DÉlof – DCdts RMC 2006-2008
Je quitte le réseau aujourdhui en fin de journée. Je suis transféré à Toronto afin de participer au programme de sécurité nationale PSN1 et de parfaire mon éducation en complétant une 2e Maîtrise, cette fois-ci en administration publique. Je voudrais vous remercier pour votre dévouement et votre appui continuel afin de faire du CMR une
institution d’excellence où nous développons des leaders. Merci aux élèves-officiers, à mon personnel militaire, au personnel académique et athlétique pour leur appui inconditionnel, leur dynamisme, leur professionnalisme et leur camaraderie. Durant mon séjour, j’ai voulu renforcer et revitaliser la composante militaire et voulu que vous soyez fier de servir au CMR. Ensemble, avec de la cohésion, nous avons bien réussi la transformation de cette institution au cours des dernières années.
J’ai été fier et privilégié de servir 2 ans comme officier commandant de l’escadre militaire. J’ai adoré chaque journée de travail au CMR. Merci à nouveau et bonne chance dans vos projets futurs. Que les feux dartifices continuent
Soyez qui vous êtes et demeurer authentique car bien des personnes ne le sont pas…pour bien des gens l’essentiel est souvent invisible pour les yeux!
Je me souviens.
Colonel Bernard Ouellette
I leave the network today by the end of the day. I am posted to Toronto to participate in the National Security Program NSP1 and hone my education by completing a 2nd Masters, this time in public administration. I would like to thank you for your dedication and your continuous support to RMC, an institution of great excellence where we develop leaders.
Thanks to the OCdts, my military personnel, academic and athletic staff for their unconditional support and their dynamism, professionalism and comradeship. During my stay, I wanted to strengthen the military and wanted you to be proud to serve at RMC. Together, with cohesion, we have successfully completed the transformation of this institution over the past years.
I have been proud and privileged to serve two years as Commanding Officer of the Military Wing. I enjoyed every working day at RMC. Thank you again and good luck in your future projects. Let the fireworks continue
I remember.
“Be who you are and say what you feel…Because those who mind don’t
matter…and those who matter don’t mind.”
Colonel Bernard Ouellette
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On Friday, 1 August 2008, command of the Cadet Wing will transfer from Colonel Bernard Ouellette to Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony O’Keeffe. The event will be marked with a Change of Command Parade commencing at 1100 hrs on the RMC Parade Square. Spectators are to be seated by 1045 hrs. Dress for military personnel is DEU #1A. The parade is not expected to last more than one hour.
Everyone is invited.
Le vendredi, 1er août 2008, le commandement de l’Escadre des élèves-officiers sera transféré du colonel Bernard Ouellette au lieutenant-colonel Anthony O’Keeffe. L’événement sera marqué par une passation de commandement qui commencera à 11h00 heures sur le terrain d’exercice militaire. Les spectateurs doivent être assis pour 10h45 heures. La tenue pour le personnel militaire est le UDE # 1A. La parade
ne devrait pas durer plus d’une heure.
Tous sont invités.
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Initiative of Two ’05 Cadets Still Providing Fun For Beach VBallers
By: 23996 Alex Cushley
On any given day, at any given time it is a reasonable expectation to walk out to the volleyball court and join in a game. While this is a luxury to the cadets who remain in Kingston over the summer it was not always this way. I remember vaguely, as a first year cadet, when the volleyball court was being made. It’s funny how over four years spent at the college most of it becomes a jumbled haze yet is somewhat recallable. Although I could remember it was made in first year, that was all, so I used my networking skills and contacted a fourth year of the day I felt may be able to help me out. Sure enough I was provided with the emails of the two gentlemen cadets who headed up the project. While the entire story cannot be told in a reasonable amount of typing 23090 Kevin Maarse (RMC ’05) tells of how he and 23170 Maciej Hatta (RMC ’05) brought the court into existence;
“We used to go to the Queens court regularly. It was far away though, and not the greatest location or facility. So we started looking into it.” Lots of people were interested. It had been proposed many times at RMC, but shot down every time. So we started our own plan, and what a plan. I think Maciej might still have a copy of it. Detailed professional specifications, construction details, costs etc. complete with aerial photos courtesy of our own recce flights (made possible by virtue of being pilots). Then came the approval process and getting the money. After several months of pushing we got ourselves a seat at the NPF board meeting. We made our pitch and sold it. $5000 I think we got. All the labor done by us. Then the package went to the Commandant for site selection. We had a few locations scouted out, one by Sauve, one by the Tennis courts and one near the baseball diamond I think. What was chosen really surprised us, as we never thought they would choose to put a beach vball court front and center. We were ecstatic though. I can’t quite remember the timeline but I think after it was approved, we came back to RMC early in 4th year Sept 2004 and started building. Recruiting as many classmates as we could. We dug the area out completely by hand. We got some hand tools from the Civ Eng dept, and rented a sod cutter to reuse the existing grass. We handcrafted the poles. Got the steel, made them at the machine shop, painted them and attached the accessories. All materials was brought there in our own cars, a Golf and an Eagle Talon… an experience… Next came the drainage. The court was lined with geo-textile, drainage pipe and gravel, so as to avoid a swimming pool like amateur courts in the spring. Then came the sand delivery… heh. We had six massive dump trucks backing in during the middle of a parade practice. Priceless. A lot more sand then we thought there would be actually…. So we got a tractor. We won’t mention where we got it, b/c some people were unhappy seeing OCdts driving it around campus… heh. Oh well, it saved a lot of work. Once that was finished it was just finishing touches. Making sure the grass didn’t die, making lines, and adding a perimeter. By the time all was said in done, we didn’t get to use it too much before we left the college. Should have started it in 2nd year. We started the process of getting a plaque added to one of the posts with our names and possibly a dedication, but it’s a long process and we weren’t around long enough to see it through.”
The hard work, both physical and bureaucratic, of these two cadets has not gone unnoticed. It is truly amazing to see this level of productivity out of two pilots. College staff; Officer Cadets; and even HMCA Ontario Sea Cadets undergoing summer training at RMC all take great pleasure and pride in this wonderful facility, which was so selflessly created.
It truly is a shame that these two creative and “can do” cadets did not get to reap the fruits of their labors and that to this date (appx. 4 years later) there is still not a commemorative plaque, or dedication as was intended.
Photo 1: HMCS Ontario Navy Cadets hitting the vb “sky-high” during their PT period.
Photo 2: Frigateers enjoying the newly built volleyball court in A/Y 04/05 (left to right) 23241 Craig Scott (RMC ’05), 23187 Pat Leblanc (RMC ’05), 23821 Adam Runge (RMC ’07), 23187 Karine Levoie (RMC ’05), 23781 Melissa Calnan (RMC ’07).
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Varsity Sports Interviews: This is the second in a series of interviews carried out by a summer student (Officer Cadet) working with e-veritas.
23996 OCdt, IV Year – Alex Cushley (aka Cush) has keenly accepted the challenge of “interviewing” a number of various people around RMC.
In this edition “Cush” sat down with two well known and highly respected varsity coaches: Steve Leknois, (M) Volleyball and Chad Beaulieu (W) Soccer.
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………………………………..Steve Leknois…………………………… Chad Beaulieu
To read the entire interviews…..click here.
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Coach: Steve Leknois
Sport: Volleyball (M)
# years coaching: 8 (95-97 while it was a military position, 2002 – present)
CUSH: Because of the nature of RMC can you describe some highs and lows of your time spent here?
COACH: I am ex-military. I served 22 years and one of the best things for me is staying associated with the men and women who defend our country. Other high points are going to provincial championships twice while in the college league and being part of the program entering the university level. I also enjoy seeing individual player’s goals being met, seeing players make CISM, and players going on to be strong officers.
CUSH: How many players do you have returning from last season?
COACH: Fourteen
CUSH: How many new players have you recruited?
COACH: Two
CUSH: When recruiting what do you tell prospective athletes?
COACH: The biggest challenge when recruiting is overcoming the idea of a military college. Most people believe it’s like in the movie Taps. The first thing I do is get them to come see the college. I also stress the academics side; small classes and tutorials Monday nights. I ensure they know it is not an easy experience but also that nothing worthwhile is. I also inform them of the opportunities afterwards whether they plan on staying in the forces or not. Either they can have a long and fulfilling military career or be pursued by the public sector. I also explain the advantages of everything being paid for to the parents. As a parent with a son at civi-U I understand how expensive it gets. This is a comfort to many families. I believe the military takes care of itself during the recruitment process other than getting them passed the first step that it’s not like in the movies.
CUSH: What would your profile of a top player be?
COACH: I look for a gifted leader. Most people who come here possess leadership in one form or another but I look for someone who leads the leaders. Another big thing is a “no excuse guy” and someone who doesn’t give me any issues off the court. They get things done and take care of themselves. I also look for someone who is continually developing them self physically, working hard in practice and hitting the weights as well when they can. Also, they need to put the team first. They can all play volleyball but this is what makes someone a top profile player for me.
CUSH: Do you plan on recruiting any players from within the college?
COACH: Four have contacted me saying they would be coming to RMC and are interested in trying out. I never refuse anyone that chance. I don’t rely on this but the possibility is always there. I had three from last year.
CUSH: How many non-cadet players do you expect in the line up?
COACH: None
CUSH: What are your views on using non-cadet players? Are there set guidelines?
COACH: I have done it before. It is not my primary method of recruiting. I use it only as an indicator for someone who hasn’t succeeded in getting in on their first attempt. This gives them the chance to be here and show they can do it, which is often the case. One such situation was someone whose academics were borderline. They came as interest only, got their marks up to the standard of the academic side then re-applied and was accepted. I also use it for individuals who are very interested but not sure it’s for them. I don’t use this option to excel in the sport.
CUSH: Are there any returning players you’re particularly counting on this year in terms of leadership or ability?
COACH: Several. Mark Noel of Otter squadron. He was a 22iem for nine years so he brings an element of leadership to the team second to none. He was also on the CISM team last year to give an indication of his ability. 24334 Gordon Lee was also on CISM last year and is an excellent leader. 24272 Garret Aucoin, 24170 Matt Jokela and 24401 Ian Wookey are all key players as well. I really put pressure on my fourth year players. I especially try to get them to lead the team and work out issues such as individual problems with players. I encourage the team captain to approach cadet leadership on behalf of the team’s players this way the team leadership and squadron leadership interact preparing them for their career after RMC.
CUSH: Looking at last season (0-20) what are your expectations for the team’s performance this year?
COACH: I expect us to be technically more sound. We were in a rough spot having such a young team last year. I expect the experience gained last year to come through to help us play better. One thing we need to do is close the door better. For this we will need to have confidence in our own abilities and this is where the experience comes in. We’ll use last years experiences to push through. The team seems more dedicated and I expect to Finish better.
CUSH: Future years?
COACH: We can achieve. There are teams who have been in the league for 20 years who haven’t won a championship. People need to be patient. While coaches and players are saying, “we can” others saying we can’t isn’t helping. Everyone needs to be proud. The school needs to encourage our players. Everyone must have confidence as a group.
CUSH: Any thought on making the playoffs?
COACH: I prefer to take things one game at a time. Nothing is out of reach. The top six teams make the playoffs and I think a sixth place finish is obtainable.
CUSH: What do you do to keep your team motivated?
COACH: Everyone has their own way of being motivated. For general team motivation I do a lot of inspirational speeches. I personally try to present a no-quit attitude. I believe each time we step onto the court it’s a new opportunity despite what our record is. There is always the chance to cause an upset. I try to make my players play hard all the time and believe in themselves. We also stay proud of the things we are doing off the court like the Matthew Dawe tournament. We have one of the best high school tournaments which we facilitate and officiate. We also have done an elementary tournament and have teams calling asking when we plan to do it again. These things keep us motivated. I also want my players to above all play for love of the game.
CUSH: Yourself motivated?
COACH: I don’t need much to motivate me. Any projected negative fuels my fire. The more I am told we can’t the more desire I have to prove we can. I truly believe we can get it done. I coach because I love the game that in itself motivates me .Seeing my players give their all is another motivator. As I say, “hard work will pay off”.
CUSH: What does your exhibition schedule look like? Pre-season, xmas trip, etc.?
COACH: It is not as good as I’d like. We play McGill in Sept which I call our “team building trip”. We also have an exhibition with the UK Air Force team three days after we’re back. We are also hosting a tournament in October which Windsor, McGill, and Ottawa U will attend. We are hoping our earlier games will show us what to work on and improve for our tournament. The season will also be demanding on the body so I like to focus on the technical work that needs to be done earlier on.
CUSH: What role if any do you feel you’ll have in your players away from the field/court?
COACH: Most of the players are pretty far from home. I keep an open door policy for everything on and off the court. If a player needs to talk, or needs help making an important decision, or even just get something off their chest I try to be there as their sounding board away from home.
CUSH: Assuming the best interest of the college should come first, what should come second, team? Players? Coach? Why?
COACH: Players and the team are the same thing. The team is made of the players and their status co-exists. If the players are happy, healthy, etc. then so is the team. As the coach I take care of myself and I come last. This is true in the college and CF as well. Both are teams of a larger scale. As the leader you must take care of the individuals. When this happens the team functions well.
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Coach: Chad Beaulieu
Sport: Soccer (W)
# years coaching: 7th season (started Aug 2002)
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CUSH: Because of the nature of RMC can you describe some highs and lows of your time spent here?
COACH: A high point for me would be when the 2004 women’s soccer won Ontario College Athletics indoor championship. Also last season we qualified for the playoffs and advanced. This was the first time a women’s team made the playoffs and the first time a team advanced in the playoffs since 2001. I felt a boost in moral in the school itself; more fans showed up to support us as well as the sr. staff. There was a sense of pride. As far as lows; last year despite having some success we lost two fourth year players to season ending injuries and also another fell ill.
CUSH: How many players do you have returning from last season?
COACH: (Lucky number) Thirteen.
CUSH: How many new players have you recruited?
COACH: Five first years and we usually get one or two walk-ons during open tryouts.
CUSH: When recruiting what do you tell prospective athletes?
COACH: I talk about all the things RMC is good at such as the academic advantages. No where else can you get smaller class sizes, attention to details from profs, face time with a prof. I also talk about the women’s soccer program and how after only four years it is performing at a high level. This is because of the values the program has; commitment to improvement, teamwork, discipline, and a winning attitude in terms of approach. I also speak about the leadership development training the college offers, employability…I basically tell people the RMC is Canada’s best kept secret.
CUSH: What would your profile of a top player be?
COACH: For me a top player must first have an academic background in order to assure they will become a four year interest. If they only are here one season then fail out its not what we are looking for. I look for basic technical ability which is a broad term but for me is mainly that they have a basic foundation. I also look for a motivation to compete at this level. It is important the athlete wants to play at this level and will be competitive.
CUSH: How many non-cadet players do you expect in the line up?
COACH: Two. One is a reservist and the other is an interest only player enrolling in RETP.
CUSH: What are your views on using non-cadet players? Are there set guidelines?
COACH: The college has given guidelines on varsity composition like any school. I am a proponent of it but it is not my first path. I use it for individuals who are processed late or have other unique circumstances. It is the same at all universities in terms of using only a certain number of post-grad students. When you look at RMC especially in the case of women’s teams there are only 180 females in the school and I need a roster of 20 plus basketball, volleyball, etc.
CUSH: Are there any returning players you’re particularly counting on this year in terms of leadership or ability?
COACH: All of them. I need them to keep up the winning attitude. We are strong from the captain point-of-view but also from the point of view that the team knows how to be led.
CUSH: Looking at last season what are your expectations for the team’s performance this year?
COACH: I expect the same attitude, same approach, to hold up the same values, teamwork, disciple, and a commitment to improve. Basically by taking the same attitude and approach this leads to high performance and from the it is difficult to predict exact win-loss figures.
CUSH: Future years?
COACH: We have gained some momentum and have had some positive results. We need to keep going, keep representing the school and upholding the CF ethos. Thus far we have had 63 Academic All-Canadians graduate from RMC in the CIS program in 4 years. 26 of the were from our team. Our attitude and approach leads to winning officers.
CUSH: Any thought on making the playoffs?
COACH: If we perform at the same level I don’t see why not. The league itself is very competitive and can change from year to year. I’d be more an optimistic than defeatist. One good thing in our favor is the number of games we play in a season has been reduced from 16 to 14. Now we play the same as the men’s league. This is better for energy management.
CUSH: What do you do to keep your team motivated?
COACH: Motivation is done at an individual level. Each athlete is motivated differently. Sometimes I’ll give them a goal during a training session or ask them to come up with one for a game. They have a say and that in itself motivates them. We also address motivation as a team. As a collective group we represent the institution and that adds pride and performance.
CUSH: Yourself motivated?
COACH: My motivation is an extension of the knowledge that our athletes/students of RMC form an elite group. This group has self-confidence, pride, and motivation. In terms of what the athletes can bring, and that their best efforts are being put forth all the time I find myself in a very good position for a coach. Also I have been receiving more support from the college itself especially senior staff which adds motivation.
CUSH: What does your exhibition schedule look like? Pre-season, xmas trip, etc.?
COACH: At the moment it is unclear. The is one game booked in Ottawa 29 Aug 08 but there is not much time before that due to summer training. For the winter we always have an excellent post season schedule. We have post season games with clubs mainly in Ottawa. These games are indoor but we play 11 vs. 11 which is very important.
CUSH: What role if any do you feel you’ll have in your players away from the field/court?
COACH: I like to believe I give them a sense of how to take a strong hold on time management. I am always stressing when its time to focus on school, focus on school. When they are at varsity they should focus on that. Same with the military and then whatever little time they have left over for socializing is theirs. Basically I try to help them focus on what is on their plate at any given time. I also try to encourage a complete control over attitude and approach and I believe this can be applied away from the field to everything in life but they learn it through sports.
CUSH: Assuming the best interest of the college should come first, what should come second, team? Players? Coach? Why?
COACH: I believe the team and once the team aspect is satisfied this spirals into the individual players and coach being satisfied as well. This sport is made of individuals with the common objective of accomplishing goals. The rest is naturally satisfied once this is accomplished.