“One Food Drive just isn’t enough… for RMC’s Class of 2008”

23961 II Year (Economics) OCdt Trevor Robinson was the OPI
for the Highly Successful Second Year Class Project.

Every year, each class at RMC undertakes a class project with two primary goals.  The development of stronger ties with the Kingston community, while participating in a noble community effort, constitutes the first objective of the class projects.  The second goal is to provide to cadet organizers and participants the valuable chance to work on their personal management and leadership skills. This year, the class of 2008 decided to conduct three food drives: one amongst local high schools, one at RMC and a major operation in the greater Kingston area on 18 March 2006.   

Without a doubt, the Royal Military College of Canada’s Class of 2008 achieved its mission for its Class Project this year!  On 18 March 2006, with the two prior successful food drives already under its belt, the Class of 2008 was ready to hit three local supermarkets and ask Kingston residents for their support.  And, participate they did!  In fact, not only did Kingston residents donate non-perishable items, many residents also insisted on making cash donations.  

Although the primary purpose of the food drive was to raise non-perishable goods for the food bank, RMC and the CF definitely gained positive exposure in the greater Kingston community.  Throughout the day at all three locations, Kingston shoppers were pleased to be greeted by cadets dressed in either RMC’s distinct scarlet uniform, DEUs or CADPAT.  Moreover, the MLVW’s and G-Wagons on location as static displays garnered the interest of not only the public, but also

from many grocery-clad CF members who had yet to see them up close.  In the end, the Class of 2008 got its hat-trick, as it surpassed its aim of two MLVW truck-loads of non-perishable goods to benefit the Partners in Mission Food Bank.  

The Class of 2008 thanks the Joint Signal Regiment, Canadian Forces Recruiting Detachment Kingston and the transport and operations sections at RMC and CFB Kingston for their excellent support. As for the officer-cadets, more than 200 participated in the event on 18 March 2006 alone, with the total project participation rate resting at nearly 100%!  By the end of the day, the Class of 2008 was able to raise over 14 000 pounds of food for the Partners in Mission Food Bank, doubling the total raised by the Class of 2007.  To keep up with tradition, the Class of 2008 cordially challenges the Class of 2009 to double our present success next year!  

The weekend concluded with the annual RMC Concert in Scarlets on March 19, 2006.  At the show, the Pipes and Drums, Brass and Reed Band, Jazz Band and Choir all gave magnificent performances.  All proceeds from ticket sales went to the Partners in Mission Food Bank. At the end of the spectacle, RMC Commandant BGen Lacroix presented a check for nearly $7,000 to Sandy Singers, the Director of the Food Bank.  Of that money, $2,500 was raised by the Class of 2008. Kudos to all for a job well done!

The return of rugby
By….

23833  Mike Veitch

Rugby at RMC is very exciting; we have a great group of mates who are enthusiastic and motivated.  Our first season back in the Ontario University Athletics Men’s Rugby league was very successful.  The boys learned more about the game they love and developed as athletes and young officers through out the season.

We have our sights set on next season as we look to raise the bar and challenge our teammates and ourselves.  The cadet rugby players and coaching staff would like to acknowledge the support that the rugby team received through out the year, especially during the season, whether it was at home or away.  They are proud to sport the Red and White and represent the College and the Canadian Forces.  The support of many Ex-cadets is noticed and much appreciated by members of the team!

A new course offered at RMC discusses the horrors of the Holocaust from a literary perspective, and is of particular relevance to those who could potentially be asked to serve in climates of fear, ethnic hatred and even genocide.

On the first day of classes of the fall semester of 2005, I approached room 313B Massey, usually a comfortable and familiar setting of plush, orange couches and eccentric English professors, with a modest sense of trepidation.  I was heading toward the introductory period of Dr. Shirinian's course, ENE 446:  Art of Extremity, Literature and Film of the Holocaust.  Although the course syllabus described this new class as "an exploration and analysis of the representation of the Holocaust in survivor memoirs, fiction, poetry, documentary and narrative film and art, " I knew little of what to expect.  Throughout my education, I had studied the appalling events of the Holocaust from a historical standpoint, but never from a literary perspective.  This course would examine more than numbers, dates and comparatively distant facts, but would consider the human side of the tragedy and the cathartic expressions of those who survived the surreal, Nazi environment of industrialized murder.

Throughout the course, we examined a wide collection of emotional and often very personal accounts of the Holocaust, giving names and faces to the countless victims of Nazi hatred.  Works ranging from Elie Wiesel’s, Night, to Jerzy Kosinski’s, The Painted Bird, offered challenging, often emotionally draining, but riveting material.  In companion with the works studied was historical and contextual information, driving home the reality of what we discussed.

Capt Martin Launiere (RMC ‘01) in one of his beach lifesaving events.  Photo taken by Cpl Issa Pare

22214 Capt. Nils French (RMC ‘02) "le capitaine French au site de championnat à Lorne, Australie"

UN ATHLÈTE CISM DE VALCARTIER
AU CHAMPIONNAT DU MONDE DE SAUVETAGE EN AUSTRALIE! 

Par le Capitaine Nils French (5 RGC) 

Le mois de février 2006 a été tout un défi pour l'athlète CISM de Valcartier, le capitaine Nils French, du 5e régiment du génie de combat (5 RGC).  Il a pris part aux compétitions de Geelong et Lorne, deux villes d’Australie dans l'état de Victoria, avec l'équipe CISM des Forces canadiennes. Le tout s’est déroulé dans le cadre du Championnat du Monde de Sauvetage "Rescue 2006", du 10 au 28 février dernier. Lors de cette compétition relevée, le capitaine French a participé dans deux catégories de sauvetage sportif, soit l’épreuve en piscine (Geelong) et l’épreuve sur plage (Lorne). 

Tout d’abord, il importe de mentionner que l'équipe CISM de sauvetage est constituée presque essentiellement de membres de l'équipe CISM de natation puisqu’une grande partie des épreuves de sauvetage nécessitent également des habiletés de nageurs. Normalement, il n’y a qu’une seule compétition de natation du conseil international des sports militaires (CISM) à chaque année et le sauvetage sportif est normalement inclus lors de cet événement. En l’absence de l’événement de natation cette année, l’équipe CISM a donc décidé de prendre part à celui de sauvetage sportif et améliorer considérablement ses aptitudes pour cette discipline. À ce jour, le capitaine French a participé à trois événements CISM, soit en Croatie (1999), en Russie (2001) et en Allemagne (2002).  

Au total, plus de 4000 athlètes provenant de 30 pays différents ont participé dans trois catégories : équipes nationales, équipes des maîtres (35 ans et plus) et équipes "inter-club".  L'équipe CISM canadienne se retrouvait dans la catégorie inter-club, mais présentait tout de même trois athlètes qui faisaient également partie de la catégorie équipe nationale. Toutes les équipes étaient composées de 12 membres, soit 6 hommes et 6 femmes. En général, les équipes européennes ont dominé les événements en piscine, avec l'Allemagne comme grand gagnant toutes catégories confondues. En ce qui a trait aux épreuves sur plage, l'Australie a raflé la majorité des médailles avec la Nouvelle-Zélande, suivi de très près par l’Afrique du Sud.  Ayant plus de 11000 plages où les sauveteurs assurent la protection de six millions de visiteurs à chaque année, il n'y a aucune surprise quant au succès de ces pays! Le capitaine French, quant à lui, a participé à un total de quatre événements, soit un en piscine (sauvetage avec corde) et trois sur la plage (course dans le relais "taplin", sauvetage avec bouée tube et sauvetage sur aquaplane).  Le sauvetage, contrairement à la natation qui utilise des temps chronométrés pour le classement, se sert plutôt d’un système d’élimination par vague où seuls les premiers passent à l’étape suivante, jusqu’à la finale. Il est donc difficile de donner des résultats précis quant aux performances des sauveteurs canadiens. Pour les événements de plage, l'équipe a réussi à se qualifier pour les quarts de finale à quelques reprises mais n’a malheureusement pas été en mesure d’accéder à aucune des finales. Les événements en piscine ont été similaires, à l’exception qu’un des athlètes canadiens a gagné deux médailles d'argent pour ses excellentes performances. L'équipe a même terminé sixième lors d’une épreuve où les athlètes devaient soigner par priorité des victimes d'un accident simulé.  Sachant qu’ils étaient en compétition assurément contre les meilleurs au monde, ayant régulièrement la chance de s’entraîner sur plage continentale, nul besoin de mentionner que les athlètes canadiens ont été très fiers de leurs résultats! 

Habitué à faire des compétitions avec l'équipe militaire, le capitaine French était fin prêt pour ce séjour très demandant en Australie. Même si très souvent, les compétitions se déroulent aux quatre coins du monde, l’athlète de Valcartier considère qu’elles ne sont jamais des vacances!  Avec un horaire bien rempli par les entraîneurs ou les événements, il n'y a pas beaucoup de temps libre. D’autre part, le capitaine French a été surpris de la température lors des compétitions. Il faisait nuageux la plupart du temps avec des températures environnant les 20 degrés celsius.  Quant à la température de l'eau dans l'océan elle se situait entre 17 et 19 degrés. Une période d’adaptation a donc été nécessaire pour s’ajuster à cette eau froide et saisissante! De plus, de grosses vagues frappaient avec une force considérable, ce qui était une autre différence en comparaison avec les plages du Canada. Toutefois, l'équipe à développé une aptitude de base avec cet élément assez rapidement.     

Au bout du compte, les membres de l'équipe ont gagné beaucoup d'expérience pendant le camp d'entraînement, qui a servi de période d'ajustement et d’acclimatation, et lors de la compétition elle-même. Le capitaine French atteste que l'équipe CISM canadienne sera très compétitive en sauvetage sportif lors du prochain événement militaire! 

CF CISM World Lifesaving Championships

The CISM lifesaving team has recently returned from Australia where they participated in Rescue 2006: World Lifesaving Championships. Thirteen participants, mainly ex-cadets, were selected to represent the Canadian Forces at this high caliber international event.  

Overall, the team performed very well, notably a 6^th place in SERC (Simulated Emergency Response Competition). In the pool, OCdt Teri Share set a National Lifesaving Record in the 100 carry with fins, with a time of 1:08.12.  As well, both the men’s and women’s relay teams had several PB’s, making consolation final in most races. On the beach, the competition was fierce however some of the relay teams were able to make quarter-finals.    

Also important to mention, 22021 Capt. Martin Launiere (RMC ’01) and 23677 III Year OCdt Teri Share were selected by the Canadian Lifesaving Society to participate in the championships as part of the Canadian National Team.

The CISM lifesaving/swim team will now be switching focus to concentrate more on swimming. With the upcoming CISM swimming championships, to be held in Bulgaria in Aug. 06, the selection process is underway. The swimmers are training and participating in several competitions around the country to improve their times. The swim team selection will be in Calgary during the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships at the end of May.

Ten years ago, Jacques Tremblay was named 1996 CIAU Men’s Hockey Coach of the Year.  Jacques coached the hockey Redmen for seven seasons (1989 to 1996).  He was hired as the very first “full-time” professional coach at RMC. 

I remember it like it was yesterday.  How did it happen?  9184 Dr. Bill Simms (RMC ’72) was the Chairman of the Varsity hockey team.  Capt Wilf Johnston was the volunteer General Manager and Chief Scout. Between the both of them they convinced the chain-of-command that the hockey team needed a full-time coach. The athletic department, of course, was heavily involved with the support of the D Cadet Lt. Col. 9391 Paul Mansbridge (RMC ’72). 

4459 Commodore Ed Murray (RMC ’59) was the Commandant.  6014 Major-General (later to become Lieutenant General) Fred Sutherland (RMC ’65) was Chief Personnel Development at NDHQ. Ed pushed a proposal through to Fred to hire a “full-time” hockey coach. Before you could say “Toe Blake”, a process, which hired Jacques Tremblay, was set in motion.  

Jacques had an extensive and successful coaching career coaching in Europe and was a former Quebec Major Junior “A” and Ontario Major Junior “A” coach prior to his arrival at the college. Today those leagues are better known as the “Q” and the “O”.  He loved RMC.  RMC loved him! 

His 1996 Cadet team gained a play-off berth ironically, with the same number of wins that the present (’06) team was able to muster this past season.  

Jacques worked on a series of seven one-year contracts throughout his seven campaigns at RMC.  A system, which would eventually, takes its toll on him.  The rules in regards to having civilian coaches on the payroll were much different in those days then they are now.  The administrative process for both him and the Athletic Director was very frustrating and stressful.  Some years “approval” from NDHQ did not come through until the summer or the last minute just before the start of the training camp. Subsequent Commandants: 8790 BGen John Boyle (later to become CDS) (RMC ’71); 6719 BGen Michel Matte (RMC ’65); and 6496 BGen Charles Emond (RMC ’65) were all big supporters of Jacques and of retaining his services as the full-time coach.  

By the spring of 1996 and after just being named Canadian University Coach of the Year, Jacques had enough of being frustrated every year wondering if he was going to be “rehired”.  He wanted and deserved more security.  Joane Thibault was the Director of Athletics at the time and was a big, big supporter of Mr. Jacques Tremblay.  However, her hands were tied and try as she might, with the support of Charlie Emond they could not change the administrative (red tape) generated out of NDHQ. Jacques made a firm decision to leave RMC. Returning players and his former players were visibly upset.  Joane the AD was upset too!   

Jacques was widely recognized as a hard-working dedicated hockey coach – who never once lost sight of what his main role was at RMC.  Regardless of the number of wins and losses in a given year, he always remained a positive role model and very aware that he was first and foremost a teacher of future leaders. 

Following his departure from RMC, he stayed around Kingston but didn’t sit idle. He enhanced his coaching reputation by coaching the Queen’s University Women’s Team for a few years.  He also was the Head Coach for a couple of high caliber Kingston Minor Hockey competitive teams. Along the way he conducted “motivational” presentations for a number of provincial and national corporations. In short, Coach Tremblay didn’t slow down.    

Now 72 years young, he and his wife Rolande have been residing in Ottawa for the past two years.  She still does full-time nursing and Jacques is still in high demand as a “Motivational Speaker” (French and / or English). He does not watch too many university hockey games these days but was invited to be the “colour” man for the most recent West Point / RMC game for a local cable T.V. company. Not surprisingly he did an outstanding job in explaining the “ins & outs” between periods to the T.V. audience.  

Once again Jacques congratulations on the great achievement on being named 1996 CIAU Men’s Hockey Coach of the Year. You left a great legacy for other RMC coaches to emulate.  

Ed note: Jacques would be pleased to hear from former players and old friends at jacquestremblay@rogers.com