Mishall RehmanAbove image: Left, The graduates marched through the Memorial Arch, signifying the conclusion of their Regular Officer Training Plan at RMC. Right, staff and students gather with family and friends for the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Sunset Ceremony. Parade Square, RMC, Kingston, ON on May 16, 2024. Image by: S1 Lisa Sheppard, Imagery Technician, RMC, Kingston.
The 129th Convocation Ceremony of the Royal Military College (RMC) ushered in a new crop of graduates into the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) this spring.
Combining decades of tradition and ceremonial events, the RMC’s convocation ceremony is a sight to behold for visitors and a moment of pride for graduates.
The ceremony included remarks from the Governor General, the Sunset Ceremony and the Commissioning Parade.
Royal Military College Saint-Jean Convocation Ceremony
A convocation was also held at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, which included a convocation ceremony and commissioning parade.
“The completion of the programs at the Royal Military Colleges in Kingston and Saint-Jean are tremendous achievements that deserve to be recognized; these programs are challenging. All the naval and officer cadets must demonstrate success in all four pillars of the program: academics, military, physical fitness, and bilingualism.
“While the global pandemic may now be in the past, these grads endured the added COVID stresses soon after they joined. As newly commissioned Officers, they are now entrusted to lead others. The bonds they have formed and the lessons they have learned will help them along their leadership journey. I wish them all the very best in this amazing career they have chosen. Congratulations,” said MGen. Denis O’Reilly, Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy (higher headquarters for RMC Kingston and Saint-Jean).
RMC Convocation
The 129th Convocation at RMC, located in Kingston, ON, was held this year on May 16. The ceremony included remarks from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon.
Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, who serves as the Chancellor and President of RMC, confirmed graduating students with their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
The annual Sunset Ceremony followed the Convocation Ceremony. This year, the event featured an 1876 Demonstration Team firing a naval gun, a Silent Drill Team, Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year drummers, performances by Highland dancers and colour party demonstrations with RMC’s prestigious band, an honour guard performing a ‘feu de joie,’ and a lone piper on the top of RMC’s clock tower.
The event culminated in a seven-minute fireworks show at sunset.
The RMC commissioning parade was then held on Friday, May 17, with the Governor General present as the Reviewing Officer. RMC’s crop of graduates this year received their commission scripts during this ceremony. The graduates then marched through the Memorial Arch, signifying the conclusion of their Regular Officer Training Plan at RMC.
RMC Saint-Jean Convocation
Much like its counterpart in Kingston, the RMC Saint-Jean Convocation also held a Convocation Ceremony on May 17. As vice-chancellor and commandant of RMC Saint-Jean, Col. Guillaume Tremblay presented naval and officer cadets with bachelor’s degrees.
The Commissioning Parade was held at the Quebec University on May 18, with Gen. Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, as the reviewing officer.
