WELLINGTON COUNTY – One of the country’s oldest youth programs will be forming a unit in the Fergus area.
An army cadets program for Fergus, Elora and Arthur is intended to move forward in September as a satellite unit of the 1849 Lorne Scots based in Orangeville.
Darren Storey, who will be leading the new unit, said in a phone interview cadet programs have been around since 1861 and he was involved as a youth and now as an adult.
He said with the area’s population of young people, bringing a cadet program was a no-brainer.
“The memories that I had of the program are amazing, the things that I experienced and friendships I developed, I still talk to people that I was in army cadets with now,” Storey said, adding he would have been a cadet in the late 70s.
“Especially coming out of the pandemic, we’re really focused on providing a fun program for youth.”
Storey explained the army cadets are largely focused on outdoor activities such as treetop trekking, canoeing, abseiling, marksmanship training and orienteering but could include things like public speaking or a band depending on the size of the unit and support it gets.
Storey said there’s a common misconception that this is a recruitment tool for the military but he stressed there’s no obligation for youth to be involved with the military and it is a developmental program.
“Essentially what the cadet program is and always has been, is it’s a way of developing young Canadians,” Storey said. “We focus on developing good citizens, we teach them leadership skills, teamwork skills, problem solving skills.”
This will start as a satellite unit but down the line could become a stand alone entity with its own staff should it grow, Storey said.
Cadet programs are no cost to join and participate in as they are largely federally funded and community sponsored. The program is for ages 12 to 18.
Further information or inquiries about registration should be directed to [email protected] with Fergus/Elora/Arthur included in the subject line.
