RMC Timeline

The Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Huron-Wendat live in the Cataraqui area, called Katarokwi in the Mohawk language, meaning "a place where there is clay" or "where the limestone is" and Cataracoui in the Algonquin language, meaning "great meeting place."

As part of the Seven Years War, a large British-led force arrives at Cataraqui, captures and destroys Fort Frontenac.

Point Frederick, named after Sir Frederick Haldimand (1718-1791), a Swiss officer in British service, who as Governor of the Province of Quebec (1778-1786) oversaw the settlement of the Loyalist refugees, the establishment of Kingston and other communities on the Upper St Lawrence River, and the resettlement of the Six Nations Confederacy.

The Royal Navy takes over operations of the naval dockyard on Point Frederick from the Provincial Marine.

The Treaty of Ghent in signed in the Netherlands on December 24, 1814, but does not come into effect until it is ratified in February 1815.

The Rush-Bagot Agreement limits naval armament on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. The remaining naval vessels are place ‘In Ordinary’ and their stores placed ashore in Stone Frigate.

Following reactivation of the naval dockyard during the Upper Canadian Rebellion, barges are built at the Royal Dockyard that are then to towed by steam vessels to reinforce the British and Canadian forces during the Battle of the Windmill, located just east of Prescott, Ontario. 

Fears of potential conflict prompt Britain to enhance the defence of British North America, that includes six Martello Towers in the Kingston area, including the Fort Frederick Tower. 

After Confederation, British forces withdraw from all of the new Dominion west of Halifax. Point Frederick is transferred to the new dominion government, which gain responsibility for the defence of Canada.

Point Frederick is chosen as the location for the new military college. Hewett House, and the guardhouses are built, trees are planted and existing buildings are repaired to prepare for the college to open. When the College was opened the primary buildings were the old Blacksmith’s Shop, located near the flag mast on the parade square and the Stone Frigate, which houses the cadets and staff and includes classrooms, dining facilities, etc. The blacksmiths building becomes a gym and drill hall.

Known originally as the Administration Building, the completion of the Mackenzie Building, named after Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie (1873-1878) dramatically enhanced the facilities of the College.

During the North West Resistance, around 30 former cadets join the North West Field Force.

The Old Hospital, Old Gym and Panet House are built.

Ridout Row, named after Captain J.B. Ridout, the first Captain of Cadets (1876-1882), is completed as married quarters for RMC staff. Unlike today, at one time many of the military staff and several professors lived on campus. Cavalry House completed as offices and residence for the RMC Riding Establishment, responsible for the equitation program. The building is now home to the War Studies program.

The gun and model shed is built to store artillery guns used by the cadets and models used for engineering and fortification studies.

Nursing Sister Anna Augusta Wright, a veteran of the Great War, arrives at RMC. She is the first women to join the senior staff at the College. She is the first of several nursing sisters who will reside in the Old Hospital until it is closed in 1942. 

Major-General Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonnell is appointed commandant. Having entered RMC in 1883, his service included time with the North West Mounted Police, service in the South African War, and during the Great War, command of an infantry brigade and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. As Commandant, Macdonell oversees the completion of the Currie Building, the presentation of a Stand of Colours to RMC, the establishment of the RMC-West Point Hockey games, and myriad customs and traditions. The remains of his horse Casey are buried near the Commandant’s Residence.

Commandant, Major-General Sir A.C. Macdonell, KCB, CMG, DSO, LLD establishes the Memorial Staircase which features photographs of cadets whose names were inscribed on the College Roll of Honour. The three stained glass windows between the first and second floors are memorials dedicated to three cadets who drowned in 1903 and 1913.

The Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Hall is formally opened, and is dedicated to the Canadian Corps, formed in 1915, that earned Canada considerable accolades during the first World War. The decoration of the space outside of the Hall remained incomplete until the early 2000s, when through the sponsorship of several classes, the work was completed. A ceremony marking the completion of this and restoration of the Hall itself was held in 2023.

The Memorial Arch is unveiled. It was built using funds raised by former cadets and was dedicated to the memory of cadets who died while serving in the First World War and earlier conflicts. After the Second World War, plinths were added on either side of the Arch with the names of former cadets who died during that war. Names of former cadets who died in subsequent conflicts or training accidents continue to be added.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit RMC in May. This is the first visit by a reigning monarch.

The Royal Military College of Canada was closed as a Cadet College in June 1942 and reopened in September 1948.

The final cadet class is commissioned for war service and RMC now devotes its attention to running war and staff courses. The Colours are laid up and the facilities are now used for staff training and other courses. Members of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps are stationed at RMC to provide support to the training activities and will remain on campus until the conclusion of the war.

During the Second World War, RMC graduates serve in the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force at home and in all theatres abroad. Others service with the British and Indian services.

Fort Haldimand dormitory is completed and named after General Sir Frederick Haldimand (1718 – 1791), Governor of Québec, 1778 to 1786.

The Regular Officer Training Plan introduced subsidized education that attracted a wider socio-economic group of recruits. All graduates would now join the regular components of the three Canadian services, less those in RETP. The rapid expansion of the services to meet UN and NATO demands had increased the demand for junior officers.

Motor Vessel Cordite was designed and constructed by Mechanical Engineering Staff as the first all-welded aluminum vessel built in Canada with material donated by Alcan. The keel was laid in 1954 and the completed vessel launched in October 1956. This was but one vessel in the ‘Mech Eng Navy,’ which also included a submersible built in 1952, and a hydrofoil name ‘Top Sea’ in 1960. 

The Constantine Arena, Massey Building and the Senior Staff Mess opens.

Fort Champlain dormitory is opened and named for Samuel de Champlain, first European visitor to the area in 1615. Fort Haldimand originally had a pool in the lower level that was later removed.

The first group of candidates for the University Training Plan Men (UTPM) arrive at RMC and RRMC. By the end of the decade, women are permitted to join what was first known as UTPM (Women); eventually both are combined and renamed as the University Training Plan Non-Commissioned Member (UTPNCM).

A two-stage programme is introduced to offer as many third year courses as possible in French, phase two would expand that to fourth year courses.

The reigning Monarch and other members of the Royal Family have visited RMC. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II inspecting a quarter guard on the occasion of RMC’s centenary.  The reigning Monarch and other members of the Royal Family have visited RMC. 

The cadet statue, officially named "Truth, Duty, Valour" but called "Brucie" by the cadets is unveiled and moved to its present location in 2023.  

Overcoming strong opposition from several groups, women are permitted to attend RMC and the other two military colleges. The arrival of the first 32 women cadets, know known as the ‘First Thirty-Two,’ are distributed between the eight squadrons. Over the next few years, the career opportunities for these and other women expand as the number of women staff and faculty at RMC also increase.

Twenty one of them graduated in 1984.

Fort Sauvé Dormitory opens, named after Jeanne Sauvé, Governor General of Canada, 1984 to 1990.

The Leonard Birchall Pavilion, named after Air Commodore Leonard Birchall (Commandant 1963 to 1967) is opened as a facility for people using the sports fields along Navy Bay. Birchall, a flight commander in 413 Squadron that was based in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), during a patrol on April 1942, warned of a large Japanese fleet as it steamed towards Ceylon, before his Catalina flying boat was shot down and two members of the crew were lost. Captured, along with the surviving crew members, by the Japanese, Birchall demonstrated resolute leadership while a prisoner of war. It was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who gave Birchall the sobriquet of ‘the Saviour of Ceylon.’

The campus of RMC Saint-Jean is fully reopened after over a decade offering Preparatory Year only.

RMC begins its Artist in Residence programme, with noted local author Stephen Heighton as its first artist in residence. The programme has since seen playwrights, musicians, a photograph and other artists participate in the programme that enriches the experience of the naval and officer cadets and staff.

As RMC evolves to the changing demographic, the turban standard was developed and implemented in 2014, colour-coordinated with the headdress and a ribbon that matched the colour of the piping on headdress. 

The Athena Network was established to support students, foster discussion on gender roles at RMC and in the CAF, and provide opportunities for individuals of different generations and genders to connect and inspire each other. 

The first woman College Chief Warrant Officer Lucie Alain serves at RMC.

Dr. Cécile Malardier-Jugroot was first woman Acting and Interim Principal from July 2022 to December 2022.

Dr. Jill Scott becomes the first woman Principal of RMC.