RMC Politics Cadets’ Trip to Parliament Hill
Article by Professor Christian Leuprecht
“This annual trip provides an excellent opportunity for cadets to interact with policymakers and grasp the machinery of government from the inside. What cadets find especially useful is a new awareness and appreciation for where the Canadian Forces fits within the GoC in relation to partner agencies and other departments.”
Officer Cadet – Nick Deshpande
In late February, twenty-one officer cadets, visiting defence fellows and RMC faculty took part in the annual Politics Department one-day trip to Parliament Hill. Under the coordination and guidance of Professor Leuprecht and the dedicated work of Nick Deshpande (IV) and Sonja Maul-Wilson (II) who helped facilitate the memorable trip.
The day in Ottawa began with meetings at the Privy Council Office where the RMC politics students and faculty listened to presentations by the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Social Development Policy), the Director of Operation (Policy) Afghanistan Task Force, and the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Foreign and Defence Policy) as well as seconded DND personnel.
H7543 Senator Joseph Day (CMR RMC ’68) personally walked the cadets over to the Parliament and gave them an intimate tour of the Senate. The group then walked from the Senate to the House of Commons side of the Parliament. Later, during lunch, the RMC delegation got a chance to have a question and answer session with the defence critics for the three opposition parties: Denis Coderre of the Liberal Party, Claude Bachand of the Bloc Québécois, and Dawn Black from the New Democratic Party.
The students then had an opportunity to witness live the boisterous Question Period in the House of Commons. Afterwards, the group met briefly with Prime Minister Harper, who graciously chatted with them prior to a group photo with the PM.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, took time from his busy schedule and showed a very enthusiastic interest in the cadets and the College.
We then met with Senator Day, as well as two senior representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office. At the end of the day, the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, hosted the RMC group at a reception in the Speakers Chambers and then escorted the delegation to the Parliamentary Dining Room. It was a memorable day for the RMC politics students to see so many of the key people and institutions in our parliamentary democracy. They will remember the trip for years to come.
“The RMC Annual Trip to Parliament Hill gives cadets the rare chance to interact with many of our government’s leading delegates. It is a remarkable opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, and ask questions directly to and discuss issues with Members of Parliament, Senators, the Minister of National Defense, and the Speaker of the House of Commons.”
Officer Cadet – Sonja Maul-Wilson
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Class of 2011, Front and Centre – Many in Local Community to Benefit
“Feed Hope Fight Hunger” food drive
Article by OCdt(II) | Élof(II) Kaitlin Baskerville
With the holiday season past, the Partners in Mission Food Bank, a local charity organization, sometimes struggles to provide a sufficient amount of food baskets to its clients. Unfortunately, due to the seasonal shortages, the food bank needs to ration the amount of food they offer to the less fortunate. This year, the RMC class of 2011 held their “Feed Hope Fight Hunger” food drive to aid the Partner in Mission Food bank and give back to the community. This past Saturday and Sunday, March 21st and 22nd, the second year cadets dressed in their distinctive uniforms and conducted the food drive in six local grocery stores as well elementary schools and churches across Kingston.
The second year cadets, in groups of four, greeted the customers of the grocery stores and asked for donations for the Partners in Mission Food Bank. The degree of participation from the citizens of Kingston was outstanding and highly appreciated. Non-perishable foods as well as monetary donations were collected. Throughout the day, shoppers and cadets had the chance to exchange stories about life at the college, and cadets had the chance to explain to the shoppers their role of giving back to the community. Members of the RMC Pipes & Drums band as well as the highland dancers provided entertainment for Kingston shoppers.
Of the cadets of the class of 2011, I cannot avoid congratulating OCdt Yoon, the lead organizer of the project. He and his team successfully mobilized the entire second year class in a short period of time and managed to trade an average of three hours of work from each cadet for $8,701 and 10 tons of food. Without OCdt Yoon’s dedication and commitment, the food drive would not have been made possible.
This project was more than a class Food Drive, it was an effort by many young future officers to show their consideration and duty towards the less fortunate in Kingston. The resulting donation will be presented on Monday night, by a senior college representative, to Sandy Singers, Director of the Food Bank.
This year once again marks an exceptionally successful food drive. RMC students have demonstrated that excellent teamwork and their commitment to duty transcends the Canadian Forces and positively impacts their community. This is just one example of how our Canadian military through the Royal Military College of Canada, has been a support to the City of Kingston and to those most vulnerable and in need. The fine women and men officer cadets can be exceptionally proud of the work they have undertaken in this year’s food drive to enhance the lives of many in the City of Kingston, especially during such a severe global economic crisis, and the increased demand expected as a result. In truth you find duty and in duty you find valour, and this year’s food drive has demonstrated that the 2nd year RMC Officer cadets will continue to positively impact communities locally and globally.
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Pictured are members of the 2008 RMC team that competed in the CFB Petawawa “Ironman”, L-R: (Top Row) OCdts Baldock and Laplante (Bottom Row) OCdts Cheeseman, Burrows, Richings, and Patton.
Cadets preparing to compete as equals – or better with the best at Petawawa
RMC is gearing up again to compete in the 2009 Ironman. This will be the third consecutive year representing the college in the 2CMBG competition that attracts military and civilian competitors alike.
Last year RMC entered as a visiting team and out of 8, came in second, narrowly missing first place by 6 seconds. The college sent six competitors in 2008 and two in 2007.
This event is not for the faint of heart or anyone not in TOP shape! Combined, the race involves a 32km ruck, a 4km portage, a 10 km canoe, and a 6 km ruck. Although it is an individual race, the top four finishers from a team will have their average used against the other visiting teams.
For M0929 Geordie Cheeseman (RMC 2008) (Otter Squadron) this will be the 12th time he has competed in this event. When some cadets asked about this competition he replied with a bit of a challenge: “This competition will pit you against some of the fittest personnel in 2CMBG, challenge you in mind and body, and make you a part of a team that will have some fun along the way while getting in phenomenal shape.”
Training will begin in earnest by April, molding RMC cadet / competitors – who will surely win the trophy this year! At press time, it was not determined how many cadets will step up and accept the challenge from OCdt Cheeseman.
The Ironman will be held in early September at CFB Petawawa..
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RMC & Cutting Edge Fencers Medal at Senior Provincials
Fencers from RMC & its community program, Cutting Edge Fencing, came away with six medals from the Senior Open Provincial Fencing Championships held from the 13th to 15th of March 2009 at Queen’s. Paladin varsity fencer Tio Raharjo, won the gold in individual men’s foil & then later combined with teammates 24934 Eric Castellani & 24842 Michael Dubois-Boudazza to take the silver in the team event. Dubois-Boudazza & Castellani finished 6th & 7th rspectively in individual competition.
In women’s sabre action, 16 year old Lasalle student Becca Howes from Cutting Edge Fencing won the silver in individual women’s sabre, while RMC’s 24052 Sarah Rogers (RMC 2008) took the bronze. This was the first medal at senior provincials for both athletes. Former Paladin fencer 24032 Chantel Lemay finished 8th. Rogers & Lemay were joined by another ex-Paladin, Natalie Jones, to take silver in the team event as part of the Canadian Forces national team. The Cutting Edge team of Becca Howes, Natasha Grodzinski & 24666 Diana Prenoveau, narrowly missed a medal as they dropped a close 45-43 bronze medal match to Carleton.
In women’s foil action, the Canadian Forces national team of ex-Paladin 23022 Marilyne Lafortune (RMC 2005) & current Paladins 24823 Michele Guertin & 24679 Nicky Sapera, won the bronze medal in team competition. Other top-8 results included Paladin fencer & Kingston native 25490 Andrew Sheahan, who finished 5th in men’s epee, and Cutting Edge’s Jonathan Hutchinson, who wound up 6th in the same event. The Cutting Edge team of Hutchinson, younger brother Kerr, & coach David Howes, lost only once all day, a 45-43 decision, to the eventual gold medallists from Toronto Fencing Club, to end up 5th in a very competitive 16 team men’s epee competition. RMC’s 24659 Rachel Middleton finished 8th in women’s epee, while the RMC team just missed a medal to take 4th in team competition. In men’s sabre action, RMC’s 24234 Olivier Belanger-Nzakimuena wound up in 8th.
Article provided by David Howes.
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Royal Military College joins ORION and plugs in to global research
KINGSTON – The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), one of Canada’s most active research institutions, is the latest organization to join the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) – an ultra high-speed fibre optic network that connects students, researchers and educators across Ontario to partners and colleagues throughout Canada and the world.
“Due to the ever increasing research activities taking place at RMC, it is essential to have the possibility to collaborate in a competitive manner and this means among other things to have access to a network like ORION,” said Dr. B.J. Fugère, Vice-Principal, Research and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
Situated in Kingston, Ontario, RMC connects to ORION at its connection point at Queen’s University. The institution is an affiliate member of the Council of Ontario Universities. There are approximately 1,000 officer cadets enrolled as undergraduate students, 295 full-time graduate students, plus another 400 part-time graduate students. RMC’s research activity ranges from space-time processing for wireless communications to satellite imagery and GIS analysis.
RMC was also one of the first participants in the High-Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL) based at Queen’s University. RMC researchers use high-performance computing, for instance, to forecast interactions between the atmosphere and the oceans.
“We are pleased to see the Royal Military College connect to the network,” said ORION President/CEO, Phil Baker. “It will open up more opportunities for RMC for collaboration with researchers at other institutions, driving Ontario’s and Canada’s innovation agendas.”
About ORION:
The Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION), a not-for-profit organization, is Ontario’s ultra high-speed research and education network which connects all of Ontario’s universities, most colleges, several medical and other public research facilities and a growing number of school boards to one another and to the global grid of research and education networks. Stretching 5,800 kilometres over 21 communities throughout Ontario, ORION connects over one million Ontario researchers, scientists, students, teachers and staff to critical infrastructure for research, education and innovation. Visit www.orion.on.ca