List of Royal Military College of Canada memorials

This is a list of Royal Military College of Canada memorials and traditions.

Skylarks

YearSkylark - annual class practical joke or prank1933A toy cannon made in the college mechanical engineering lab was fired down the hallway of Fort Lasalle.1960Declaration of martial law over the Queen's University model parliament and the taking into "protective custody" of the prime minister.1961Liberated Queen's University quarathon football returned via airplane to stadium.1962Lost rifles (minus breech blocks) "stored" in Fort Haldimand vault.1964Lifted a VW Beetle to Fort LaSalle landing.1965Toilet paper shot from cannons.1974A cadet's car, an MG, was left in second floor of RMC library.1976Cadets painted tank pink.1979Cadets used dental floss to ring the Spanish bell hanging in front of the Stone Frigate.1979Cadet climbed the Memorial Arch and painted "4 SQN" in the gravel on its surface. A squadron-mate flew over in a Cessna and took a photograph.1984Mackenzie Building Tower clock converted into a Mickey Mouse clock.1993 While a cadet spent spring break in Florida, cadets took shifts to keep the hot air poppers going to fill his room in Fort Haldimand with popcorn. 2003During grad parade practice, a piper had a fake double of himself (in full regalia) tossed from the bell tower of the MacKenzie building after the piper-solo.2007Cadets set off a fireworks display during morning parade.2008The "Brucie" statue decked out in traditional Aboriginal dress by students from the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY) "Headless horseman" appeared at a parade. "RMC" was painted on the field of Richardson Stadium by civil engineering students and was visible for the Queen's homecoming football game, which was televised nationally.2010The "Brucie" statue was decked-out in Queen's University '10 coveralls featuring a Superman "Q" on the front.2011A Victorian era cannon was found in the middle of the Cadet Dining Room.2012An air cadet glider measuring 54 ft by 27 ft was found in the middle of the Cadet Dining Room (picture above). Tables in the Cadet Dining Hall were rearranged to say "C Div". Cadets rolled a period 25-pounder cannon into the middle of the parade square, with a 12 squadron banner taped onto it. Spanish Bell unbolted from in front of the Stone Frigate and carried by 6 squadron for the duration of the FYOP Obstacle Course.20131 Squadron Cadets converted the steps of the Currie Building into a ship, HMCS Hudson. 8 Squadron Cadets announced that the commandant's 20+ year old car was for sale for $8.20155 Squadron Cadets placed a torpedo on the parade square before morning parade.20177 Squadron placed a torpedo at the main entrance of the Cadet Dining Hall, becoming a fire hazard and leading to the permanent fixture of the torpedo on its pedestal.

Traditions

TraditionSignificanceblanket tossBlanket toss of senior class members after the last waltz at the Graduation Ball.cadet diarySome cadets wrote their diary on their t-square in India ink, while others wrote on their books. The museum retains examples of diaries from the 1890s to the present day.cake walkMinstrel show/stage show on St. Patrick's Day is rewarded by a cake. Casey's GraveCadets are expected to recite, on demand from seniors, RMC facts and trivia (no longer practiced, nor required). This inscription is a favourite: "Casey, for 18 years my faithful charger in peace and war. Died on duty April 2nd 1925 age 29 yrs. A.C. Macdonell".ceremonial maceCarried into the ceremony and placed on stage to signal the opening of the convocation.change of command ceremonyThe former commandant offers farewell and best wishes to the college and to the new Commandant. The new commandant accepts a first salute as the cadet wing marches past.Christening bellFollowing naval tradition, a ship's bell is used as a baptism font in the college chapel for christenings and the names of the children are later inscribed on the bell. The ship's bell at RMC was used previously at Royal Roads Military College.Church paradeOfficer cadets participate in a full regalia parade from RMC to Kingston City Hall on the last Sunday of the academic year. The intent is to have every available cadet take part. In the past, the church parade was from RMC to St. George's Cathedral (Kingston, Ontario).Copper SundayIn a tradition dating to 1882, Officer cadets attend various Kingston churches on the last Sunday of the academic year. While RMC does not to influence cadets toward any particular religion, the goal is to expose the cadets to the typical processes and procedures of religious ceremony, should they need to carry out Assisting Officer duties in the future. The name comes from the custom of cadets gathering their pennies for collection into the offering plate.College CheerThe RMC Cheer is used at all significant sporting events between RMC Paladins and other university teams. Call: Gimme a beer! Response: Beer! Esses! Emma! T-D-V! Who can stop old RMC! Shrapnel, cordite, NCT! R-M-C!College CoinEvery new officer cadet is issued a challenge coin upon completion of First Year Orientation Period. The coin is engraved with the name of the college in French and English surrounding the college crest on the obverse. The Cadet's college number and the Memorial Arch are on the reverse surrounded by the motto in both languages.college toastRMC club toast to absent comrades, meaning those who have fallen in action or who have died. Divisional Christmas mess dinnerThe youngest cadet of the division makes a short speech, requesting one holiday wish from the DCdts for the rest of the division; the wishes from the division dinners will make the exam period less stressful for the Cadet Wing (e.g. permission to wear combat uniforms while writing their exams).Drill FestDuring the weeks immediately following winter-term exams up until graduation, the wing practices for graduation parade multiple times a day seven days a week, often for up to six hours in blocks of three hours.Feux de JoieAn honour guard perform a rifle salute with field artillery, or more commonly, rifles using blank ammunition.Freedom of the CityThis privilege was bestowed to the RMC in 1976 by City of Kingston on the occasion of its centenary to march through the city "with bayonets fixed, colours flying and drums beating" was granted "until such time as the Cataraqui runs dry."e-Veritas » Blog Archive » What's Happening At RMC Freedom of the fortWhile in Fort Frederick (Kingston, Ontario), officer cadets are equal independently of their year. They are also allowed to remove their headgear."Goodnight Saigon"This song is played for and sung by first-year cadets at lights-out during the First-Year Orientation Period.Graduation CongratulationsPeter Mackay, RMC Chancellor and Defence Minister, started a new tradition at RMC in 2008 when he asked graduates to stand and congratulate those near them.Ckws-Tv – CkwstvGraduation and Commissioning paradeIn honour of graduating cadets: Graduating students are presented with their Officer's Commissions in the Canadian Forces. Officer Cadets display their foot drill and sword movements. Feux de Joie an honour guard performs a rifle salute with field artillery. Graduates march through Memorial Arch for the last time as Officer Cadets.Jacket exchangeThe senior officer (the Commandant or the Director of Cadets) exchanges tunics with the youngest Officer Cadet at the annual RMC Christmas Dinner. The Christmas dinner follows the tradition from the army where senior officers serve the junior members who usually serve them throughout the year.Just passing ByWhen a graduate of the RMC pilots an aircraft in the vicinity of Kingston, Ontario he or she conducts an impromptu airshow over the College.RMC Club of Canada Memorial ArchNew officer-cadets pass through the Commemorative Arch as a class on their first day of university and upon graduation. Other than on Remembrance Day and in the course of other special parades (i.e. Battle of Britain), church parade, officer-cadets do not pass under the arch as a class before their graduation from college.The Memorial ArchMemorial Arch architectural sculptureA helmeted head stands in high-relief from the keystone. The face is extremely expressive and its parted lips seem to shout Rupert Brooke's poem, "The Dead".Memorial Arch poemChiselled into the stone of the Memorial Arch are the opening lines of Rupert Brooke's poem, The Dead: "Blow out, you bugles, over the rich Dead. There are none of these so lonely and poor of old, but dying has made us rarer gifts than gold." First-year cadets are required to memorize the quote.Memorial stairwaySir Archibald Macdonell had the administration-building staircase lined with paintings of ex-cadets who died on military service.Memorial treesThe ex-cadets who died on military service during World War I are honoured by the birch trees located in the lawn at the west end of the Administration Building.obstacle course raceGruelling course for recruits set up by the cadets' immediate predecessors, memorialized by a sculptureOld 18First-year cadets are required to memorize the names of the first class in the order of their college numbers. Biographies Old 18Old 18A historical drill team at RMC who perform at the "Sunset Ceremony" (a military tattoo the night before the graduation parade). Eighteen cadets, dressed in formal scarlet uniforms and wielding late 19th-century Enfield rifles fend off an attack by cadets dressed as rebels using similar rifles of smaller caliber.Old GuardThe founding members of the QCMG. Established by a select group of cadets sometime around 1989, the QCMG existed within the cadet population. Upon graduation, departing QCMG cadets would be responsible for selecting a suitably deserving first year cadet to take their place in guard, ensuring its survivability. However, only the founding members were ever referred to as the "Old Guard".Old BrigadeAlumni who entered military college 50+ years before wear unique berets and ties, have the Right of the Line on reunion weekend memorial parades, and present the college cap badge to the First Year cadets on the First Year Badging Parade. Each class traditionally marks its 50-year anniversary and entry into the Old Brigade with a gift.Parade squareRecruits run the square at all times until they have successfully completed their first year. (no longer practiced, nor required)Road and area namesSir Archibald Macdonell gave Great War names to all the roads and areas of RMC.Royal winersUnofficial Department of Oenology at RMC cofounded by Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk; motto: "Age leaves us fine wines and friends." Royal Winersshouldering professorsAt closing exercises, cadets carried professors around the room.Sir John A MacdonaldAn annual dinner held at RMC Senior Staff Mess, since 2001 featuring toasts and stories celebrating the birth of Canada's first Prime Minister.SmokersSocial gatherings at RMC that raise money for an event, group, or charity through the collection of "cover" or admission at the door. Smokers can include performances, with shows presenting a collection of sketches and comedy songs.Snowball fightAnnual RMC snowball fight (all Sqns against #1 Sqn).Snow sculptureAnnual RMC snow sculpture competition in Confederation Park with Queen's. RMC's entry was modelled after the MacKenzie Building (2008) and the Memorial Arch (2007).SpiderA spider web based stained glass window, made by Stone Frigate Class of 1983 honours the squadron mascots, as spiders were common in the (pre-modernized) building. The window has a Plexiglas shield to avoid damage during annual snowball fight.Sunset ceremonyA military tattoo held the night before the graduation parade which demonstrates skills and interests cultivated at RMC. The 2013 performances: the RMC Precision Drill Team performed a silent precision drill routine including the throwing of rifles, rifle salutes and sword drill movements.