Mishall RehmanThe Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) held several ceremonial events to celebrate their 2016 graduating class.
The convocations began on May 19 with more than 300 graduating students receiving their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The ceremony was held at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre’s Anderson Field House Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday evening students, family members and community members gathered at the Royal Military College Parade Square for the traditional Sunset Ceremony where ceremonial drill and colour party demonstrations, a demonstration by the by the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year drummers, and a performance by the SkyHawks Parachute Team. The evening rounded off with performances by the Highland dancers and RMCC’s band, concluding with fireworks at sunset.
The ceremonial events culminate with the Graduation and Commissioning Parade on Friday morning. The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance, accompanied by other senior leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces, presented the commissioning of Officer and Naval Cadets.
“The dedicated young people at RMCC have invested themselves in their academic studies and in military leadership. Now, they will become the best of the best in our nation’s defence and security communities. We expect excellence, and they have proven themselves more than capable,” said General Vance in a press release.
The commissioning parade is the “formal presentation of an Officer’s commission in the CAF in the name of Her Royal Majesty, the Queen,” according to the CAF’s press release.
The Defence Minster Harjit Sajjan noted in a statement, “The young women and men who graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada have completed a challenging academic program while meeting the highest military standards. These graduates will be well equipped to lead and excel in the profession of arms, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one.”
