This conference room in Major E.J.G. Holland, VC Armoury, named the Whitley Room, is dedicated to the memory of Officer Cadet W.J. (Bill) Whitley. Officer Cadet William James Whitley was born in May, 1964 in Calgary and joined 3 Field Engineer Squadron in Ottawa (renamed 33 Combat Engineer Regiment) in May, 1988.
On June 20, 1988, he was part of a group of 29 students of the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) in Chilliwack, who under the supervision of seven instructors, were completing their 3rd day of explosives handling training at the Slesse Demolition Range. They were preparing cratering charges when something went terribly wrong, resulting in a massive explosion that killed six students, including Officer Cadet Whitley, and injured three others. Officer Cadet Whitley is interred at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.
