In 1980, 32 women became the first female officer cadets at the prestigious, then male-only, Royal Military College of Canada. The idea to present the college with a bronze woman officer cadet statue was initiated in 2018 by the class of 1981. An offer was made to the class of 1984, composed of the 32 women, to collaborate on the design and creation of the statue. It was then jointly gifted by both classes to the Royal Military College in the spring of 2022. The statue commemorates the inclusion of women. Their bravery paved the way for others to follow, and now women are woven into the fabric of the Royal Military College.
The statue, unveiled on May 20, 2022, depicts a standing female cadet in ceremonial dress. Rosemary Breault-Landry, a talented artist from Gatineau, was chosen to create the statue. In preparation, she visited the Royal Military College in late November 2019 and met with female cadets to ensure that the design was a realistic and accurate depiction of their dress and stature. The Female Cadet Statue is a recognition of our past and the progress made towards a progressive, integrated and inclusive Royal Military College of Canada.