan, Commandant Royal Military College Saint-Jean

“I am honoured by the confidence that has been placed upon me in naming me as the first Honorary Colonel of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. In this role, I commit to serve as an example for young officer cadets in preserving and honouring the traditions that are common to all and in promoting this prestigious institution’s motto: Truth – Duty – Valour.”
Mr. Geoff Molson, Honorary Colonel Royal Military College Saint-Jean

Associated Links

Royal Military College Saint-Jean
Honorary Colonels:

- 30 -

Contacts

Johanna Quinney
Press Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-3100

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Search for related information by keyword

National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Military

Page details

Date modified:: 2014-12-12

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Royal Military College Saint-Jean Welcomes Honorary Colonel

News Release

Page details