A Vernon student from the Okanagan Indian Band recently had a chance to explore his post-graduation options earlier this month, when he visited the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year Program at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He met Major Michael Boire, CD, MA, the ALOY Academic Counsellor. toured the College with Officer Cadet Jacob Simard, and watched the RMC Paladins Hockey Team defeat Queens University in the Carr-Harris Cup.

The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year is open to students from First Nations, Metis, Inuk and Labrador Inuit backgrounds. ALOY offers a highly positive, productive, one-year educational and leadership experience through the Royal Military College. The ALOY program includes sports, field trips, leadership development, military training, cultural support activities, and individual learning plans. Through these learning plans, students take part in individual and small group tutorials for pre-university (non-credit) and first-year university courses.

As part of the ALOY Program, students are enrolled in the Forces for one year as Officer Cadets and receive a salary, free tuition, books and travel. Students may leave the program at any point in the year. At the end of the year, students may apply to continue at RMC and pursue a university degree through either the Regular Officer Training Program or the Reserve Entry Training Plan.

This opportunity was made possible by a grant from the Okanagan Learning Foundation.