Cadet Brogan Savard, of Iqaluit’s 795 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, took part in a four-week training course for marksmanship in Whitehorse this summer.
“The course,” explained the Grade 10 student, “entails learning how to be an instructor to teach the program and lead your own marksmanship for your own squadron... It gives you certification.”
Savard has been an enthusiastic cadet since his parents, who were also cadets, encouraged him to join three years ago.
“The course was really fun. We were mostly focused on how to teach and learning what you need to teach,” he said.
Marksmanship, said Savard, is an important skill not just for cadets, but for anyone who lives in the North.
“If you’re going to be part of cadets, I believe you should learn. It’s also useful for hunting, which happens around Iqaluit, as well as competitions...Also, my squadron hasn’t had [an instructor] for a few years now. So I decided to do it for fun, and for the benefit of my squadron.”
The Iqaluit 795 squadron typically has up to 20 youths, aged 12-18, registered. Savard says that their civilian instructor was in the process of getting her certification to be a range safety officer, so Savard would then assist her on site and lead the other cadets in their shooting.
“I’ll probably be tasked with teaching them in a classroom as well,” he added.
Savard enjoyed his experience in Whitehorse, and recommends the cadets camp and course to other young Nunavummiut.
“I get to meet other cadets from around Canada, and that was really fun. I got to meet sea, air and land cadets, so that was really great... I would like to say that the cadet program is completely free and volunteer-based. The minimum age is 12, and we’re always open to new cadets. I’d like to say thank you to the 168th Iqaluit Legion.”
Pointing out that the Cadets motto is “to learn, to serve, to advance,” Savard said joining the organization is an opportunity to learn new skills, serve one's community and country, and advance oneself “with both your conduct and your excellence as well.”
Capt. Frances Ogilvie, public affairs officer for the northwest regional cadet support unit, stated that the camp included approximately 100 cadets from across the three territories. It "afforded them the opportunity to participate in survival training, mountain biking, canoeing, marksmanship, biathlon, team building, orienteering, and leadership activities.”
