The Canadian Officers' Training Corps (COTC) was, from 1912 to 1968, Canada's university officer training programme, fashioned after the University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC) in the United Kingdom. In World War Two the Canadian Army was able to produce quality officers due to the high standards of the COTC.
The programme also existed in French-speaking universities, some technical and classical colleges, and was known as «Corps-écoles des officiers canadiens» (CÉOC). Early in the Second World War, the COTC/CÉOC became compulsory for students, except for those holding important positions in the war effort, and those excused for health reasons. Soon after the end of hostilities, the programme reverted to its peacetime volunteer basis. In 1968 it was abolished, primarily for budgetary reasons but also due to low interest on the part of students at the time, and was replaced by an alternate programme managed through local militia units. A 2010 documentary featured the history and benefits of the COTC, during a campaign aimed at bringing it, or a similar programme, back on Canadian campuses.
Complete list of COTC Units
CÉOC de l'Université de Montréal
CÉOC de l'Université Laval
CÉOC de l'Université d'Ottawa
CÉOC de l'Université de Sherbrooke
CÉOC de l'Université Sainte-Anne
CÉOC de l'Université du Sacré-Coeur
CÉOC de l'Université Saint-Joseph
CÉOC du Collège Mont-Saint-Louis
CÉOC du Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Acadia University COTC
Bishop's College/University COTC
Carleton College/University COTC 1949
Dalhousie University/King's College COTC
Loyola College COTC
Nova Scotia Technical College COTC
McGill University COTC 1912
McMaster University COTC
Mount Allison University COTC
Ontario Agricultural College COTC
Ontario Veterinary College COTC
Queen's University COTC
Ryerson University COTC
Sir George Williams College/University COTC
St. Dunstan's College COTC
St. Francis Xavier University COTC
St. Mary's University COTC
St. Thomas College COTC
University of Alberta COTC
University of British Columbia COTC
University of Manitoba COTC 1914
University of New Brunswick COTC
University of Saskatchewan COTC
University of Toronto COTC 1914
University of Western Ontario COTC
Wilfrid Laurier University COTC
Notable members
Harry Crerar (1888 – 1965), General of the Canadian Army and field commander in World War II W. G. Hardy (1895 – 1979), Professor, author, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation Pierre Trudeau (1919 - 2000), Lawyer, academic and prime minister of Canada Pierre Bourgault (1934 - 2003), Québec politician and essayist, as well as actor and journalist Jean-Paul L'Allier (1938 - 2016), Québec politician, Mayor of Québec City Jacques Ferron (1921 - 1985), Canadian physician and author Jean Lesage (1912 - 1980), Québec premier, Federal cabinet minister, lawyer Michel Chartrand (1916 - 2010), Canadian trade union leader from Québec, Trappist monk Jacques Godbout (1933 - ), Canadian novelist, essayist, children's writer, journalist, filmmaker and poet Victor Goldbloom (1923 - 2016), Canadian pediatrician, lecturer, and politician Lewis MacKenzie (1940 - ), General in the Canadian Army Charles Belzile (1933 - ), General in the Canadian Army Peter C. Newman (1929 - ), Canadian journalist Ed Broadbent (1936 - ), Canadian politician, leader of the New Democratic Party Pierre Berton (1920–2004), Canadian journalist, writer and television personality