3045 ACR 2016

3045 Cadets on Parade. *1

The Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR) was held on April 20 in Inuujaq School's gym.  Cadet corps/squadrons across Canada hold ACRs at the end of the regular training year to showcase what the cadets have learned and achieved.  These parades are attended by parents, friends, community members, and special guests.  The end of the regular training year is in June, but 3045 Army Cadet Corps has to hold its ACR a month or two earlier because most people are out camping & hunting in June.  It's impossible to compete with the spring weather.    

            

This was my fourth ACR at 3045.  We are Canada's most northern cadet corps!  The cadets set up the gym with rows of foldout chairs and a table with all the awards that would be given out at the parade.  The cadets & officers had been busy getting their uniforms ready for the last week.  Several civilian volunteers put in a lot of time and effort to prepare a variety of snacks for the after-parade reception.

            

RCMP Officers inspecting the cadets. *2

Me & the Mayor. *3

The parade began with the flags being marched on and placed at the front on both sides of the Dias.  The flags were of Canada and the cadet movement.  The cadets marched to the centre of the gym.  The officers of the corps marched in, escorting the guest reviewing officers (GROs).  The GROs this year were the community's two RCMP officers.  Both officers inspected and briefly spoke with each cadet on parade.  I kept the audience entertained by giving a brief overview of the Canadian cadet program.  The mayor of Arctic Bay, Geela Arnauyumayuq, acted as my Inuktitut translator.

            

The cadets put on their best drill performance during the March Past.  They had been practicing for several weeks, getting the marching & turns correct and in step.  I think they did pretty well and judging from the faces of the audience, they had the same opinions.

            

Cadets salute Lt. May. *4

Cadet Kines receives his
promotion to the rank of
Corporal. *5

The officers and RCMP officers proceeded to hand out promotions, badges, and awards.  Quite a number of cadets were promoted to a higher rank.  The badges were for physical fitness & marksmanship.  The awards were for best cadet, most improved cadet, top male & female athletes, and the cadet with the best boots & deportment.  The chosen cadets came up to the Dias to receive their rewards and have their pictures taken by Clare Kines, Arctic Bay's resident professional photographer. 

            

Biathlon Team salutes OCdt.
Swoboda. *6

The shooting team was called up to the front to be recognized for their participation in the Stage III Shooting Competition in Gimli, Manitoba.  The competition was held in mid-April and the team was able to fly back in time for the ACR.  The team ran into a problem on their way to Gimli.  Air Canada mistakenly sent their air rifles to Toronto, forcing them to borrow rifles from other teams.  Our team came in second place.  "Out of a possible 2400 points, Rankin Inlet beat [Arctic Bay] by 3 points," commented Lt. Frank May, commanding officer of 3045.  Our rifles never reached Gimli and were sent back to Arctic Bay.

            

Northern Store presenting the cheque.
*7

The Northern Store presented the cadet corps with a large cheque for $3,460.13.  The money would go towards our ongoing beach cleaning project.  The Northwest Company, operator of the Northern Store chain, takes an active role in northern communities by supporting "local organizations and programs."  They will provide funding for local initiatives in the areas of: sports & recreation, culture & arts, healthy living, environment, and youth & education.

            

Lt. May gives his closing remarks. *8

Cadet Tilley, D. being
awarded the Best Boots
and Deportment Award.
*9

The commanding officer of the corps finished the parade by announcing that this would be his final ACR as the commanding officer.  He would be turning over command of the corps to me in September.  Command of a corps is usually not passed on to an Officer Cadet; a CIC (Cadet Instructor Cadre) officer with the rank of Captain or Major is preferred.  However, there  aren't any officers with such a rank in the community.  I was excited but also nervous.  I have never been in charge of a cadet corps.  Thankfully, I would have the support of the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest) in Winnipeg and of the Hamlet office in Arctic Bay.  I needed to recruit and maintain a staff of dedicated volunteers.  It takes more than one adult to run a cadet corps.  I would focus my attention on recruiting after the summer.  Our cadet ranks have dipped in the last few months and I want to bring those numbers back up.

            

Audience. *10

The audience gave the cadets a standing ovation when they were dismissed.  A slideshow of pictures was projected onto a wall while people ate the prepared snacks.  The pictures were snapshots of the training year.  The slideshow was prepared by Ryan, Inuujaq School's media teacher.

*Pictures taken by Clare Kines.