Dear members of the RMC Alumni Association,
On behalf of the cadets who had the honour of representing the Royal Military College of Canada at the 2025 International Forum on Peace, Security & Prosperity in Palermo, Italy, we extend our sincere gratitude for your support.
Our cadre of Naval and Officer Cadets— OCdt Ellie Hwang, OCdt Fiona Nesbit, OCdt Valeria Aristizabal, and NCdt Hakan Eskisarli (funded by Ian and Rosemary Mottershead from the Class of 1962)— had the distinct privilege of engaging in high-level discussions on the future of human security on a global scale. Under the supervision of Dr. Howard Coombs and Dr. Katherine Rossy, our delegation not only gained invaluable academic insights, but also had the opportunity to forge lasting connections with officer cadets and scholars from around the world.
The experience in Palermo was truly transformative. Through our participation in panel discussions, simulations, and cross-cultural exchanges, we came to appreciate the critical importance of international cooperation in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world. These engagements deepened our understanding of international relations and enriched our perspectives as future officers in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Thank you once again for making this opportunity possible. Your continued commitment to the education and development of Canada’s future military leaders plays a profound role in shaping our growth both personally and professionally.
Yours sincerely,
OCdt Ellie Hwang, OCdt Fiona Nesbit, OCdt Valeria Aristizabal, NCdt Hakan Eskisarli
RMC Cadets Champion Resilience at 5th Annual IFPSP in Palermo, Sicily
From March 16–19, 2025, five officer cadets Ambassadors of the Resilience Plus Program at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) proudly represented RMC, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and Canada at the 5th Annual International Forum for Peace, Security, and Prosperity (IFPSP) in Palermo, Sicily. They joined over 280 participants from 123 military academies across 21 countries, convening to explore this year’s theme: Human Security in a VUCA World: Navigating Challenges, Building Resilience.
As Ambassadors of the Resilience Plus Program, the cadets—Maxime Bélanger Vaillancourt, Lily Dubrowski, Iris Kinnon, Isabelle Laurin, and David Wang—delivered a 180-minute workshop on Character-Based Resilience in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) World, under the guidance of Dr. Lobna Chérif (Chair in Resilience, Director of the Resilience Plus Program, and Associate Professor in the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership at RMC) and in collaboration with Dr. Yolandi-Eloïse Fontaine (Senior Lecturer at the Department Industrial Psychology, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosh University, South Africa) . This interactive session invited cadets from different countries to examine the role of character strengths in military leadership and collaborate on real-world scenarios. The workshop was a resounding success, with 92% of attendees finding the session engaging and 96% reporting new learning.
Beyond academic impact, the experience offered invaluable cultural exchange and professional networking. Through formal presentations, high-level UN simulations, and poster sessions, cadets deepened their understanding of hybrid warfare, the impact of conflict on children, and evolving human security approaches. The evenings provided opportunities to forge friendships and connect with future military leaders from around the world—laying the groundwork for enduring international cooperation.
This milestone achievement would not have been possible without the generous support of the RMC Alumni Association and the Ottawa and Toronto Branches whose funding and steadfast belief in the value of leadership development made our participation possible. We are deeply grateful to the Commandant of RMC, the Principal, and the Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy for their encouragement and institutional support.
A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Steve Gregory, MSM, Founder of IFPSP, and Mr. John Mac E. Hannan, CD, Director of International Partnerships, whose vision, dedication, and tireless efforts brought this global forum to life. Your unwavering commitment to fostering peace, security, and prosperity through education and collaboration is both inspiring and transformative. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to contribute and grow as future leaders under your leadership.
Our presence at IFPSP affirmed Canada’s commitment to collaborative leadership on the global stage. Continued participation in such forums is vital for maintaining RMC’s presence and influence within the international military academic community. We strongly encourage sustained support to ensure Canadian cadets remain visible and engaged in global dialogue and training.
We return enriched, inspired, and more prepared to serve as ethical, adaptive leaders in an ever-changing world.
Respectfully submitted,
Maxime Bélanger Vaillancourt
Lily Dubrowski
Iris Kinnon
Isabelle Laurin
David Wang
Officer Cadets | Ambassadors of the Resilience Plus Program
Royal Military College of Canada
