Royal Military College Saint-Jean facts for kids
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| Motto | French: Verité, Devoir, Vaillance |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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Truth, Duty, Valour |
| Type | Military college |
| Established | 1952 |
| Chancellor | Anita Anand (ex officio as Defence Minister) |
| Commandant | Gaétan Bédard |
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Administrative staff
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20 |
| Undergraduates | up to 200 |
| Location |
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
,
,
Canada
45°17′49″N 73°15′09″W / 45.29694°N 73.25250°W ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters |
| Campus | 80 acres (32 ha), waterfront, situated on the west bank of the Richelieu River, Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec) |
| Affiliations | AUCC, IAU, AUFC, COU, CIS, CVU, PPC, UArctic, MAISA, Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu |
| Website | cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca |
The Royal Military College Saint-Jean (French: Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean), also known as RMC Saint-Jean or CMR, is a special college and university in Canada. It trains future officers for the Canadian Armed Forces. The college is located at the historic Fort Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This town is about 40 kilometers south of Montreal.
RMC Saint-Jean is part of the Canadian Military College system. It offers two-year college programs in Social Science and Science. These programs help students get ready for university studies at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. In 2021, RMC Saint-Jean became an independent university. It now offers its own bachelor's degree in International Studies.
Contents
- What Students Learn at RMC Saint-Jean
- What Cadets Wear
- Cadet Leadership Roles
- Awards for Cadets
- Cadet Squadrons
- A Cadet's Daily Life
- History of RMC Saint-Jean
- Buildings and Campus Features
- Fort Saint-Jean Museum
- Memorials and Displays
- College Commandants
- Famous People from RMC Saint-Jean
- College Symbols
- Images for kids
What Students Learn at RMC Saint-Jean
The programs at RMC Saint-Jean are for students who have finished high school. They prepare students for university studies. Students can continue at the Royal Military College of Canada or choose the International Studies program at RMC Saint-Jean.
Military education for Canadian officers focuses on four key areas:
- Military skills
- Physical fitness
- Being bilingual (speaking both English and French)
- Academics (school studies)
About 325 students train at RMC Saint-Jean each year. They study in two-year programs that lead to a college diploma. Some also study in the International Studies program to get a bachelor's degree.
Students choose between a Social Science program (for arts degrees) or a Science program (for engineering or science degrees). Both programs are offered in English and French. They all share core courses like literature, philosophy, second language, and physical education.
The school year has two semesters. It includes 150 teaching days and a final exam period.
Academic Subjects Offered
Students at RMC Saint-Jean study a range of subjects.
| Science Courses | Social Science Courses |
|---|---|
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Core courses for all students include literature, humanities, a second language, and physical education. The first year helps students develop good study habits, critical thinking, and teamwork.
Regular Officer Training Program
Students at RMC Saint-Jean can join the Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP). This program helps future officers earn a bachelor's degree. A degree is needed to become an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. Students can attend RMC Saint-Jean or the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Sometimes, students can even attend a civilian university if their chosen degree isn't offered at a military college.
What Cadets Wear
Cadets at RMC Saint-Jean wear different uniforms for various events. These include ceremonial dress for formal occasions and combat dress for training. In winter 2009, cadets started wearing a special daily uniform. It includes a white shirt, black sweater or light jacket, and black pants or skirt with a red stripe. They also wear a black wedge hat with red piping. For very formal dinners, they wear a special Mess dress uniform.
Cadet Leadership Roles
To help cadets develop leadership skills, they are given different positions of responsibility. These roles are based on their performance and a need for development. Each cadet wears bars to show their level of authority. These appointments usually last for one semester.
| Position | What They Do | Bars |
|---|---|---|
| CWC | The Cadet Wing Commander is the top cadet leader. They manage all the cadets and their groups. | 5 |
| CWOPsO | Helps plan activities and projects for the whole cadet group. | 4 |
| CWTO | Makes sure all cadets follow rules for behavior, dress, and manners. | 4 |
| CWAdO | Handles administrative tasks for the cadet group. | 4 |
| CSL | Manages a group of about 75 cadets. | 4 |
| CSTO | Ensures good behavior, dress, and manners for cadets in their group. | 3 |
| CFL | Leads one of two smaller groups (flights) within a squadron, usually about 30 cadets. | 3 |
| DCFL | Assists the Cadet Flight Leader and helps with discipline in their flight. | 2 |
| COMSEC | Leads one of three sections within a flight, usually about 10 cadets. | 2 |
| DCOMSEC | Assists the Section Commander and helps with discipline in their section. | 1 |
Awards for Cadets
Many awards are given to cadets who do very well.
| Award Name | What it's For |
|---|---|
| Royal Military College Saint-Jean Sword of Honour | Given to the second-year cadet with the best overall performance in academics, leadership, fitness, and bilingualism. |
| John Matheson Memorial Sword | For the Preparatory Year cadet with the highest results in all four areas: academics, leadership, athletics, and bilingualism. |
| Ex-Cadets Trophy | For the First Year cadet with the highest results in all four areas. |
| Governor General's Collegiate Bronze Medal | Awarded to the First Year cadet with the highest academic average. |
| The Class of 1957 Awards | Four awards for cadets who show the most improvement and excellence in their second language (English or French). |
| The Maisonneuve Bursaries and Shield | Given to the two First Year cadets with the highest academic averages in Social Sciences and Sciences. |
Cadet Squadrons
The cadets are divided into three main groups called Squadrons. Senior cadets guide and supervise these squadrons. The squadrons are named after historical figures from New France. In 2017, a fourth squadron, Jolliet, was added. These squadrons compete for the "Commandants Cup" in the four pillars of the college.
| Squadron # | Name | Named After |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richelieu | Cardinal Richelieu |
| 2 | Iberville | Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville |
| 3 | Tracy | Alexandre de Prouville de Tracy |
| 4 | Jolliet | Louis Jolliet |
In the 1960s, the squadrons were named Cartier, Maisonneuve, and Champlain.
A Cadet's Daily Life
When new officer cadets arrive, they choose their service branch. They are then placed into one of the four squadrons. The pre-university program uses modern teaching methods. These include workshops, research introductions, labs, and group projects. Staff also offer extra help like tutorials.
Cadets live in the Cartier or Champlain Buildings. They eat in the Dextraze Pavilion. Cadets cannot leave the campus except on weekends. However, some weekends are used for military training.
During the week, the daily routine includes inspections, running, breakfast, classes, sports, and study time. Cadets attend academic classes and receive military training. This training includes drills, map reading, and two major field exercises each year. Cadets can also take on leadership roles within their squadrons. To promote bilingualism, the college has French and English weeks. On weekends, cadets are mostly free, unless there is military training.
History of RMC Saint-Jean
The Royal Military College Saint-Jean first opened in 1952. It was created to train cadets from all three military services. Its goal was to have more French Canadians in the Canadian Forces. In 1971, the college partnered with the Université de Sherbrooke. This allowed cadets to earn a bachelor's degree without leaving Saint-Jean. In 1985, the Quebec government gave CMR its own university charter. This meant it could grant its own degrees.
However, in 1995, after the Cold War, the college was closed due to government budget cuts. This was a sad time for many former cadets. But in the fall of 2007, the federal government decided to reopen the military college at Saint-Jean.
On May 24, 2008, Michaëlle Jean, who was the Governor General of Canada, officially reopened the college. The new RMC Saint-Jean is different from the original. It now includes the Canadian Forces Management and Development School. It also houses the Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development Centre. This centre helps train future senior leaders for the Canadian Forces.
In 2018, RMC Saint-Jean began offering university degrees again in International Studies. On May 14, 2021, the first class since 1995 graduated from the college.
Key Dates in History
| Year | Important Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Plaques were placed at Fort Saint-Jean to mark its historical importance. The fort was built in 1743. |  |
| 1952 | The Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR) was officially opened. Its goal was to train cadets from all three military services. |  |
| 1971 | CMR partnered with the Université de Sherbrooke. This allowed cadets to earn a bachelor's degree without leaving Saint-Jean. | |
| 1985 | The Quebec government gave CMR its own university charter. | |
| 1995 | The college was closed due to government budget cuts. | |
| 2007 | The reopening of CMR was announced for the fall term. | |
| 2008 | Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, officially reopened the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. |  |
| 2012 | Royal Military College Saint-Jean celebrated its 60th anniversary. |  |
| 2018 | RMC Saint-Jean started offering university degrees again in International Studies. | |
| 2021 | The first class since 1995 graduated with bachelor's degrees. |
Buildings and Campus Features
The campus has many important buildings. Cadets live in the Cartier and Champlain Blocks. Other buildings like Vanier, DeLéry, Dextraze, Lahaie, and Massey Pavilions are shared. The campus offers a library, labs, and internet access. Many buildings are recognized as Federal Heritage Buildings.
Some notable buildings include:
- Cartier Pavilion (1955): A residence for students.
- Champlain Pavilion (1953): Another residence for students.
- CWO Couture Building 16 (2012): A drill hall named after Chief Warrant Officer Couture.
- DeLery Building (1957): Has academic classrooms and offices.
- Dextraze Pavilion (1992): The dining hall.
- Lahaie Pavilion (1968–74): Contains the library, labs, and offices.
- Maisonneuve Pavilion (1953): A dormitory for students.
- Massey Building Musée Fort-Saint-Jean Pavillon Les Forges' (1937): Houses the Fort Saint-Jean Museum.
- Officer Cadet Mess, Mess Saint-Maurice building (1956): The cadets' mess hall.
- Vieux Mess building (1839): Used for special events and dinners.
- Parade square (1955): A large area for drills and ceremonies.
- Vanier Pavilion (1957): A sports complex with a gym, rink, and pool.
Fort Saint-Jean Museum
| Established | 1965 |
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| Location | Massey Building, Old Forge, on campus of Royal Military College Saint-Jean, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec |
The Fort Saint-Jean Museum is located on the college campus. It collects and displays items related to the history of the college and the Fort Saint-Jean site. The museum has military items, maps, models, and historical objects. The site has been used by different military groups since 1666.
The museum was closed for a few years but reopened in 2003. In 2006, it moved to a new location. In May 2012, the museum moved again to the historical "les Forges" pavilion. It is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday during the summer.
Memorials and Displays
The college campus has several memorials and displays.
| Memorial | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th Anniversary Monument | A monument donated in 1977 to celebrate the college's 25th anniversary. |  |
| Second World War Memorial | A granite slab from 1945 dedicated to soldiers who died in the Second World War. |  |
| Royal 22e Régiment Memorial | A stone monument from 1964 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal 22e Régiment. | _at_Royal_Military_College_Saint-Jean.jpg) |
Military Vehicles and Anchors
The campus also displays various military vehicles and historical anchors.
| Display Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor of HMCS Bonaventure | This anchor belonged to HMCS Bonaventure, Canada's last aircraft carrier. It was given to the college in 1998. |  |
| Admiralty pattern anchors of HMS Fury | These anchors are from HMS Fury, a ship abandoned in the Arctic in 1825 during an exploration. | ..jpg) |
| Ordnance QF 17-pounder | A 75mm anti-tank cannon used during the Second World War. |  |
| AVGP M-130 | A Canadian armored personnel carrier. |  |
| Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck | A Canadian-designed jet aircraft from after 1952. |  |
| Leopard 1 | A type of tank. |  |
| M4 Sherman tank | An American-made tank used by Canada in the Second World War. |  |
College Commandants
The Commandant is the leader of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. Here are some of the people who have held this important role:
| Name | Years Served | Key Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| H11171 Colonel Marcelin L. Lahaie | 1952–1957 | He was the first Commandant of RMC Saint-Jean. A building is named after him. |  |
| 4377 Lieutenant General Richard J. Evraire | 1975–1978 | He was added to the Wall of Honour at the Royal Military College of Canada. |  |
| H7860 Brigadier-General (ret'd) Senator Roméo Dallaire | 1989–1991 | He is a well-known senator, educator, and author. |  |
| 17312 Colonel M.A.J. (Jennie) Carignan | 2013–2015 | She was the first woman in Canadian Forces history to command a combat unit in Afghanistan. | |
| 18087 Colonel Gervais Carpentier | 2017–2019 | During his time, RMC Saint-Jean started offering university programs again. |
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| 20830 Brigadier general Nicolas Joseph Jean-Louis Pilon | 2019-2021 | During his leadership, RMC Saint-Jean became a university again and had its first graduating class since 1995. | |
| 21316 Colonel Gaétan Bédard | 2021-Present | He is the current Commandant of RMC Saint-Jean. |
Famous People from RMC Saint-Jean
Many notable people have studied or worked at RMC Saint-Jean.
Alumni (Former Students)
- Roméo Dallaire: A senator and author, known for his work with the UN in Rwanda.
- Marc Garneau: A Canadian astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle.
- Steven MacLean: Another Canadian astronaut.
- Walter Natynczyk: A former Chief of the Defence Staff for Canada.
- Jennie Carignan: The first female general from a combat role.
- Sylvain Laporte: The former President of the Canadian Space Agency.
Faculty (Teachers)
- Roch Carrier: A famous author, known for The Hockey Sweater.
College Symbols
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RMC Saint-Jean Flag
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The motto of RMC Saint-Jean is Vérité, Devoir, Vaillance, which means "Truth, Duty, Valour." This motto is shared by other Canadian military colleges. The college's crest and flag feature symbols like swords, an open book, maple leaves, and fleurs-de-lis, representing its military and academic roles in Canada.
Images for kids
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Fort Saint-Jean circa 1775, during the siege of the fort
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Artillery at Royal Military College Saint-Jean
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Cadet Sculpture 'Truth, Duty, Valour' by William McElcheran
