La Gouverneure générale du Canada inaugure le Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean

A photo and a story in La Presse:

The news release:

SAINT-JEAN-SUR RICHELIEU, Qué. – The Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC St-Jean) was inaugurated today [more on the ceremony from the College's website], fulfilling a promise by the government to re-open this important facility.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presented the Commandant, Colonel François Pion, with the new College coat of arms. Also in attendance were the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff.

"I am thrilled to have been able to see this institution re-opened - it was a priority for our government and we delivered the goods," said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "This independent and vibrant academic institution provides a vital educational asset to the region and it's re-opening exemplifies our government's commitment to getting things done right to provide the best education and training for our CF members."

The newly established academic program will enable Officer Cadets to complete a two-year CEGEP program. The Officer Cadets will then be able to pursue their university degree at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston or at a civilian university depending on their academic program.

Once again, RMC St-Jean renews with a long tradition of a military education for Canadian officers focused on the four components unique to the military colleges. Military training, physical fitness, bilingualism and academic excellence will shape the life of the students.

The education and training of Officer Cadets is only one of RMC St-Jean's mandates. Both Officers and Non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces are pursuing professional development, all year round, through a variety of programs offered by the institution.

For example, the Continuing Studies Division offers a distance-learning program for university level courses. Non-commissioned members prepare themselves to assume positions, up to Chief Warrant Officer or Chief Petty Officer First Class, at the Non-commissioned Member Professional Development Centre. Finally, the Canadian Forces Management Development School is a unique centre of excellence in applied management and leadership training that also resides at RMC St-Jean.

One might wish though that Mr MacKay had been a tad less, er, political.