Royal Roads Homecoming Celebrates Military College and University Alumni

For immediate release – Sept. 13, 2007

Victoria, B.C. – Royal Roads University may only be 12 years old but its campus has been home to an educational institution since 1940. That history will be celebrated this weekend with a three-day homecoming event that will welcome alumni from the university as well as Royal Roads Military College and its various predecessor institutions.

Homecoming chairman John Miller represents both groups in that he attended Royal Roads Military College from 1970 – 1973 while his wife, Christine, graduated from the leadership program at Royal Roads University in 2005.

“Each group comes for different reasons, however, we all feel the pride of ownership in Royal Roads and we are all working towards making it a better place,” says Miller.

For homecoming co-chairman Jack Jardine, a member of the RRU MA in Leadership and Training class of 1997, his commitment to organizing RRU homecomings (this is the third he has worked on) is a way to perpetuate the distinctive accomplishments of the university and its graduates.

“With its focus on applied knowledge and the high calibre of learners it attracts, I believe RRU can be something special in the world,” Jardine says. “Events like homecoming help us to celebrate and showcase that success.”

More than 200 alumni are registered for the three-day homecoming celebration, including one alumnus from 1949 and 30 alumni and guests from 1957 (when the institution was called Canadian Services College Royal Roads). The 1957 alumni are celebrating their 50th reunion with a full week of events, culminating in a brief ceremony following the Sunday morning reception.

Other homecoming events include:

Friday, Sept. 14

Day sail and lunch aboard HMCS Vancouver, hosted by the Department of National Defence. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., with shuttle bus departing from the Royal Roads University campus at 7:15 a.m.

Welcome Reception - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Hatley Castle.

Saturday, Sept. 15

Professional development workshops, 10:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. various locations.

Leisure activities, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. various locations.

Outdoor Corn Boil and BBQ – 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Croquet garden.

Installation of Dr. Allan Cahoon as Royal Roads University President and Vice-Chancellor – 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Hatley Castle terrace lawns.
Alumni are invited to this event as are all faculty, staff and special guests.

Reception and dinner dance - 6 p.m. - midnight. Quarterdeck

Sunday, Sept. 16

Alumni Community-Building Ceremony and Reception - 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. Neptune stairway (in front of Hatley Castle). This event includes the unveiling of the commemorative stone to honour the 2007 homecoming. This year’s stone bears the inscription “Building on the foundation for success.” The ceremony will be led by Chaplain Don Hadfield and will include the Sooke Pipe and Drum Band.

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Backgrounder – The History of Royal Roads as an Educational Institute

• 1940 - By the outbreak of the Second World War, the private estate James and Laura Dunsmuir had named “Hatley Park” was put up for auction. The Dominion of Canada bought it for a mere $75,000, with the undertaking that it would always be used as an educational establishment. The government needed to train junior naval officers in as little as 90 days and the estate was commissioned as HMCS Royal Roads, giving the training institution the unique distinction of being classed a ship.
• 1942 - The junior officer shortage had been resolved and the federal government decided to convert HMCS Royal Roads to the traditional military college system. It was re-named the Royal Canadian Naval College with a mandate to train both marine and naval officers.
• 1946 - The Royal Canadian Air Force teamed up with the Navy in a joint college, called the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force College, offering the first two years of university-level programs. 
• 1947 – The college became a tri-service institution for army, navy and air force, called Canadian Services College Royal Roads. 
• 1968 – The college’s name was changed once again to Royal Roads Military College (RRMC). 
• 1975 – RRMC became a degree-granting institution, offering a four-year university program. 
• 1994 - The federal government announced the decision to close Royal Roads Military College. 
• May, 1995 - RRMC graduated its final class of officer-cadets.
• June 21, 1995 - The passage of the Royal Roads University Act in the B.C. legislature.
• July, 1996 - Royal Roads University began offering its own degree programs as an innovative 21st century university in a traditional 19th century setting.

  For media queries, contact:
  Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
  phil.saunders@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2526, cel (250) 812-5065 or,

  Community Relations Director, Stephanie Slater
  stephanie.slater@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2712, cel (250) 361-5020

  www.royalroads.ca

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