Sudbury event launches Ontario Cadets Week

Ontario Cadets Week launched in Greater Sudbury with a flag-raising at Tom Davies Square. Madison Marier reports.

To celebrate Ontario Cadets Week, marked in the first week of October, politicians and cadets gathered at Tom Davies Square in Sudbury on Friday.

“This year, they decided for all of Ontario to do the grand opening of Cadet Week here in Sudbury, which is pretty cool,” said Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.

The Sudbury launch began with the raising of the flag, which officials hope will bring more attention to the programs.

“It’s an awesome program,” said Charlene Orrell, president of the Army Cadet League of Ontario.

“Unfortunately, it’s not very well known. So that’s one of the reasons that I’ve been really adamant on trying to get the knowledge out there of what the cadet program is.”

The week also recognized the women and girls who attended cadets 50 years ago, when the program officially began accepting all genders.

“First few women, young girls who showed that will and that resilience to participate in a program and initiative that was near and dear to them, is especially important,” said BGen. Dominique Brais, commander of cadets and Jr. Canadian Rangers group.

“And the impact that has had not only on the cadet program, but on communities across Canada, on the Canadian Armed Forces, is astounding.”

The week’s celebrations will continue Saturday, when the cadets will march from the armoury at 1 p.m.

“It’s not one week,” said Hon. Col. Kevin McCormick.

“It’s 52 weeks of the year that the women and men of the cadet league and the cadet leagues across our province are working with young people and those volunteers.”

The provincial week was officially recognized in 2022, with Bill 45 proclaiming that the first to the seventh of October is recognized as Ontario Cadets Week.