Emergency repairs to CFB Kingston pedestrian bridge cause closure of causeway (Friday 13 March 2026)
Emergency repairs to a pedestrian bridge at Canadian Forces Base Kingston where falling debris was reported “in the area” prompted the closure of one of the city’s major entry points for motorists for much of Friday. On Friday morning, Kingston Police said a stretch of Highway 2 including the entire LaSalle Causeway, plus some streets on either side of the river crossing, were closed in both directions due to required “maintenance.” Police warned of detours and congestion. Soon after, the City of Kingston said the area was closed to traffic all the way to where the highway intersects with Fort Henry Drive east of the causeway. The city said that’s because emergency repairs are needed on the Royal Military College (RMC) pedestrian bridge located between the east end of the causeway and Fort Henry Drive.A spokesperson for CFB Kingston said the crossing required immediate attention due to falling debris in the area on Friday morning.
All base personnel have been told of the crossing’s closure while an assessment of its structural integrity, “as well as mitigation measures to prevent personal or property damage for foot or vehicle traffic passing under the crossover,” gets underway. A timeline for that work is unknown, the spokesperson added in their email.
Commandant of Canadian Army Command and Staff College in Kingston removed from post
The commandant of a Canadian Army college in Ontario has been removed from his post. Col. Fraser Auld (RMC 1996) was commandant of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College in Kingston. A spokesperson for the Department of National Defence says the commander of the Canadian Army decided on Feb. 23 to remove Auld from his position.
The spokesperson said in a statement that the decision “follows a loss of trust in his ability to command.” Lt.-Col. Don Dubois has been named acting commandant of the college. The spokesperson says no further information will be released at this time because it’s a “personnel matter.” The college is tasked with “developing in army officers the ability to perform command and staff functions in war,” according to the Canadian government website. According to a post on its Facebook page, Auld officially assumed command of the college on June 27, 2024.
It says Auld joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 as a private with the Lorne Scots in Brampton, Ont. He became an officer two years later, transferring to the Royal Military College of Canada where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1996. After a brief stint in the private sector, Auld re-enrolled in the Canadian Army in 1998 as an armour officer. He has since served in various regimental roles and completed five operational tours including in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The Pilot Project Podcast
Major Sam Behm’s path to the CC-130J Hercules wasn’t straightforward.
As we mark International Women’s Day and Women in Aviation Worldwide Week, Sam shares how she joined the Canadian Armed Forces under ROTP as a MARS Officer (now Naval Warfare Officer), and determinedly pursued a transfer to the Royal Canadian Air Force when the opportunity to become a pilot reopened.
We walk through her flight training on the Grob in Portage la Prairie, the Harvard in Moose Jaw, and the King Air, as well as her time with the Multi-Engine Utility Flight before beginning her career on the Hercules with 436 Transport Squadron.
[From left]: Charles Sumbler (Executive Director, Vice Principal Research, Queen’s), Nancy Ross (Vice-Principal Research, Queen’s), Cecile Malardier-Jugroot (Vice Principal Research, RMC), Julie St-Pierre (Vice Principal Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa), Rafik Goubran (Vice-President, Research, Innovation and International, Carleton University), Stéfanie von Hlatky (Associate Vice-Principal Research), and Lt Col Aaron Novecosky (Canadian Delegation to NATO) at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.NATO members are increasing defence spending and strengthening long-term capability planning in response to a shifting security landscape. The shift extends beyond procurement and is influencing how governments plan for industry, technology and research.
In Canada, the moment coincides with the release of the federal government’s Defence Industrial Strategy, which outlines plans to strengthen domestic defence production and innovation. For Canadian universities, it invites reflection on how academic research fits within national defence objectives and alliance commitments.
Queen’s researcher Stéfanie von Hlatky, Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces, and Associate Vice-Principal (Research) at Queen’s University, recently travelled to NATO headquarters in Brussels and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium as part of a Kingston-Ottawa delegation that included representatives from Queen’s, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC).
The Gazette spoke with Dr. von Hlatky about what the visit revealed about NATO’s priorities and how universities fit into this changing landscape.
As part of a delegation of Canada’s leading university experts on military and defence strategies, what were the discussions with NATO focused on?
The purpose was to better understand how NATO’s current strategic adjustments will shape Canada’s research and innovation environment.
CIMA+ hires senior director for defence market
-https://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/cima-hires-senior-director-for-defence-market/
Sylvain Gazaille has joined CIMA+ as its new senior director for the defence market.
Gazaille has an academic background in engineering and more than 30 years’ experience in Canadian defence. After earning a mechanical engineering degree from Royal Military College, he worked for the Canadian Armed Forces, Valcom and SimWell Consulting & Technologies. Along the way, he earned a master’s degree in systems engineering and worked on many national defence and infrastructure projects.
“Sylvain’s profound understanding of defence environments, proven leadership and ability to unite technical and operational perspectives will be instrumental for CIMA+,” says Karen Freund, the firm’s regional executive vice-president (EVP) for Ontario.
Royal Canadian Air Force Major Discovered on White Supremacist Dating Site
https://www.antihate.ca/air_force_major_on_white_supremacist_dating_site
Warning: This article contains racist, homophobic, violent, and sexually abusive language.
WhiteDate was the dating site of choice for thousands of white supremacists. In their profiles, users shared identifiable information like their backstory, their age, and where they lived. Men—86% of all users—could select from a drop-down box options like fascism and national socialism to describe their political orientation. Some of them put swastikas, “14/88,” or other neo-Nazi symbols on their profile pictures.
That is, until late last year, when a German antifascist security researcher calling themselves ‘Martha Root’ hacked the website, deleted it, and released all the user data. The hacker, wearing a pink power rangers uniform, turned this into a performance, live on stage, at the 39th Chaos Communication Congress, to cheers from the audience.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has identified over 190 Canadian users, using open source intelligence techniques to match usernames, email addresses, and personal identifying information shared in user bios. We shared our findings with the CBC, which was doing an investigation parallel to our own, and vice versa. Many of these individuals we identified hold positions of public trust, such as teachers, lawyers, health professionals, and military personnel. In his biography on WhiteDate, Armstrong identified himself as “a communications engineering officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force.”
Analyzing the passage of state-level AI bills
-https://www.brookings.edu/articles/analyzing-the-passage-of-state-level-ai-bills/
Co-authored by James Denford (RMC 1992) , Professor Management Dept RMC
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to dominate headlines, spanning chip supremacy and job losses to AI actresses and U.S. national security. These articles demonstrate that AI is top of mind across industries, and the technology is touching virtually every aspect of government and society. As we showed in our recent series on national AI plans, not all countries are equally capable of embracing AI, and the relative success for each country largely hinges on the country’s technological prowess as well as their “bench strength” of people to power and direct the technology. These insights helped us understand why some countries are further ahead in the AI race.
This paper builds on the notion that, as with countries, not all U.S. states are equally capable of implementing AI and important differences exist. In our first piece, we investigated the general themes of bills introduced across the country in 2025 and examined the number of bills proposed and passed for each theme. We found that bills proposing to ban nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) had the greatest number of bills proposed but, at the time of our analysis, none of the bills had become law. Employment was the only area where a significant percentage of bills had been signed into law.
Five decades shaping international defence policy- Since 1975, the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen’s has connected academic research with defence decision-makers in Canada and beyond
https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/five-decades-shaping-international-defence-policy
Kingston is a city where military history is hard to miss. Uniforms are a familiar sight, and reminders of national service appear across the city, from memorials on Queen’s campus to commemorative spaces downtown, alongside institutions such as the Royal Military College (RMC) and Canadian Forces Base Kingston. The relationship between civilian and military life here stretches back centuries. Since the establishment of Fort Frontenac in 1673, civilian settlement and military presence have existed side by side.
That history has shaped more than Kingston’s identity. It has also influenced how research around defence and international affairs developed at Queen’s. In 1975, Queen’s established what is now the Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP).
During the 2025–26 academic year, CIDP is marking 50 years at Queen’s. Housed within the School of Policy Studies, it brings together research fellows from Queen’s, the Royal Military College, and policy organizations across Canada, and has grown into a hub for defence and international policy research.
CIDP collaborates closely with the Royal Military College, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, and the Department of National Defence, with Queen’s students and RMC officer cadets regularly participating in shared discussions. These partnerships help prepare students and policymakers for the decisions shaping Canada’s security future.
“Students are not just learning about defence policy in a classroom,” says Dr. Murphy. “They are contributing research that is shared with partners beyond the university and informs real-world decisions.”
Investiture of the Order of Military Merit – February 19, 2026
https://www.gg.ca/en/order-military-merit-19-february-2026
Commanders
Major-General Martin Gros-Jean, C.M.M., C.D.
Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment)
Ottawa, Ontario
Commodore Jacques-Philippe Olivier, C.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.
Director General Professional Conduct and Development
Ottawa, Ontario
Officers
Colonel Victor Denis Bertrand, O.M.M., C.D.
2nd Canadian Division Headquarters
Montréal, Quebec
Lieutenant-Colonel Mathieu Michel Coulombe, O.M.M., C.D.
National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group Headquarters
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Robert Hannah, O.M.M., C.D.
Transition Centre Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colonel Jody Gayle Hanson, O.M.M., C.D.
1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lieutenant-Colonel Bradley Michael Krajcik, O.M.M., C.D.
Canadian Forces Joint Operational Support Group Headquarters
Kingston, Ontario
Lieutenant-Colonel Audrey Leslie Morales, O.M.M., C.D.
Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Headquarters
Ottawa, Ontario
Colonel Marc Joseph O’Ray, O.M.M., M.S.C., C.D.
Office of the Chief of the Army Staff
Ottawa, Ontario
Major Heather Malania Reibin, O.M.M., C.D.
Canadian Forces Real Property Operations Group Headquarters
Ottawa, Ontario
Commander Darren Leonard Sleen, O.M.M., C.D.
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Venture
Victoria, British Columbia
Captain(N) Kevin William Whiteside, O.M.M., C.D.
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
Victoria, British Columbia
A historic moment for the Profession of Arms: Launch of the Non-Commissioned Member Leadership College (NCMLC)
The members of the Non-Commissioned Member Leadership College, formerly known as the Institut Osside, pose for an official photo following the signing of the Charter granting the College its independence. Photo: Sgt N. Alonso, CAF Image Technician
Fall 2025 will stand out as a defining moment for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). At the conclusion of the CAF Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Conference, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Carignan and CAF CWO, CWO McCann, signed the charter formalizing the independence of the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Institute. The Institute is now known as the Non-Commissioned Member Leadership College (NCMLC).
The ceremony was solemn and emotional for all those in attendance, marking the start of a new and promising chapter. The event symbolized the College’s transition from a Level 4 institution under the Royal Military College Saint‑Jean, to Level 3, directly under the Canadian Defence Academy.
More than an administrative change, this transformation underscores the essential role of non-commissioned members within the CAF. All members who are called to leadership roles pass through this institution, a central hub of professional expertise.
The NCMLC now stands as a cornerstone of the profession of arms. Its mission is clear: to develop leadership rooted in excellence, accountability and commitment to the highest military standards. With its new status, refreshed visual identity and modernized website, the College is positioning itself as a key institution—one dedicated to preparing tomorrow’s leaders to serve with courage, character and conviction in an evolving operational environment.
# 2024-139 Careers, RMC Physical Performance Test
Case summary- F&R Date: 2025-12-11
The grievor challenged the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) decision to change his academic path to a 30-credit General Science degree from his previous 40-credit Engineering degree. As redress, the grievor requested a transfer to the Continuing Education Officer Training Plan at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) or a similar training program that would allow him to complete the 40-credit Engineering degree.
The Commandant Canadian Defence Academy, acting as the Initial Authority (IA), denied the grievance asserting that the grievor had been given several months to concentrate on his physical training with limited other activities assigned; however, was ultimately unsuccessful in the RMC Physical Performance Test (PPT). The IA determined that the decision to allow him to obtain a 30-credit degree, which according to the Entry Standards for members enrolled under Regular Officer Training Program was acceptable to his occupation, was appropriate. The IA found that the grievor had been treated fairly and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and policies.
The Committee determined that the grievor was granted several months to focus on physical training, with limited additional responsibilities, and was provided multiple attempts to pass the RMC PPT. Despite these opportunities, he was unsuccessful and did not meet all requirements to graduate from RMC. Nevertheless, he was afforded the chance to complete a 30-credit program and continue his military career in his chosen occupation. Additionally, he was offered the opportunity for early commissioning. The Committee found that, in the grievor’s circumstances considering the potential alternatives, including release, the CAF‘s decision was fair, justified, and consistent with policy and therefore, the grievor was not aggrieved by this decision. The Committee also noted that given the unique circumstances of the specialized Engineering Degree sought, the grievor’s advancement in that degree, he was ultimately allowed to complete the 40-credit degree at RMC. The Committee recommended that the Final Authority not afford the grievor redress.
Recognizing Excellence: David Hill Honoured with the Mark Walden Recognition Award
https://www.linkedin.com/company/treble-victor-group/posts/?feedView=all
Treble Victor Group is proud to announce David Hill, RMC 2001 as this year’s recipient of the Mark Walden Recognition Award. Named in honour of our late co-founder, this award recognizes members who go significantly “above and beyond” in living the 3V values and advancing our mission. Since joining Treble Victor in 2020 while serving as an RCR Officer, David has been an unrelenting force for the group’s growth and success.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Action Since his election as an Ottawa City Councillor in 2022, David has uniquely used his public office to advocate for the value and mission of the veteran community. His contributions include: Civic Leadership: Consistently highlighting 3V’s mission through public engagement and social media, strengthening our profile within the Ottawa community and beyond. Tangible Opportunities: Connecting members with key organizations, employers, and civic partners to facilitate professional growth and career transitions.
Corporate Engagement: Leading direct discussions with major corporations regarding veteran employment, resulting in concrete benefits for our network.
David Hill exemplifies the spirit of the Mark Walden Award through his selfless advocacy and his commitment to turning the “Success to Service” philosophy into real-world action.
The comments apparently posted by Major Tristan Armstrong on social media are absolutely disgusting. It is shocking to think that someone who is an RMC graduate could be capable of making such statements. Such a person is clearly unfit to be a commissioned officer in the Canadian Forces.
Was Major Armstrong ever charged with anything ? I hope they throw the book at him, and that he is punished with the full force of the law, as he richly deserves.