[3] The committee, which was led by University of Alberta President Henry Marshall Tory, first met on 7 February in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

[3] His second-in-command was Major Reginald Walter Brock, who was a geologist and Dean of the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Engineering who previously served with the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada).

[3] There, it underwent a twelve-week training course, which included digging and maintaining part of the camp's trench system (which is now among the only surviving trenches from the First World War); some men specialized in trades such as machine gunning and signaling, and many officers attended specialty schools to learn bombing (grenade throwing), musketry, and other specialized tasks.

[3] Brigadier-General J.P. Landry, Commander of the Canadian troops stationed there, wrote that the 196th Battalion was: On 16 December, an order was issued to halt all drafts of manpower from the 196th while the army decided what to do with its men, due to how many of them were considered to be officer-material.

[5] Government, military, and university officials became reluctant to "waste" people with special skills and knowledge who could become officers or conduct important research instead of enrolling in combat roles that did not utilize their education.

[2] After the President of the University of Saskatchewan approved the formation of "B" Company in January 1916, a recruiting office was opened in the student residence Qu'Appelle Hall.

[2] Meanwhile, recruiting for Brandon College's platoon began in early March and was led by Lieutenant Evans, who was Principle of the school's academic department.

[2] Initial training took place on their respective school grounds, following a syllabus outlined by battalion headquarters staff in Winnipeg.

[2] Soon before they left the University of Alberta in spring 1916, the men of "C" Company filled the school's Convocation Hall to see their captain, H.J.

[3] The recruits for "D" Company were billeted at the University of British Columbia, in a building where the Vancouver General Hospital now sits.