Purpose

The purpose of this page is keep the Class of 79 community informed about recent developments concerning the new RMC Museum Facility project. While naturally of interest to any of our classmates who attended RMC or the other two military colleges at some point in the mid to late 1970s, in September 2024, as part of our Old Brigade entry gift, the Class donated a cheque to the RMC Alumni Association (RMC AA) for a quarter of a million dollars for the Museum project. The Class intends to continue to support the efforts of RMC, RMC AA and the RMC Museum Corporation to bring the project to fruition. In fact, two Class members are actively involved with the Heritage and Museum Committee. Pete Avis, aside from being the Old Brigade adjutant, as 2 I/C of the sub-committee chaired by Dr Jim Barrett, has been carrying out critical work helping to organize and catalogue archival documents from the Museum and the Massey Library so they will be available in the future for reference by military personnel and academics. Also, Dr Rich Gimblett, who is an eminent naval historian has recently joined the H&M Committee as well.

Background

The RMC Museum Facility project has been in the works for a considerable period of time. The old RMC Museum was housed in the Martello Tower within Fort Frederick on the RMC peninsula but given the age and condition of that structure, and the concomitant risk to the artifacts displayed and stored therein, the decision was made to find a location for a new purpose-built building. After deciding on the area at the corner of Precision Drive and Fort Henry Drive, work has continued apace to get the necessary approvals. Two former RMC Commandants, Ed Murray and Frank Norman, have been instrumental in carrying the torch for the Museum for numerous years prior to the RMC Museum Corporation (RMCMC) coming into being, with Bill Lye as the President.  Various previous and current milestones of the project are included at the end of this page.

Location

Although the schematic immediately below is from an earlier rendering, the picture is included here to show where the proposed new museum will be located.

Floor Plan (2025)

View from Precision Drive - with Corten Steel Weathering Steel Cladding

View of Lobby and Front Desk (to the right)

Milestone Schedule - Completed

1)      Pre-construction donor funding in place 2017 (continues) – Murray/Norman success

2)      Project approved March 2021 (DND Deputy Minister Approval in Principle 2021 - DND ADM(IE); Confirmation of RMCC Commandant's Intent 2021;  50-year Land Lease with RMCMC – TBS Approval)

3)      Initial operating funding secured and on 1 March 2021, the Executive Committee of the RMC Foundation met and approved the nomination of designate directors and a designate chair of the Board of the new non-profit corporation

4)      RMC Museum Corporation established July 2021, under the leadership of the President Bill Lye

5)      Project Roles:  Operations Project Authority: Commandant RMCC; Real Property Letting and Leasing Authority: ADM(IE); CAF Museums Program Authority: CMP/DHH

6)      Original Schematic Design completed and approved May 2022

7)      The Interpretive Plan briefed to the Commandant – May 2024

8)      Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Phase 1 and 2 design validation Q4 2023 – Q2 2025

9) Fundraising Feasibility Study - June-July 2025. Report submitted and approved by RMC AA Board and Cmdt RMCC - September 2025

10) Briefing to Cmdt RMCC by President RMCMC Bill Lye on the New Museum Project Status - 8 July 2025. Intent was to brief on the RMC Museum Facility (RMCMF) redesign, cost and schedule validation phase. Cmdt RMCC provided requested approvals and later in January 2026 approved the Corten Steel Weathering Cladding for the exterior.

Milestone Schedule - 2025 and Beyond