Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) was a Canadian military college from 1940 to 1995, located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia, near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The facility now serves as the campus of Royal Roads University, a public university that offers applied and professional academic programs on-campus and via distance education.
The campus' centrepiece is Hatley Castle, which was erected by architect Samuel Maclure in the early 20th century for British Columbia coal magnate James Dunsmuir and his wife, Laura.
History
The property owned by industrialist James Dunsmuir, along with his mansion Hatley Castle, was acquired by the Dominion Government in 1940. The initial plan was that the site would be used to house the British royal family during World War II. However, as the Queen Mother put it, "The children will not go without me and I will not go without the King and the King will never go"."Speech by Iona Campolo, Retired Heads of Mission Association's Gala Dinner", Royal Roads University, Hatley Castle, 5 February 2007, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Designed to support Canada's naval war effort, the facility began operating in December 1940 as an officer training establishment known as HMCS Royal Roads (named after the Royal Roads naval anchorage). Many of the 600 volunteer reserve officers who underwent training during this time served in the Battle of the Atlantic. HMCS Royal Roads was used to train short-term probationary Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) sub-lieutenants to serve in World War II.
In 1942, because of wartime expansion, the Royal Canadian Naval College was established. In 1947, the facility became known as the RCN-RCAF Joint Services College where Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel were trained. The facility changed its name to Canadian Services College, Royal Roads in 1948 where personnel from all three services – the Navy, Air Force, and Army were trained during a two-year program.
In 1968 the college's name was changed to Royal Roads Military College, and in 1975, the college began granting degrees.
The gentlemen cadets of RRMC were not only required to excel in their respective academic fields, but to achieve the standard in the three other components as well, the Second Language Training component, Physical Fitness component and the Military component. Failure in any of these four components resulted in the officer cadet not being awarded the coveted RRMC degree.
In February 1994, after the end of the Cold War and under the pressure of massive spending cuts from the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence announced that it would close Royal Roads Military College. The final class graduated in May 1995.
Hatley Park and former Royal Roads Military College was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995 to commemorate the Dunsmuir family (1908–1937) and RRMC (1940–1995). The site was plaqued in 2000 as a Canadian example of an Edwardian park, with gardens, which remains practically intact.
The name Royal Roads was drawn from geography. The name refers to an anchorage located in Juan de Fuca Strait between the city of Victoria, British Columbia and Albert Bay. HMCS Royal Roads was located on a property originally purchased by James Dunsmuir in 1902. Dunsmuir was a former British Columbian premier and lieutenant governor. The Hatley Park Estate originally comprised . The Dunsmuir family added Hatley Castle, which was completed in 1908. The Canadian Department of National Defence purchased Hatley Park, almost in its entirety, in 1940, for $75,000. This sum was roughly the value of the fence surrounding the property.
As Executive Officer, Commander Reginald Amand (Jumbo) Webber D.S.C., C.D. served there till late 1942. On June 21, 1995, after negotiations with the Department of National Defence and the Government of British Columbia, the British Columbia government passed the Royal Roads University Act, creating Royal Roads University. The campus is currently leased from the federal government under a $1, 50-year lease agreement with Royal Roads University which was announced in 2001. The Department of National Defence leases approximately 55 hectares of land for the campus to Royal Roads University, and has entered into a five-year Renewable Management Agreement with the University for the maintenance of the remaining 175 hectares of property owned by the Department of National Defence.
The athletic facilities at Hatley Park included a swimming pool, five tennis courts, two squash courts, three soccer pitches, one rugby field, two ball diamonds, a quarter-mile track, a 6.1 km cross country course, jetty and boat house. Cadets played sports including rugby, soccer, baseball, golf, scuba diving, track and field, wrestling, ball hockey, broomball, and ice hockey.
Squadrons of the Cadet Wing
The undergraduate student body, known as the Cadet Wing, was sub-divided into four smaller groupings called squadrons, under the guidance and supervision of senior cadets. Until the late 70s the four squadrons were populated by undergraduate cadets. When the college started training NCMs it was reorganized so that the first three squadrons were for cadets while 4 Squadron was for mature students from the University Training Program Non-Commissioned Members program. Although squadrons were not named, they were represented by embroidered patches bearing mythological figures, which were worn on the sleeves of the cadet workdress. The squadrons were subdivided into flights, which were named after historical figures (explorers). Cadets competed by squadron in drill and intramurals.
Squadron #FlightFlight1CartierFraser2ChamplainMackenzie3HudsonLasalle4VancouverThompson
Band
By 1955, Royal Roads had a drum and bugle corps. The Brass and Reed Band had already been formed by 1975. WO George Dunn, the first full-time Bandmaster, served from 1975 to 1979. The Pipes and Drums performed at parades, public relation trips and recruit shows. The Pipe Section and the Drum Section performed at mess dinners; parades; sporting events; ceremonies (official or squadron); weddings; funerals; public relations; wing events; Christmas and Graduation Balls; private events; and holidays.
Notable historical milestones YearSignificance1940The Canadian Government purchased the land for Royal Roads.1941HMCS Royal Roads was used by the Royal Canadian Navy to train five classes of officers, each with 100 Acting Sub-Lieutenants. A decision was made to phase out the Sub-Lieutenant Officer training at HMCS Royal Roads and to establish a Naval College which would open in September 1942. A recruiting campaign to attract 100 Naval Cadets was conducted in 1941–1942. Auxiliary buildings on the Hatley estate such as the Mews stables and garage were converted into classroom space. A new building called the Grant Building located behind Hatley Castle was built in order to provide a mess hall and dormitories, as well as classrooms and laboratories. Architects John Young McCarter and with Robert W. Chadney constructed the Royal Canadian Naval College buildings 1942–3. 1942–47The Royal Canadian Naval College was established to train marine and naval officers. Vice-Admiral Percy W. Nelles, Chief of Naval Staff: "While you are here, work hard and play hard, and make yourself tougher than any enemy you will ever meet."A history of Sport at Hatley Park 1946The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force College offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers.1947The Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy became partners in the college life at HMCS Royal Roads. The college name was changed to the Royal Canadian Navy-Royal Canadian Air Force College at HMCS Royal Roads.1948The Canadian Army became a partner in the college. The tri-service college name was changed to Canadian Services College Royal Roads. The college offered the first two years of university-level programs to 345 Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force officers. The Stone Frigate HMCS Royal Roads was paid off.1950The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 + years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted.1956Scarlet tunicsAttendance at RR 1954-6. Measured for but not issued. Scarlets were not used at RR previously. introduced.1968Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers.1975The Royal Roads Military College Degrees Act was passed by the Government of British Columbia, allowing RRMC to grant degrees.1983/4The Royal Roads Military College band consisting of 15 pipers and drummers and 30 brass-and-reed musician recorded an LP. Petty Officer First Class Gabby R. Bruner, RRMC bandmaster from 1979–85 composed "Hatley Park" as the official quick march for RRMC and "Dunsmuir Castle", for the Visit of Queen Elizabeth to RRMC in 1983.RRMC band 1984The first female cadet enrolled at RRMC creating a slight shift culturally in the Canadian Military Colleges, as well as in the CF as a whole.May 11, 1986RRMC was granted the Freedom of the City for outstanding military service to the community.1990Prometheous and the Vulture, an abstract stone sculpture was created by Jay Unwin for the 50th anniversary of Royal Roads Military College.1995following the end of the Cold War and massive government cutbacks on defence spending, the Department of National Defence closed Royal Roads Military College (RRMC). RRMC Royal Roads Military College is no longer a military institution, and is now maintained by the Government of British Columbia as Royal Roads University. The loss of RRMC along with their many traditions and history as military colleges still remains a bitter event for many cadets and alumni.The Future of the Reserves – Dr. Klepak Royal Roads Homecoming 2011
Facilities The Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings lists 9 recognized buildings and 1 classified building on the former grounds of the Royal Roads Military College.
Other buildings Directory of Federal Real Property Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Building (Year built)SignificancePhotoArbutus Buildingacademic classrooms, administrative offices, a computer lab, and a canteenBoat House (1989)boat houseCoronel Memorial Librarymemorial library honours Battle of Coroneldock (1990)dockGuard House Building 38Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2002Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings Gatehouse Lodge RR8 (1912 to 1916)Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000Registry of Historic Places of CanadaHatley Park / Former Royal Roads Military College (1908–13)designated National Historic Site of Canada 1995Registry of Historic Places of Canada – Hatley ParkMews Conference Centre (1912)James Dunsmuir's stables and garage later converted to classrooms, dormitory, social centre and conference centre. Registered Federal Heritage BuildingRegistry of Historic Places of Canada – StablesMillward Wing (of the Nixon Building) (1991)Offices, dormitories, named for former Commandant Air Vice-Marshal James Bert Millward DFC (Bar), GdG(F), CD, RCAF 1949–52 the 4th Commandant of RRMC.
Royal Roads Military College Museum
Hatley Castle is home to the Royal Roads Military College Museum.
The museum is located in Hatley Castle, on the campus of the Royal Roads University and former campus of the Royal Roads Military College of Canada. The Museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the Royal Roads Military College, its former cadets and its site.
The Royal Roads Military College Museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The Royal Roads Museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces Museum System.Royal Roads Museum