2024 Old Brigade Entry
The RMC Alumni Association has announced that the planned dates for the Reunion Weekend 2024 are from the 12th to the 15th of September 2024. Rich has announced a tentative schedule of events, a summary of which is detailed below. Furthermore, as a result of a survey conducted in late March/Early April 2024, the following Classmates have indicated their tentative plans for the weekend, updated as of 27 April 2024. Note that a more definitive survey will be conducted later to firm up numbers:
RMC - Map of RMC Peninsula
Thursday 12 Sep 2024
Evening: 1800 hrs for 1900 hrs. Legacy Dinner (RMC Foundation fund-raiser). Senior Staff Mess. Attendance optional. Ticket price is $250 per person. Dress is black tie with medals. You can contact Jennifer Jordan, Fundraising and Marketing Manager, RMC Alumni Association via email at Jennifer.Jordan@rmcalumni.ca, or via phone at 613-328-3923 to book your tickets. Booking opened Monday 18 March 2024, so you can purchase tickets now.
Friday 13 Sep 2024
Morning: Timing TBD. Class Golf Tournament. Landings Golf Course (by the Airport - map below). OPI Larry Richardson. Cost TBD per golfer for green fees, continental breakfast, lunch and prizes, payable at the Course. Carts extra and available for nominal fee ($?). Registration will be from TDB, with first tee-off at TBD.
Afternoon: Starts at 1300 hrs and ends at approx 1830 hrs. First Year Obstacle Course and Coin Presentation by Members of the Old Brigade. Free to Observe. Since this ceremony begins our first official duties as members of the Old Brigade, the Class Secretary will ascertain what our level of participation may be for coin presentations and then request volunteers to make those presentations. Evening: 1800 hrs for 1900 hrs. Meet & Greet at the Senior Staff Mess at RMC. Dress: Smart Casual. Costs approximately TBD per person for Buffet. Money will be collected at the door.
Saturday 14 Sep 2024
Morning: 0900 - 1100 hrs. First Year Badging Parade. Dress: Ex-Cadet 6s or equivalent jacket-and-tie. First Years will be presented their College Badges by members of the Old Brigade. The Class Secretary will ascertain what our level of participation may be for badge presentations and then solicit volunteers to make those presentations. Class of 79 members will be able to spectate from chairs arranged in front of Mackenzie Building, with blankets available as needed.
Morning: 11:00 - 12:30 hrs. Memorial Arch Parade. The Badging Parade concludes with the Cadets marching off to line the route to the Arch. The Class of 79 will take our place on the Square forming up with the Old Brigade company and then march to the Arch.
On Completion of Arch Ceremony. Group Photo. Location TBD.
Afternoon: Free. Note that although there are no Class events scheduled for the afternoon, there will a free BBQ lunch just outside Fort Frederick; and also are there are a number of sport activities taking place during the afternoon.
Evening: 1800 hrs for 1900 hrs - Old Brigade Dinner. To be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton (old Ambassador Hotel) at 1550 Princess Street. Ticket price will be $150 per person and a charitable tax receipt provided for a portion of that price. Members of this year’s 5-Year Cohort the classes of 1954, 59, 64, 69, 74 and 79 can purchase tickets starting Monday 18 March 2024. Guests wishing to purchase tickets for the Old Brigade Dinner please use the link provided below:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/RMCAlumniAssociation1/OldBrigadeDinnerRegistrationForm2024
Sunday 15 Sep 2024
Morning - 08:00 hrs. Fort “Run”. Optional for the hardy early-risers. Class Secretary to organize this for whomever might wish to participate, noting there is no need, like in the past, to rush through this in order to get ready to change for the Memorial Arch parade. Details to be determined based on level of interest.
Afternoon: Times to be Confirmed. Luncheon at the Shire. Buffet lunch and camaraderie at “The Shire” (Chez Avis, Cartwright Point). Dress: Relaxed Casual. Cost approximately TBD per person and will be collected at the door.
Old Brigade Eligibility
Simply put, joining the Old Brigade is based upon year of entry, so “any person that has ever attended any Canadian Military College as a student in any degree granting program” is eligible to join. That includes anyone who entered CMR Prep Year in 1974 or First Year in 1975 or RMC/RRMC First Year in 1975, and received a College Number. Since no one was allowed to leave early, effectively that means anyone who was accepted in to the Cadet Wing on completion of Recruit Camp is eligible to become a member of the Old Brigade with us in September 2024. While UTPMs are actually eligible to join upon turning age 67, most have expressed an interest in joining the Old Brigade with their ROTP counterparts during Reunion Weekend 2024, as have some who graduated with us but entered one of the colleges earlier than us. The applicable RMC Alumni Association By-Laws concerning eligibility can be viewed. The criteria for eligibility are established in the RMC Alumni Association By-laws, the pertinent sections of which can be viewed below:
Relevant Sections from the RMC Alumni Association By-laws
Section 1.1 Definitions.
As used in this by-law, the following terms have the following meanings: … “Person Eligible for Membership” means any person that has ever attended any Canadian Military College as a student in any degree granting program, and such other persons, or categories of persons, as approved by the Board from time to time.
Section 10.1 Old Brigade.
(4) If fifty (50) or more years have elapsed from the year of entry into a Canadian Military College, a Person Eligible for Membership shall become a member of the Old Brigade.
(5) Notwithstanding Section 10.1(4), by convention, members who entered a Canadian Military College in a four-year plan, including RMC, RRMC and First Year at RMCSJ are automatically welcomed into the Old Brigade four months early and shall be entitled to adopt the customs normally accorded to members of the Old Brigade, as decreed by the Adjutant.
(6) Members and those persons who participated in the University Training Plan for Non-Commissioned Members (UTPNCM), University Training Plan for Officers (UTPO) and the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) shall become members of the Old Brigade fifty (50) years from year of entry into a Canadian Military College or upon attaining the age of 67 years, whichever first occurs.