The Iqaluit 795 Squadron is gearing up for Remembrance Day, where they, as they have over the past half century, will be leading the ceremony in the Iqaluit Cadet Hall and Parade Square.
Cadets assist in putting on the Nov. 11 ceremony with the Royal Canadian Legion.
“The cadets participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony, and have almost every year since they’ve been in existence,” says civilian instructor Leslie Leafloor, who helps oversee the 26 cadets in Iqaluit. “What the cadets do during the ceremony is be there in uniform. They are there for their presence, but they also assist in laying the wreaths. In the past, we have had cadets who will also recite ‘In Flanders Fields’ as well, so it’s been something that has been ongoing for almost 50 years, continuously.”
“We are practising our drill so that they all look sharp when they march into the Remembrance Day ceremony and are laying the wreaths.”
On behalf of the Legion, cadets also sell poppies at select stores during the weekend leading up to Remembrance Day.
Adrianne Nowdluk, another civilian volunteer, is Leafloor’s daughter, and was a cadet in the 795 Squadron for six years. She participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies many times by laying wreaths, was a former aide-de-camp for the Governor General and held the top rank of warrant officer when she left cadets after secondary school ended.
Typically, the ceremony consists of a moment of silence, prayers, a short speech by the president or vice-president of the Legion, and then they laying of the wreaths. In the past, there have been singers or trumpet or bugle players, orchestras playing as well as the reciting of the poem 'Remembrance Act.' For this year, a rendition of God Save the King is on the agenda.
“So it’s not a very long ceremony, it depends on how many wreaths there are... it varies from year to year,” says Leafloor.
Wreaths are bequeathed by families or local businesses in commemoration of a relative or friend, or just a general honouring of the fallen. They are organized through the Legion. Typically, there is a wreath from the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut, the City of Iqaluit, the 795 Squadron cadets, in addition to any members of the public.
“We have no way of knowing until that day,” explains Leafloor, “as it is the Legion who arranges all aspects of the ceremony...," Leafloor says. "The cadets, what they do, when most people are sitting, the cadets march in, and sit on the sides, because this hall gets packed... But their main purpose is [in the] assisting of the laying of the wreaths... We try and make sure that all the cadets get the opportunity to go and be part of the group that is laying the wreaths.”
The maximum number of people the Cadet Hall can accommodate while seated is 341.
Fire Chief Steve McGean, who was in civilian clothing as he also works with the cadets as a civilian instructor, noted that he has a military background.
“So I just help out with the cadets to remind them about Remembrance Day and why we sell the poppies,” says McGean. “I explain not just what the poppy is and what it represents, but why we support the poppy campaign, which is very beneficial to the cadets.”
