RMC Wall of Honour - Criteria and Protocol

Whereas, until 2009, the Royal Military College did not have any means beyond the granting of an Honorary Degree to recognize the distinguished contributions of those associated with the Colleges since their inception, and given the limitations on the granting of Honorary Degrees, the Graduating Class of 1963 proposed, constructed and donated to RMC a Wall of Honour for that purpose.

Vision/Objective

To recognize ex-cadets of the Royal Military Colleges (RMC, RRMC, CMR), and others with College numbers, for outstanding achievements and contributions to Canada or the World, and to inspire cadets thereby.

Eligibility

  • Attended, and was significantly influenced by attending, one of Canada's military colleges, or by their relationship with one of the colleges was awarded an honorary or associate college number.
  • Recognition can extend to any area of professional or volunteer endeavor, including, but not necessarily limited to: academia, arts, athletics, business, military, professional services, public service, science and technology and religion, together with demonstrated personal characteristics consistent with those that the colleges strive to achieve and sustain.
  • For greater clarity of intention, there are no quotas of any kind, and it is expected that a very low proportion (guideline 1%) of the pool of potential candidates may qualify. Candidates would usually be close to the end of their careers, retired or deceased.
  • Those who occupy, or are candidates for, elected office are not eligible during that time.

Primary Selection Criteria

These criteria will normally be mandatory. Candidates would:

  • have achieved something of extraordinary significance at the national or international level;
  • have a lifetime of achievements, or a single (probably world class) breakthrough achievement, whose effect is of lasting significance;
  • reflect the qualities of Truth, Duty and Valour in their personal and professional lives.

Secondary Selection Criteria

These secondary criteria are encouraged. Ideally, candidates ought to:

  • have been recognized for exceptional contributions by some outside body;
  • have experience and recognition beyond Canada that demonstrates a world opinion and a degree of international stature;
  • demonstrate accomplishment in more than one field, making a lasting contribution to advancing the human condition - such may include, but is not limited to:
    • Involvement in academia, professions, public or past political associations, or company boards of directors;
    • Opinion leaders with ability in public speaking and interaction with the media;
    • Involvement in sports;
    • Community involvement in volunteer or related activity, past or present;
    • Involvement in the arts.

Protocol and Structure

There are five elements to the organization of the Wall of Honour:

  • The RMC Wall of Honour Governance Committee (WGC);
  • Nomination Committee (NC);
  • Selection Board (SB);
  • Citation Committee
  • Administrative Office (AO) and Treasurer.

RMC Wall of Honour Governance Committee

This committee has the ultimate responsibility for managing the Wall of Honour. Specifically this entails:

  • Ensuring that the standards originally established for the Wall of Honour are maintained over the years;
  • Overriding the arms-length Nominations Committee and Selection Board should the Class Wall Committee (WGC) be of the opinion that the initial standards of the Wall of Honour are jeopardized or are not being maintained;
  • Revoking appointments to the Wall should an honouree's subsequent actions bring himself/herself or the colleges into disrepute;
  • Refining the selection criteria, if required, subject to maintaining the standards originally reflected in the Vision proclaimed in this document;
  • Ensuring that the composition of the Nominating Committee and the Selection Board have a balance of military and non-military members.
  • Establishing a long range operational plan for the Wall together with periodic revisions to that plan;
  • Reviewing and approving enhancements to the Wall on an on-going basis as recommended by the Administrative Office;
  • Reviewing and approving the annual Operating Budget submitted by the Treasurer;
  • Managing the transition WGC with broader representation from the Ex-Cadet body as a whole

The Wall Governance Committee (WGC) currently consists of:

  • The Chair of the Wall Governance Committee;
  • Chair of the Nominating Committee;
  • Chair of the Selection Board;
  • Chair of the Citation Committee;
  • Treasurer;
  • Administrative Officer (Class Secretary);
  • The Commandant of the RMC.

Nomination Committee structure and role

  • Shall collaborate with the Selection Board to establish an appropriate format for nominations and supporting materials;
  • Shall develop the process for soliciting nominations;

Normally, the term of service for members shall be three years with no more than two terms (total of six years) for any individual. This can be extended to three terms in the case of a person assuming the Chair or in other exceptional circumstances. Staggered retirements are required to ensure Committee continuity.

The Nomination Committee:

  • Accepts, creates, screens and proposes nominations to the Selection Board;
  • Is encouraged to communicate directly with candidates and their sponsors to assess suitability of the candidate to participate in the duties of honourees;
  • May add personal notes to the Selection Board including confidential observations related to private information about candidates;
  • Closes annual nominations by 31 January of a given year with all subsequent information requests fulfilled by 1 March;
  • Shall forward nominations to the Selection Board by 1 March of any given year.

Nominations of potential honourees may be made by:

  • An individual;
  • An RMC class;
  • A group or organization;
  • The RMC Wall of Honour Nomination Committee;
  • The responsibilities of the nominator are to champion the candidate and provide a single point of contact for information and verifiable data.

Selection Board structure and role

  • Shall collaborate with the Nomination Committee to establish an appropriate format for nominations and supporting materials.
  • Shall receive the report of the Nomination Committee, and select Honourees for the Wall.
  • Under normal conditions shall appoint a maximum of two annually. There is no minimum number of annual selections.
  • May hold over candidates nominated, but not selected, for reconsideration in subsequent years at the discretion of the Selection Board.
  • Shall consist of:
    • One ex-cadet as chair;
    • The Commandant of RMC,
    • Chair of the Nominating Committee
    • One other ex-cadet of one of the three colleges
    • One person with senior level military experience;
    • One external representative.
  • Normally, term of service shall be three years and no more than two terms (total of six years) for any one individual. This can be extended to three terms in the case of a person assuming the Chair or in other exceptional circumstances. Staggered retirements are required to ensure Committee continuity.
  • Shall conclude its deliberations by 30 March in any given year to provide adequate time to inform candidates, prepare the wall citations and inscriptions, add information to the electronic database, and arrange the induction ceremony.
  • Is responsible for providing information on the Honourees to the Administrative Office.

Citation Team structure and role

  • Shall collaborate with the Selection Board to receive nomination information on selected Honourees for the Wall of Honour.
  • Shall develop a process for detailed research and investigation to validate a nominee’s life accomplishments and, ultimately, create a citation for the Wall of Honour.
  • Plaque inscriptions are minute summaries of the nature and accomplishments of an honouree’s life. Consistency in style and terms with past inscriptions are important to conform to.
  • The Citation Team is comprised of:
    • One ex-cadet as chair / editor;
    • One or more ex-cadets as researchers / writers; and
    • One ex-cadet translator.

Wall of Honour Administrative Office

The Administrative Coordinator:

  • Must work closely with the College, Club and the Royal Military Colleges of Canada Alumni Association Inc., attending all the RWE meetings each year to ensure the Wall of Honour programme fits into the overall weekend activities. In those meetings, the Administrative Officer has the responsibility of ensuring that the Wall standards and expectations, and those of its physical appearance and landscaping, are met;
  • Manages the annual operating expenditures for the induction ceremony on RWE and reports to the WGC;
  • Pays agreed travel and living costs for Honourees and Committee and Board Members on official business,
  • Coordinates and maintains the records of expenditures authorized for the Wall and submits an annual report of such to the WGC;
  • Manages the ordering and installation of bilingual plaques prior to the annual ceremony based on the information provided from the WGC;
  • In collaboration with the Office of the Commandant, arranges for invitations to be sent to Honourees, their families and special friends for the Parade, luncheon in the SSM, the Wall ceremony and the reception;
  • In collaboration with the Office of the Commandant, arranges the media promotion of both the Wall of Honour as an entity and its honourees before the event;
  • In cooperation with College Staff, organizes the annual requirements for the Wall ceremony including writing and producing the brochure for the ceremony, cadet assistance as Readers and Ushers, chairs, tents when required, public address system, Pipers and the annual MC, and the reception following the Wall ceremony.

Expectations of the Members of the Wall of Honour

Selection brings with it some expectations of honourees; where feasible

  • To accept the award at the ceremony at RMC on RWE;
  • To be actively involved in raising awareness of RMC and its mission, and in inspiring officers in training, including RMC cadets;
  • To share with Canadians generally, with the military, and with the youth of Canada, and particularly those at RMC, the experiences that led to the award;
  • To lend their names and presence to local, provincial, national and international events from time to time;
  • To accept requests as guest lecturers, particularly on the topic of RMC;
  • To assist or participate on the Nomination Committee and/or Selection Board.

Induction will be in Kingston on Reunion Weekend. The event will have a high profile and include the Commandant, media, invited guests, cadets, ex-cadets and the general public.

The honours may be bestowed by an eminent person appointed by the Commandant on the recommendation of the WGC, ideally with some media recognition. If a living Honouree is present, that person will be encouraged to make a short address.

Wall of Honour - Annual Operational Timelines

15 October:
Annual Request for Nominations is announced via e-VERITAS and other media.
1 February:
Deadline for receipt of nominations by the Nominations Committee (NC).
By 1 March:
NC submits names of Nominees to the Selection Board (SB), with supporting documentation.
By 1 April:
SB completes deliberations. Chair SB informs nominators of honourees (if any) and (if living) the honourees themselves, and forwards their names, with documentation, to the citation writer(s). (Note that the nominator will be asked for contact points of family and friends in cases where selectee is no longer living).
Chair of the NC then informs the nominators of all unsuccessful candidates. Reasons are not provided, however if asked advice can be given as to how the nomination could be improved in future years, noting that nominations are reviewed every year for a total of five, and can be resubmitted or expanded as/if desired.
By 15 May:
Draft citations are forwarded to the citation editor for ratification, additional information, proofreading, etc. with editorial team input. The editor drafts the plaque inscriptions based on the edited citations.
Brief summary is drafted by the citation editor providing Honouree names and a short statement on each, and forwarded to Editor of e-VERITAS.
By 1 July:
Citations and plaque inscriptions are forwarded by the editor to the translator for translation into the other official language.
By 15 July:
Bilingual citations and plaque inscriptions are completed, reviewed, and forwarded to the Wall of Honour Administrative Officer (AO) and the Information Technology Officer (ITO).
The AO orders the bronze plaques with inscription, and citation copies for use at the RWE Wall of Honour annual induction ceremony.
By 15 September:
The ITO prepares a Change Request incorporating this information and other changes to the Criteria and Protocols that have accumulated since the last WEB site change, and informs the rest of the Committee when these changes have been made.
By Veritas Magazine Autumn deadline:
The citation editorial team prepares a submission for inclusion in the November issue of Veritas Magazine. If there is no November issue then this information will be submitted as input for the next subsequent issue.
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