8684 Peter J Holt commenced his CMC career at CMR in 1966. Five years later he “marched out” of RMC as a Mechanical Engineer. He spent the bulk of the next 34 years + as an EME officer.The son of a former military member, Peter was born in Kingston, ON and lived as a “dependant” at a number of army bases between Petawawa and Soest, Germany.
Peter retired from the CF in 2005. He had a long distinguished career. Highlights included: Germany for professional soldiering twice, Winnipeg for fun & frostbite, Ottawa for penance & Project Management, and RMC for post-grad & later on staff to see the other side!
Anyone reading this short profile should be familiar with the Nijmegen Marches. The International Four Day Marches Nijmegen is the largest marching event in the world. It is organised every year in Nijmegen in mid-July as a means of promoting sport and exercise.
Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal. The participants are mostly civilians, but there are also a few thousand military participants.
The Canadian Forces are big and long-time supporter of this event – Canadian military contingents have participated in every year since 1952. However, the military numbers involved in actually “marching” prior to Peter Holt’s involvement were not always too large.
More than anyone else, Peter, “pushed & pushed” the chain-of- command for years to send a “sizeable” Canadian contingent to participate. This was not always a popular message that senior leadership wanted to hear. In particular, during the tight financial times of the 1990s sending soldiers off to the Netherlands for a Four Day March was definitely not a high DND priority.
He himself has participated in 16 of these “Marches” – eight as Contingent Commander. Both Canadian Forces records!
This summer the CF sent 205 Canadian Forces (CF) personnel – representing all regions of the country including a team from RMC.
Aside from military marching, he does cross-country skiing, biking, and canoeing. A concern for the youth in his community and church may seem like a simple reason to volunteer but this quiet determination has motivated Peter to be very active as a Scout leader for many years.
These days Peter does some engineering consulting, and he will soon be back in a CF uniform as Colonel Commandant of the EME Branch – next month. No doubt he will be considering a 17th Nijmegen March next July.
Best memories from Military College time: “The people, both classmates/cadets and those who actually tried to teach us something! Et je suis bilingue parce que j’ai fait trois ans a CMR. And I must say that all of the running & drill I ended up doing because of my less than stellar military performance certainly trained me well for those long marches at Nijmegen!”
The former army brat who now calls Ottawa home concluded: “It has been a great career & life so far, no complaints whatsoever.”
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8921 Ron Harder entered Royal Roads in 1967 and graduated from RMC in 1971.
The 32 years he spent in the CF following RMC were spent as a pilot – all flying tours on tactical helicopter. Postings included: 408 Sqn Edmonton, 444 Sqn Germany, 403 Sqn Gagetown (instructor), 408 Sqn Edmonton (flight comd), staff college, project director.
Ottawa, 444 Sqn Germany (CO), CFNA Yellowknife (COS), DAR/project director Ottawa, 1TAG St Hubert (COS), AIRCENT HQ Ramstein (Snr Canadian, Partnership for Peace director), Director Flight Safety Ottawa.
Life in retirement has been good. Ron is very fit. Not surprising to cadets who remember his time at both Royal Roads and RMC. After all, he made quite a name and reputation for himself as both a strong wrestler and a hard nosed two-way rugby player.
Today, far from wrestling mats and Rugby Pitches, Ron now keeps himself fit by biking/ regularly working out, canoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Like his exciting and well rounded time at two Military Colleges, Ron still balances life in a well thought out manner. In addition to his “fitness activities” he also spends a lot of time camping, reading, writing, travel and paying attention to history. He is a strong supporter and active in his local Anglican Church.
Ron is still very much well-rounded and always seems to be involved in some type of project or activity. However, as busy as he is in ‘retirement” – five grandchildren take front and center in his life. He shares himself unselfishly by sharing his hobbies and making himself available 24/7 when they are visiting. The former helicopter pilot realizes children like to be busy too, but that doesn’t mean they have to be going somewhere all the time. Sometimes activities at grandpa’s house can be really interesting and fun. The affable personality and spontaneous humour he “spun” at Roads & in Kingston over four years works just as effectively today. Sharing time with his grandkids is special because he well aware that they’ll grow up quickly! He ensures that the time he shares with them is memorable.
Best memories from Military College time: “Camaraderie & long-lasting friendships, opportunity to practice leadership as a cadet officer in 2nd and 4th years, sports (wrestling team, rugby team, intramural), pride in flight & squadron, pride on parade.”
harder8609@rogers.com
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10071 Ted Bain arrived at RMC in 1970. The small town BC kid did very well for himself over the past 34 years. He left the college with a BEng Chemical/Nuclear Engineering Degree in 1974. By 1983 he earned his MD from Queen’s University.
He would put both to good use.
His post RMC military career which lasted five years saw him earn his pilot wings and flying CF 104s. Most careers after being behind the controls of supersonic fighter aircraft is a long downhill slide. However, the former RMC star soccer goalie was always one looking for new challenges. In part it may have something to with his pre-RMC days – “fighting forest fires in BC’s interior”.
Post CF career: Ted was to spend 19 years in the ER in various Ontario and British Columbia hospitals. For the past five years in San Antonio he has been investigating accidents. His consulting practice currently focuses on, but is not limited to, Product Liability and General Negligence issues involving automobile collisions, industrial incidents, amusement park rides, power tools, railroad incidents, workplace injuries, slips and falls and other related issues.
His medical credentials are impressive!
Certifications and Licenses
• Medical License, State of Texas
• Medical License, British Columbia, Canada
• CCFP College of Family Physicians of Canada, 1995
• CCFP Emergency Medicine, College of Family Physicians of Canada, 1996
• Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR)
Former “buds” will remember Ted as a gentleman who played as hard as he worked. Nobody, therefore, should be surprised that he enjoys River rafting and that he was a 11 year volunteer on the Whistler ski patrol. He also spends time building and flying Glasairs. Being a true B.C. boy, he still enjoys spending time in the outdoors.
As mentioned, he and wife Nancy have lived in Texas for the past five years. “Texans think we are crazy – even they know that Vancouver is beautiful.”
Best memories from his Military College time: “The wonderful opportunities afforded to a small town BC kid.”
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10684 Bob Gunn, (RRMC CMR ’75) is still serving in the CF after almost 37 years since he first entered Royal Roads.
A thirty-seven year military career is quite an accomplishment. Following are the high-lights and the various stops along the way.
1975 – Artillery School;
1976 – 5 RALC Valcartier – Regimental Survey Officer, Air Defence Troop Commander, Battery Captain;
1979 – Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill, England – Long Gunnery Staff Course (Guided Weapons);
1980 – 129th Airfield Air Defence Battery, Lahr, Germany – Commanding Officer;
1981 – HQ CFE, Lahr Germany – SO3 Ops (AD);
1984 – Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenaham, England – MSc (Guided Weapon Systems);
1985 – Low Level Air Defence Project, Ottawa – Missile System Engineer;
1986 – Air Defence Artillery School, Chatham, NB – Senior Instructor;
1987 – 119th Air Defence Battery, Chatham, NB – Commanding Officer;
1989 – CFCSC, Toronto – Student;
1990 – Directorate of Artillery – SO2 AD;
1992 – DGLCD – Coord to DG;
1994 – Air Defence Artillery School, Chatham and Gagetown – Commandant;
1996 – The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School, Gagetown – Commandant;
1996 – Directorate of Land Requirements, Ottawa – DLR 2 (Field and Air Defence Artillery, Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition Requirements);
1998 – Directorate of Land Strategic Planning, Ottawa – Army Business Planner;
2002 – Directorate of Land Requirements, Ottawa – Director and Director of Artillery;
2006 – RMC, Kingston – Head Department of Applied Military Science, Director Land Technical Staff Programmes, Commanding Officer Post Graduates and Military Faculty;
Asked what about career highlights: “Commanding some of the finest soldiers around; the unification of the two Artillery Schools into The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School; being appointed to the position of Director of Artillery.”
Academics: BSc (Sherebrooke), MSc(Cranfield), MBA(Ottawa), PLSC, PCSC and working on a PhD
Bob is married to Hélène Landry and they have two daughters – Natalie and Isabelle
He enjoys Curling, and Soccer which he took up at 50!
Best memories from Military College time: “the camaraderie – details might be forthcoming over a beer.”