Communicator

The Communicator — Fall 2013 Issue
709 Signals Royal Canadian Army
Cadet Corps
The corps finished off the 2012-2013 training year with its 56th
Annual Review on Saturday 25 May. This is the occasion when
cadets get to showcase the skills they acquired throughout the
training year while on the parade square. Corps awards were presented
to various members during this ceremony in the presence
of honoured guests, LCol G.I. Stasyna, KtSG, CD Commanding
Officer of 32 Signals Regiment and HCol. S. Horsfall, SSSJ,CD RN
Honorary Colonel as well as friends and family. This event is open
to all so please feel free to join us next year, you won't be disappointed
Although the Annual Review is seen as a close of the training year
for the LHQ level, for the cadets, it signifies the beginning of their
summer training schedule at various areas through out Canada.
This year Cadet WO Suarez attended Rocky Mountain National
Cadet Summer Training Centre Alberta, where she undertook a six
week Expedition Course, which included numerous glacier climbs.
Cadet Sgt. Verlaan attended Valcartier Cadet Summer Training
Centre Quebec, where she undertook a six week Expedition Instructor
Course conducted in French. Cadet Sgt. Magtira attended
Connaught Summer Training Centre Ontario, where she undertook
a six week Marksmanship Instructor Course. The remainder of the
corps received their training in Blackdown Cadet Summer Training
Centre at CFB Borden, attending various courses such as Drill and
Ceremonial Instructor (6 weeks), Basic Drill and Ceremonial (3
weeks),Expedition Instructor (6 weeks), Basic Expedition (3
weeks),Sports and Fitness Instructor (6 weeks), Basic Sports and
Fitness (3 weeks) and General Training ( 2 weeks). All the cadets
of 709 Signals did well on their various courses and brought back
newly acquired skills to be shared with the remainder of the corps.
The beginning of the 2013-2014 training year included a move to a
new LHQ within our recruiting area. We are now parading at St.
Thomas Aquinas School, 635Glenholme Avenue, Toronto from
6:45-9:30 pm on Wednesday nights. Currently we have 67 cadets
on strength, distributed throughout the 5 various training levels
within the cadet program. More information about the corps can be
found at http://www.709cadets.com/
The months of October and November are always a busy time for
any cadet corps and this year was no exception. You may have
seen our cadets involved with Army Cadet Tagging Days on October
5-6, which is one of our main fundraisers of the year.
Outside of our Wednesday night parade, some Cadets have also
been busy on Monday
nights practicing at
FYA for upcoming air
rifle competitions, such
as the Tartan Shoot at
MPA February 1st and
the Zone shoot February
8th, location TBD.
We conducted our first
FTX of the year at Tiffin
Centre For Conservation
in Utopia just
west of Barrie on October
26-27. Training
was carried out in the
four different star levels,
with the theme of training being "Bushcraft". Cpl. Alfred
Poon from 32 Signals Regiment accompanied us on the exercise
and assisted us in the role of Store man/driver over the course of
the weekend. His efforts and hard work were greatly appreciated
by both the Officers and Cadets of 709.
On November 3, selected cadets participated in "Operation We
Will Remember - 2013" wherein they placed small Canadian
Flags on the graves of over 1200 Veterans followed by a Service
of Remembrance at Sanctuary Park, Etobicoke. This project has
been organized for the past three years by DCO Captain J.P
Ferron, CD. This event included local MP Ted Opitz, guest
speaker and Veteran Representative Gunnery Sergeant Paul A.
Lewis, USMC as well as other honoured guests including family
and friends. Details of the ceremony were covered by local media
and may been seen at the links below. Watch for the November
edition of the Etobicoke Snap for more coverage.
http://humberetc.com/2013/11/08/youth-cadets-rememberveterans/
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/4192344-cadetshonour-canadian-veter
The Cadets assisted our local legions on November 2 and 9 with
their Poppy Campaign. The monies collected assists Veterans
needs within our local communities, so we are very proud to be
part of this worthy endeavour. On November 10 the corps
marched and attended the church service with 32 Signals Regiment
and on November 11th Senior Cadets from 709 were on
hand at the Queen’s Park Remembrance Day Service to assist
with tasks assigned to them by the organizers of the yearly
event.
On behalf of the Officers and Cadets of 709 Signals I would like
extend our thanks and appreciation to the members of 32 Signal
Regiment for the assistance and support they have provided us
this past year.
Wishing everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!!
2Lt. Steven Morgan
Training Officer
709 RCACC
Illuminate Viam
Cenotaph Photo Credit to:
Ian Kelso, Etobicoke
Guardian
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