Gala Leadership 60 celebrates the founding of Royal Military College Saint-Jean in a big way On 20 November, Gala Leadership 60 was held at Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean) to mark the 60th anniversary of the college founding. This colourful event afforded participants the opportunity to celebrate the heritage of this institution, its history, its founding fathers and its alumni. “This event will go down in the annals of the College as one of its most memorable,” explained Colonel Guy Maillet, Commandant RMC Saint-Jean. “A host of dignitaries, College alumni, staff and officer-cadets came together to celebrate the anniversary of our wonderful institution.” Presided over by Geoffrey Molson, President/Director General of the Montreal Canadians, Gala Leadership 60 welcomed a number of dignitaries, notably, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, General Tom Lawson, the new Chief of the Defence Staff, and Lieutenant-General the Honourable Roméo Dallaire (retired), Senator. The Gala was organized by the Fondation des Anciens du CMR de Saint-Jean and the RMC Club of Canada Foundation, two philanthropic organizations that generously support the College. As the evening drew to a close, toasts were made to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to the heads of state of the countries represented at the Gala, to RMC Saint-Jean and to missing comrades. This latter toast, solemnly offered by none other than Lieutenant-General the Honourable Roméo Dallaire (retired), Senator, was followed by the moving “Last Post” and a minute of silence. RMC Saint-Jean offers officer cadets a seamless transition from high school to academic studies via college-level and first year university programs in the humanities and the natural sciences. All programs are offered in the student’s first official language and include the preparatory year and the first year. The mission of RMC Saint-Jean is to integrate, evaluate and develop officer cadets in preparation for a brilliant career as officers in the Canadian Forces through its academic, leadership, sports and bilingualism programs.
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Photo 1: On 20 November, Gala Leadership 60 was held at Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean) to mark the 60th anniversary of the college founding. Four hundred and eighty persons or so took part in the Gala including The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, General Tom Lawson, new Chief of the Defence Staff and The Honourable Roméo Dallaire, (retired), Senator. Photo 2: During the evening, the official guard entered the ballroom with great pump presenting the Colours of Royal Military College Saint-Jean. Photo 3: In his speech, the Honorary President, Geoffrey Molson, noted that hockey, beer and service to country are dear to the hearts of the Molson family. In fact, Percival Molson played on the hockey team that won the Stanley Cup in 1896; he responded to the call of his country during the First World War and died in July 1917 near Vimy Ridge in France. And Senator Hartland de Montarville Molson graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1928. Photo 4: Following the speech by The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, he was presented with a lithographic print of the Ex-Cadet Monument that graces the College entrance by Colonel Guy Maillet, Commandant RMC Saint-Jean. Photo 5: As the evening drew to a close, toasts were made to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to the heads of state of the countries represented at the Gala, to RMC Saint-Jean and to missing comrades. This latter toast, solemnly offered by none other than Lieutenant-General the Honourable Roméo Dallaire, (retired), Senator, was followed by the moving “Last Post” and a minute of silence.
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