The origins of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in New Brunswick trace directly to its antecedent in the United Kingdom and the British-Commonwealth tradition of “United Services” institutes.
The original RUSI in London was formally established on 25 June 1831 under the patronage of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and chaired at its founding meeting by Major-General Sir Howard Douglas. Its constitution specified that the organization should be “managed entirely by naval and military officers” and pursue the systematic study of naval and military science and literature. Over time, the institution expanded from a library and museum designed for officer-education into a modern independent research body addressing defence, security and international affairs.
Inspired by this model, Canadian military and veteran communities established a series of United Services Institutes during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These Canadian institutes sought to replicate RUSI’s combination of professional study, heritage preservation, and officer-networking, though each remained organizationally independent. They eventually affiliated through the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA), which provides a national forum but not hierarchical control.
In New Brunswick, the local institute was founded in 1972 as the United Services Institute of New Brunswick (USI-NB). Its membership consisted principally of serving and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces and allied forces based in the province—particularly around the military institutions in Saint John and CFB Gagetown. Its founding charter replicated the RUSI framework: to provide a forum for the study of defence, military history, and inter-service cooperation in the province. In 1993 the Crown granted the “Royal” designation, enabling the institute to carry the name “Royal United Services Institute of New Brunswick” (RUSI-NB).
Over its history, RUSI-NB’s mission has evolved from an officers’ club focused on professional development and heritage preservation into a more outward-facing organization. It now emphasises informed public debate on defence and national security, veteran recognition, youth education, and community outreach. A notable milestone occurred in 2022 when the institute partnered in the creation and unveiling of the New Brunswick Naval Memorial in Saint John, reaffirming its role in commemoration and public education.
Though RUSI-NB is autonomous and governed by its own board in New Brunswick, it continues to share a heritage with its UK and Canadian counterparts. The relationship is one of shared purpose and tradition rather than formal institutional control: the London RUSI provided the blueprint, Canadian institutes adopted and localized it, and RUSI-NB implements it at the provincial level—sustaining the tradition into the modern era.
RUSI NB) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing informed discussion on defence, security, and international affairs. We are part of a global family of RUSI institutions, founded in the United Kingdom in 1831 and established in Canada in the late 19th century.
Our members include serving and retired military personnel, public servants, academics, and engaged citizens who share a commitment to understanding complex issues and strengthening Canada’s role in the world.
Royal United Services Institute of New Brunswick 