Heather Latter
The 144 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (Fort Frances) saluted the winners of an essay contest held earlier this year on why they like being involved in Sea Cadets.
Able Seaman Chelsea Barron took top honours, with Able Seaman Christopher Low and Able Seaman Larissa McKelvie placing second and third, respectively.
While each made excellent points, it seemed there was one common aspect all three enjoy about Sea Cadets: the experiences they encounter.
“I enjoy the experience that you get during camp and other training events throughout the year,” wrote Barron.
“These training events are teaching you new things, but they use different, fun, and amazing teaching methods.”
She noted some of the special events she has taken part in include the cadet winter games, range day, sports day, a sailing weekend, Remembrance Day ceremonies, and camp.
Low also enjoyed his experiences at camp when he was selected to attend Quadra, located in British Columbia.
“As a first-year at camp, I was shown all the different activities you can eventually chose to specialize in,” he explained, adding he thought the best part of camp was the overnight sail.
“This is where we had to sail a huge boat to an island and set up camp and stay over,” he wrote.
Low also took part in a sailing weekend in Kenora, where he was part of a team in the regatta.
“I want to stay in [Sea] Cadets because it offers a lot of opportunities and helps you get a job because you have discipline and experience from being in cadets,” he concluded.
McKelvie, meanwhile, also focused on her camp experience last summer as a highlight.
“I was really nervous and I didn’t really know what to do,” she wrote about when she first arrived at the general training camp in B.C.
“But I made new friends right away . . . [and] I learned that I really enjoyed sailing.
“Every little thing there made me stronger on the inside,” McKelvie added, saying she intends to return to camp this summer for basic sailing training.
Sub-lieutenant Dawn Gray said the local corps held the essay contest to determine what the cadets thought about their experience so far, what they liked, and why.
“We liked what the cadets said and how they were honest,” she remarked.
With the Sea Cadet program coming to a close for another season, Gray said she was pleased with how the year went.
“We had a low enrolment this year but we are making the most of it,” she reasoned, adding the highlight of the season was participating in the Seamanship Inter-divisional Competition in Winnipeg.
“The cadets were split up and put into groups with other cadets from the different units that were there,” Gray explained.
“They participated in a variety of activities which include tying knots, coil and heave a line, model ship building, and trivia.”
To wrap up the season, the local Sea Cadets held their annual ceremonial review June 11 at the Emo Legion.
The cadets received awards and promotions while the reviewing officer inspected the corps.
Awards
•Top Male Recruit—Able Seaman MJ Nyberg;
•Esprit de corps—Able Seaman Chelsea Barron;
•Top Fitness Award—Master Seaman Clinton Gray;
•The Gordon Matheson Seamanship Award—CPO2 Ian Enns;
•The Gordon and Margaret Woollard Core Value Award—CPO2 Ian Enns;
•Royal Canadian Cadet Legion Medal of Excellence—Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Cunningham;
•Perfect Attendance—Ordinary Seaman Nicholas Presenger, Able Seaman Chelsea Barron, and Able Seaman Larissa McKelvie;
•Teamwork, Leadership & Attitude Award—CPO2 Ian Enns;
•Top Cadet of the Year—Able Seaman Chelsea Barron; and
•Sea Cadet Service Medal—CPO2 Ian Enns and CPO2 Daniel Cunningham.
Promotions
•Ordinary Seaman to Able Seaman—OS Nicholas Presenger;
•Able Seaman to Leading Seaman—AB Barron, AB Gauthier, AB Low, AB McKelvie, and AB Stewart; and
•Master Seaman to Petty Officer 2nd Class—MS Edward Cabral, MS Clinton Gray, MS Matthew Gray, and MS Zachery Fletcher.
The Sea Cadet program, which is held Monday nights in Emo, offers kids aged 12-18 a chance to do something unique and to learn about different naval things.
The program will start up again in September.
