New navy league cadet program launches in Strathmore

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new cadet program is getting underway in Strathmore, giving younger children another opportunity to build skills, meet new people and become involved in their community.

The Navy League of Canada has established a branch in Strathmore and is working to establish a Navy League Cadet Corps for boys and girls between the ages of 9-12.

Strathmore Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10 President Donovan Arnaud said the idea grew from seeing the success of the community’s existing air cadet program.

“Strathmore has had an air cadet squadron here for many, many years. It’s been a very successful program,” Arnaud said. “It’s done amazing things for the youth of the community.”

With Strathmore continuing to grow and more young families calling the community home, Arnaud saw an opportunity to offer something different.

“This year I decided that I would like to expand that, given the growth of Strathmore and correspondingly, the growth of the number of children that are now living here in Strathmore,” he said. “So, I thought I would start another cadet movement and so we’re bringing the navy to town.”

Arnaud said the program is “an organization dedicated to citizenship, teamwork and just learning how to be a young citizen of Canada.”

Recruitment is already underway and interest has been strong. As of last week, Arnaud said approximately 14 children had signed up with room available for many more.

The program is also looking for adults who would like to get involved. Volunteers can serve directly with the cadets as officers or become part of the Navy League branch that supports the corps.

Once the program officially gets underway later in September, cadets will meet Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Strathmore Legion.

Registration costs approximately $150 for the year, with the money helping offset the cost of providing uniforms. 

“Each cadet gets a uniform. A little sailor uniform with a hat and a shirt and so on and so forth,” Arnaud said. “So, they look the part and all this money goes towards that.”

While the program draws on the history and traditions of the navy, Arnaud stressed an important distinction for parents who may be unfamiliar with cadets. 

“It is not a military organization,” he said.

Instead, those traditions provide a foundation for teaching young people skills such as teamwork, citizenship and respect.

“In the navy we teach all these young people, for example, how to march as a group. Because that’s part of teaching teamwork,” Arnaud said. “They all learn the traditions of the navy. They all learn marks of respect for those in authority over them.”

Activities will also introduce cadets to skills connected to naval themes, with an emphasis on making the experience interesting for young participants.

“What we try to do, and what we in fact are very successful in doing, is making these things of great interest to these kids so that they can learn individual skills but collectively as well,” Arnaud said.

He compared the philosophy behind cadets to other youth programs such as 4-H, where children participate in activities while learning broader lessons about responsibility and working together.

“The cadets’ organization, army, navy, air force, is the same sort of thing,” he said. “They’re sponsored by organizations which have that tradition in the background, and there’s so many valuable things that they can pass on to children and teaching them those values.”

Recruitment will continue after the program begins. Families interested in registering a child and adults interested in volunteering can contact the Navy League through the Strathmore Legion.

“We’re excited and we’re really looking forward to getting this thing off the ground,” Arnaud said.