Local Air Cadet Squadron celebrates year of training during virtual Annual Ceremonial Review
Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer
Members of 270 Otter Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron took part in their fourth Annual Ceremonial Review on June 17, with the ceremony taking place over Google Meet and YouTube.
The ceremony provided an opportunity to highlight accomplishments, through award presentation and level advancements, of the local Air Cadet Squadron.
“There was a large number of promotions and Level advancements with most of our 36 cadets being promoted,” said Commanding Officer Captain Ted Mitchell.
“It was great to gather with our cadets to celebrate a great training year, recognize achievements and success while providing closure. We look forward to continuing to do wellness checks and engaging with our cadets online over the summer and in to the fall, until such time that it’s deemed safe to return to training, which we are all looking forward to,” he added.
During the ceremony, Mitchell congratulated the cadets on a successful training year.
“To the cadets, congratulations on an outstanding training year. I was amazed at how strong our numbers were every week, along with your efforts on the parade square and during training you continued to strive towards self-improvement. COVID-19 did bring many challenges, but there are a few tools that cadets has given me that allowed me to overcome a difficult time, and I am sure that being a cadet has also helped you at this time,” he said.
During a short speech Warrant Officer 2nd Class Luke Bates said he was inspired by his fellow cadets, who have shown perseverance during uncertain times.
“I am proud of you all; your commitment, dedication, and determination. If anyone would have said at the beginning of the year that we would be in our current situation it would have been hard to believe. But here we are. It is inspiring to see that in the midst of these uncertain times you still have set apart time and effort to contribute towards the squadron and the cadet program,” he said.
“There will always be obstacles and challenges to overcome in life. Although they may not take form as a global pandemic, during this time you have demonstrated your will to carry on and your will to succeed. Possessing such qualities, the future looks bright for 270 Otter Squadron,” he continued.
Mitchell said the squadron has been participating in online activities, learning, and challenges since April. He said they’ll be continuing online engagement over the summer and into the fall, when they hope it is deemed safe to gather again.
“Our online engagement started in April with a Bingo challenge, where they were invited to complete a square a day by taking on activities that looked at leadership, and community service at home, but also learning more about aviation, survival and other topics covered in cadets. Through May and June, we issued weekly challenges, had Google Meet’s and discussed further topics of survival, aviation, and drill. We tested their trivia knowledge in these areas. We realized many were not able to participate, but those that did had fun. Our senior cadets were learning new skills each week and by the end had taken ownership of running our online sessions,” he said.
“As well, provincially and nationally different challenges were issued, and this will continue through the summer. Sargent Ruth Broderick will be employed at home in Sioux Lookout for the summer, to continue with online engagement as there will be online learning opportunities for our cadets instead of our usual summer training camps, as well she will help plan the future of the cadet program,” he concluded.
Cadets.ca describes the program, “It is a national program for young Canadians aged 12 to 18 who are interested in participating in a variety of fun, challenging and rewarding activities while learning about the Sea, Army and Air activities of the Canadian Armed Forces.”
Watch the Annual Ceremonial Review here: https://bit.ly/30kFkYX.
270 Otter Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron fourth Annual Ceremonial Review Award Winners
Top Level 1 Cadet
Corporal Carson Pettit
Top Junior Cadet
Corporal Jason Duewel
Top Senior Cadet
Flight Sargent Ruth Broderick
Esprit de Corps
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Tristan Bouchard
Commanding Officer’s Award
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Luke Bates
Top Marksmanship Award
Corporal Braedyn Lilly
Top Biathlon Award
Corporal Lake Woodrow
Air Cadet League Service Medals
Medals
Flight Sargent Ruth Broderick
Flight Sargent Charles Darling
Bar/Rosette
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Tristan Bouchard
Flight Sargent Gabriel Otto
Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence
Flight Sargent Ruth Broderick
Lord Strathcona Medal
Flight Sargent Charles Darling
