Officer Cadet Daryl Tremain became the first woman to be appointed Cadet Wing Commander in 1986
Ocdt Tremain also became the first woman to be presented the Van der Smissen Ridout Memorial, awarded to the graduating Regular Officer Training Plan naval or officer cadet attaining highest standards in each of the four pillars of the the Royal Military College programme.
Captain Sharon Lynn Donnelly RMC 1990, became RMC’s inaugural recipient of the Kelly Gawne Memorial Cup
In 1989, Captain Sharon Lynn Donnelly became RMC’s inaugural recipient of the Kelly Gawne Memorial Cup, awarded annually to the best all-around female athlete at RMC.
The first women’s cohort at Canada’s military colleges learned that changing laws are not synonymous with changing culture—and those same issues apply today
I persevered because I knew that walking away would make it easy to conclude that the “experiment of women cadets hadn’t worked.” But it ran deeper than that. I also stayed to prove to myself and everyone else that I was smart enough, strong enough, and “good” enough to be a valuable contributing member in a traditionally male-dominated world. Sadly, I carried the belief for decades that I needed to prove I was “one of the boys” to add value in my work environments and my world. It took time for me to learn to be comfortable in my skin and with my own way of interacting with the world.
RMC Trailblazers: A Conversation with Major Jaemok Lee on His Journey (So Far) and the Importance of Service, Resilience and Trust
From the rugby field to multinational operations, Jaemok Lee exemplifies leadership built on resilience, service, and trust—an example for the next generation of Canadian Armed Forces officers.
Special Honour for Distinguished Alumnus – Larry Ashley RMC 1959
On Saturday August 9, 2025, Lieutenant-General (Retd) Larry Ashley was honoured by being named one of Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes in a ceremony held at the Shearwater Aviation Museum in the presence of a host of dignitaries, family members and friends.
Leading with Purpose: Military Principles in the Private Sector
RMC and the Canadian Armed Forces gave me a foundation in leadership that continues to serve me well. The terminology may be different, orders become scopes, commands become crews, but the core principles endure. Mission clarity, trust-based command teams, and a culture of belonging are not just military ideals. They’re tools that transfer. They’re needed. And they work.
RMC Trailblazers: A Conversation with Jamie Speiser-Blanchet about Resilience, Curiosity, and the Future of the RCAF
We sat down in early June with Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet to discuss her journey from Officer Cadet at RMC to newly-appointed Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hers is a story of firsts, of leadership forged through experience, and of a commitment to growth—in herself and in those she leads.
Graduating from RMC in 1994 with a degree in computer engineering, Speiser-Blanchet went on to earn her pilot wings in 1996. She served as a tactical helicopter pilot on the CH-146 Griffon, with operational deployments to Haiti and Bosnia, and later led 403 Squadron as Commanding Officer. Her diverse career spans the operational and strategic—from frontline flying to senior roles at 1 Canadian Air Division and the Office of the Minister of National Defence.
RMC Trailblazers: A Conversation with Alain Parent on Growth, Grit, and Giving Back
We sat down in mid-June with Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Alain Parent to discuss his journey from cadet to VCDS and beyond, a career that took him to the heart of North America’s aerospace defence—and to the front lines of military operations and mentorship alike.
Early in the interview, Parent jokes that he graduated last in academics and first in “days of punishment” at CMR, but the real story is one of transformation. “If my early disciplinary record had followed me through my career,” he says candidly, “I might never have graduated, let alone reached general officer rank.” Instead, the military college system gave him room to fail, be accountable, and course-correct—setting the stage for a leadership journey that would span nearly four decades.
The RMC Alumni Association is proud to support the Women in Defence & Security (WiDS) Annual Awards Breakfast on 6 March 2025
The Annual Awards Breakfast honours Remarkable Leaders within the Defence community. From junior levels to senior executives, all women deserve recognition for their positive contribution and impact to the Canadian defence and security industry. The Remarkable Leaders campaign celebrates the value women bring to Canada’s Defence and Security community.
Dr. Paul Amyotte, RMC Class of 1976, Awarded Discovery Centre Hall of Fame Award
Known around the world for his internationally recognized work in process safety and risk management, Amyotte has dedicated his career to understanding and preventing dust explosions, a specialized area of Chemical Engineering that he first discovered during his doctoral work.
Game Changer: France Hébert, Vice-President & General Manager, Defence & Security Canada, CAE
France Hébert began her career in the defence industry over 35 years ago by joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). She graduated from the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, with a degree in Engineering Physics. Her education at RMC emphasized academics, leadership, athletics, and bilingualism, shaping her into a well-rounded leader with strong teamwork skills.
RMC Trailblazers: A Conversation with Simon Mailloux about Leadership, Adversity and Resilience
When asked what advice he has for current Officer Cadets, Simon remarks with a chuckle that he well remembers being on the receiving end of such advice. He offers that Cadets should make the most of their time at RMC; that they should read more (“I see Officer Cadets rolling their eyes saying “Ah no, another one that wants me to read more’”); and most importantly that they need to find their support networks both back home and around themselves at the College. “When I got injured, the first people that sent emails and wanted to see me and wanted to support me were my friends from RMC… They were there for me right away… At Kandahar Airfield, in the Role 2 hospital we have there, I didn’t know it, because I was unconscious, but one of my good friends from RMC actually was deployed there as a logistician officer and she came to visit me… So even right out of surgery, the first person that held my hand and helped was somebody from RMC. So, you know, that’s what the College is about. Be there for each other.”
