Your leaders in Niagara

Having the opportunity to get out in the community and see what Cadet from the Canadian Cadet Organization are doing, has been very uplifting.  It is hard to believe that two years has now passed since the onset of COVID 19.  Our Corps and Squadrons have made many transitions during this time in the methods of delivering the program. These years have seen many challenges and struggled to adapt to this new way of life and operation, but the staff, volunteers and especially the cadets have been resilient in their ability to adapt to change.   All that to say, nothing beats being able to be back in person, with boots on ground, interacting and learning in a social distanced environment. This is what normal is now, ensuring that we keep our distance, wearing masks, washing hands often and not attend to training if we don’t feel well.  It’s about taking care of ourselves, ensuring that we stay healthy, and knowing our surrounding.   It’s about respecting your personals space, my personal space and knowing that we may have difference comfort levels, but we respect each other’s.  The old normal is a way of the past, we must accept that and move on to ensure that we all remain safe, have fun and take care of one another.  

This past week I finally had a chance to get out to 87 RCACS in Welland Ontario.  Run by a small team of outstanding leaders this Sqn is the heart and soul of what it means to be an Air Cadet. The motivation, professionalism and leadership of everyone shine bright, and it was an honour to be a guest of theirs for the evening.  Indeed the cadet program is Canada’s best kept secret of youth programming, and I can only hope that more youth get involved in the fall.  

That big guy in the back of this picture under that mask is me, talking with the cadets at their closing parade.  To the right is Captain Chris Bowman, the Sqn CO who has a remarkable level of dedication to 87 Air.