Royal Roads Military College - Notable Historical Milestones

Notable Historical Milestones

Year Significance
1940 The Canadian Government purchased the land for Royal Roads to establish the Royal Canadian Naval College.
1941
  • HMCS 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.
1942-47
  • The 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."
1946 The 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
1947
  • The 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
1948
  • The Canadian Army became partner in the college life.
  • 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
1950 The Old Brigade, alumni celebrating 50 + years since they entered one of the military colleges, are inducted.
1956 Red tunics reintroduced
1968 Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) offered the first two years of university-level programs to Royal Canadian Air Force and Navy officers.
1975 The Royal Roads Military College Degrees Act was passed by the Government of British Columbia, allowing the Royal Roads Military College to grant degrees.
1983/4
  • The 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.
1984 The 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, 1986
  • RRMC was granted the Freedom of the City for outstanding military service to the community
1990
  • Prometheous and the Vulture, an abstract stone sculpture was created by Jay Unwin for the 50th anniversary of Royal Roads Military College.
1995
  • following 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.

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