The 737 Northern Pride Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron hosted it 53rd-annual ceremonial review on the evening of May 16, wrapping up the group’s activities for the 2015-16 season. Thompson’s Air Cadets put on a formal parade display for the audience and officers, and following inspection were awarded with a variety of accolades earned throughout the year. Receiving top awards that evening were Cpl. Meuse (Top Junior Cadet), Fsgt. Magistad (Top Senior Cadet), and WO2 Dew, who received the Lord Strathcona Trust Medal, the highest physical and military training award achievable by a Canadian Cadet.
Capt. Martin Murphy, 737’s commanding officer, offered words of congratulations and encouragement, both for members of 737 and for the cadet program as a whole. But along with congratulations and praise for the program, Murphy was clearly conscious of the program’s declining numbers. “I’m ending my address with a challenge to you: to get the word out about what the cadets program has offered you, to talk to your friends, and the future will look very bright for the 737squadron.”
Vale’s vice-president of Manitoba Operations Mark Scott was this year’s reviewing officer, “It strikes me in learning about the cadets program that there are many similarities btween your team, and our team at Vale Manitoba Operations. Excellence is built on core values, and our actions, not our words, define who we are. In all of our dealings, we want to be seen as honest, trustworthy, caring, courageous, fair and respectful, and I’m sure those are all values that our cadets here tonight have heard repeated throughout your training. The specific words may vary, but the principles are the same and these are the values on which you will rely in school, in service or in life.” Scott thanked all of the Vale employees who contributed their time to making the cadets a reality every year, including Murphy, civilian instructor Brett Hanson, and administration officer Lindsay Bygnes.
At the end of the evening, cadets set up educational displays for parents surrounding activities and historical aspects of the cadets program put together by the cadets themselves, while the main hall became a rifle range for parents to test out the program’s air rifles.
