Supporting youth programming with locally-raised poppy funds

The Whitecourt Air Cadets squadron received a funding boost last week thanks to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #44. The legion sets aside some of its yearly poppy funding to help support local groups such as the cadet programs. As a free program for youth aged 12-18, funding is a big deal to the Whitecourt Air Cadets. Comrade Doug Lind, Liaison officer for the Whitecourt Legion, presented a check to the youth-based group last Wednesday.

Lind was a cadet years ago and said the things youth learn in the organization are life-long skills. “It’s a great organization that teaches all kinds of skills. It teaches teamwork. It teaches self-discipline. It’s all important. In today’s society, many skills they learn here are called networking. They work together as a team, which they will take through life.”

One of the things cadets do together is march. Higher-ranked youth lead younger ranks, creating a unified presentation. “Drill is an important thing to learn, not just because of the physical part of it, but it’s a team thing because you are all synchronized. You have to work together. As a former cadet, I can tell you that you’ve established lifelong friends if you served a few years with the cadet core. I still have friends from when I was in Air Cadets, when I was fourteen and fifteen. The same as when I was in Army Cadets. I’ve gone the full gamut.”

Going from Air Cadets to Army Cadets, to the militia and the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lind said his experiences in the youth program remain meaningful to him as an adult. Whether youth decide to pursue a military career, their pilot’s license or something unrelated to the program, their time spent within the organization is impactful.

“The cadet’s program here in Whitecourt is excellent. The turnout, pretty well every week, is almost a full squadron. I counted seventeen or eighteen cadets out there tonight. That’s great. That’s almost the entire group of cadets. It’s clear that the program is working well for them and that they enjoy it.”

The cadet program’s main sponsor is the Lion’s Club of Whitecourt. Cadets help prepare Lion’s campground at the beginning and of each camping season and receive much-needed programming support for their efforts. The Lion’s Club has been a long-standing supporter of the group. Lind said the legion is happy to help too. They have also supported the Army Cadets in Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt Guides.

“Fundraising can be hard sometimes, and we know that. Our primary goal with the poppy fund is for the welfare of veterans, but anything that we can afford to help do out of that realm, we try to do,” he explained. Lind said they have also provided scholarships for students in need.

With his connection to the program, Lind said he likes being the liaison between the cadets and the legion. “I like watching the cadets through the years and how well they advance. Some of them that come in don’t know how to iron a shirt, press a uniform or shine their boots. That, again, is all part of the self-discipline they learn. They all share in learning that. I felt good when I did a good job, and I’m sure these cadets feel that too, when they do a good job. You feel good when you turnout nicely, and your drill is nice.”

Cadets meet every Wednesday evening at the cadet hall, the blue metal building beside the Community Garden, beside Rotary Park parking lot. Youth aged 12-18 can join at any time, and joining is free. Youth get to experience range, biathlon, and overnight events called Field Training Exercises (FTXs), where youth camp, learn survival skills and explore their surroundings.

“People like Captain Westling always have lots of activities happening here and good schooling. They get their exercises in, and I know they look forward to doing field exercises (FTX). I think it’s great that it’s offered free,” said Lind. “They are learning life skills more than anything else, and that’s a big thing. As I said, when you leave this program, twenty years from now, if you meet someone from it, you’ll say, remember being in cadets? The memories will stick with you.” Parents interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to visit the cadet hall (by Rotary Park) with their child on Wednesday evenings between 6:20-9:00 pm.