Photo by Brad Lowe (Click, click for better viewing)
Town Hall – Eye Opening
On 30 Nov, commandant, BGen Eric Tremblay held a Town Hall for all staff and cadets at RMCC. This was facilitated by a video link between over 1300 people in the SAM Gym and 200 people in Currie Hall. The Commandant spoke of all that the College has done over the past few months. He talked about the cooperation and teamwork that goes on to make this institution such a great place to work and learn. He informed the cadets of new initiatives such as offering CCC in their second language as well as the addition of new language courses.
He also reminded everyone of the importance of balance in their lives; this balance must be maintained now, and as future leaders of the Canadian Forces.
A video created by the Base and RMCC PAO, Capt Cynthia Kent depicted the myriad of events conducted during the first term.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSn6nLBKT_c[/youtube]
A number of medals, promotions and Commandant’s Coins for Excellence were presented to deserving recipients. BGen Tremblay fielded a number of questions from the crowd once his address was complete.
All in all, a reality check for all in attendance, in particular, the cadets.
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A working lunch held for members of the community, Base Kingston and RMCC to open lines of communications, build relationships and educate our partners on what RMCC does and discuss how we can work together.
Pictured (L-R) are a combination of RMCC, CFB(K) staffs and a number of Kingston and area community leaders who attended a working luncheon last Friday (2 Dec) at the Royal Military College of Canada:
Cdr Mike Mooz (COS RMCC); LCol (Ret’d) Mike Rostek (Exec Director RMC Club); Col Stephen Saulnier (CO PG); LCol (Ret’d) Rod McDonald (Exec VP Foundation); Dr. Derrick Bouchard (Associate Dean of Engineering); Mr. Chris Whitaker (President and CEO St. Lawrence College); Dr. Lawrence McDonough (Dean of Arts); Col Stephen Cadden (Base Commander – CFB (K); Mrs. Waterman (NRC Kingston); Mr. Jeff Coons (representing the Mayor of Kingston); Dr. John Plant, (former principal RMC); Col Coté (COS representing Comd CDA); BGen Eric Tremblay – (commandant RMCC); MGen (Ret’d) Frank Norman, (former commandant RMC;) MGen Jim Ferron (Comd 1st Cdn Div); CWO Mike Beaulieau (BCWO – CFB (K); Mr. Ted Tsu (MP Kingston & The Islands); MWO Andy Skinner, (Military Wing Sergeant Major – representing College Chief Warrant Officer); LCol Susan Wigg, (Director of Cadets); OCdt Aaron Barry, (DCWC); Mrs HopeTurner, BGen (Ret’d), (Former commandant); Dr. MA Hennessy, (Dean of the Division of Continuing Studies); Dr. Joel Sokolsky/Principal; Dr. Tom Racey (Dean of Science); Maj (Ret’d) Bill Oliver (Editor e-Veritas). Absent when photo was taken- (Mr. Jeff Garrah (CEO KEDCO).
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Par 25533 Véronique Trépanier
Le Collège militaire royal du Canada nous permet de développer plusieurs compétences utiles, telles que le leadership, la gestion et l’organisation. La composante académique nous permet aussi d’apprendre des théories intéressantes. Toutefois, je pense que cet apprentissage n’est pas complet sans la présence d’un volet plus pratique. C’est ce que je peux maintenant expérimenter lors d’un stage avec l’Hon. Sénateur 7860 Roméo Dallaire.
Étudiante de troisième année en sciences politiques, je pensais bien connaitre le système parlementaire canadien. Bien que mes études m’aient préparée à comprendre théoriquement cet organe, j’ai vite constaté que la réalité est bien différente. En assistant le sénateur au niveau législatif et avec sa préparation pour ses deux comités du sénat, celui de la sécurité et de la défense nationale, ainsi que celui des anciens combattants, j’ai pu réaliser à quel point le Sénat est nécessaire dans notre système démocratique. Notamment, le sénateur Dallaire s’implique grandement afin de s’assurer que les vétérans aient droit aux meilleures conditions de vie possible. En convoquant des témoins et en écoutant leurs déclarations afin de formuler un rapport contenant des recommandations pour le gouvernement, les comités du sénat peuvent avoir un impact direct sur la société canadienne.
Ce stage d’une session me permet chaque jour d’accroitre mes connaissances pratiques dans le domaine de la politique, mais aussi au sein de plusieurs autres domaines auxquels je suis confrontée dans le cadre de mon travail. Cette occasion me donne aussi une bonne expérience de la vie pratique en améliorant mon sens du travail d’équipe, en me permettant d’augmenter mes capacités de synthèse d’informations et la possibilité de développer mon esprit critique. Mes tâches principales consistent à préparer des résumés de rapports académiques ou gouvernementaux, à rédiger des textes pour la période de questions ou pour une déclaration du sénateur, à effectuer des recherches afin de préparer la réunion d’un comité, ainsi qu’à repérer des éléments de l’actualité qui pourraient intéresser le sénateur.
Ce travail me permet aussi d’être en contact avec diverses personnes possédant des affiliations politiques différentes, des expériences de vie distinctes et des connaissances enrichissantes. En tant que membre des Forces canadiennes, je n’adopte pas un comportement partisan et cela me permet d’échanger avec différents groupes de personnes et ainsi d’acquérir encore plus d’expérience.
En bref, cette opportunité me permet de développer de nouvelles connaissances pratiques et d’avoir une expérience de travail de qualité au sein du milieu politique canadien. Le sénateur Dallaire est aussi très heureux de cette expérience et espère accueillir d’autres internes provenant du Collège militaire royal du Canada au cours des prochaines années. Mon expérience sera donc peut-être la première d’une longue série…
III Year – First Hand Experience on The Hill
By: 25533 Véronique Trépanier
The Royal Military College of Canada gives us the chance to develop numerous useful abilities such as leadership, management and organization. The academic pillar teaches us interesting theories. However, I think that this learning process is not complete without a practical component. This is what I can experiment now in my internship with the office of the Honourable Senator 7860 Roméo Dallaire.
Being a third year student in Politics, I was thinking that I knew the Canadian parliamentary system. Even if my studies helped me to understand this organ, I quickly discovered that reality is quite different from what I expected. While assisting the Senator at the legislative level and with his preparation for his two committees, the National Security and Defense Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee, I was able to see how much the Senate is a necessary institution in our democratic system. In particular, Senator Dallaire involves himself a lot to insure that veterans have access to the better possible conditions. By hearing witnesses and listening to their declarations to write a report with recommendations for the government, the senate committees can make a direct difference on the Canadian society.
This internship of a semester helped me to increase everyday my knowledge of the political world, but also in others fields of interest related to my work. This opportunity also gives me a good experience of real life by improving my teamwork skills, to improve my summary skills and the possibility to develop my critical thinking. My main tasks are to prepare resume of academics reports or governmental, to write scripts for the question period or declarations for the Senator, to conduct research in preparation for committee meetings and to find news clipping of interest for the Senator.
This job also gives me the opportunity to be in contact with people with different political views, diverse life experiences and interesting knowledge. As a member of the Canadian Forces, I do not adopt a partisan attitude and it provided me the chance to talk with different groups of persons and therefore, get more experience.
In summary, this occasion helped me to develop new practical knowledge and to experiment a work experience of quality in the Canadian political environment. Senator Dallaire is also really happy of this exchange and hopes to welcome others cadets in the next years for a semester internship. My experience might be the first of a long list of successful collaboration…