KAMSACK — Kamsack air cadets pinned a poppy on Kamsack Mayor Beth Dix on the front steps of the community’s Royal Canadian Legion Hall recently as a way of announcing the upcoming Veterans’ Week being observed Nov. 5 to 11.
Cadets plan to go door-to-door on “Poppy Day” Saturday, Nov. 1, distributing poppies to residents, said Karen Tourangeau, commanding officer of the squadron.
During Veterans’ Week, a national observance that honours those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis veterans will be recognized on Nov. 8, while Remembrance Day is marked on Nov. 11, commemorating the end of the First World War, and all who have served since.
At Kamsack, where the Royal Canadian Legion is the sponsoring body, the cadets will be participating in the school Remembrance Day service at Victoria School on Nov. 7. They will be attending the Remembrance Day church service at Westminster Memorial United Church at 11 a.m. on Nov. 9 and a Legion Remembrance Day tea at 2 p.m.
The cadets will play an important part at the Kamsack Remembrance Day service at Victoria School at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.
Currently, a total of 16 youths are part of the Kamsack air cadet squadron, Tourangeau said. The program began Sept. 3 with 10 returning cadets and the next week one new cadet had registered, while an RCMP member assisted with the sports night activity.
In early September, Karen Bodnaryk, a civilian instructor, had been helping from home because of ill health, she said.
With Bodnaryk’s death on Sept. 17, Tourangeau was left as the only member of staff, so Capt. Troy Rogowski of Preeceville assisted with the squadron, which had grown to 16 cadets.
With the help of Tourangeau’s niece, Laureena Brass and Beth Dix, who are becoming volunteer civilian instructors, the office staff increased to four when Darren Kitsch applied to be a civilian instructor.
Appointed as the cadet band teacher, Kitsch has many ideas that he has brought forth to the Cadet League of Canada, with which the league is “very much on board,” Tourangeau said. “I cannot express the gratitude for the support of these four and for the help of Racheal Martyniuk with the treasurer’s position.
Cst. Ian Withycombe of the RCMP will be assisting in drill and sports night, as well as coaching for curling.
“I am truly grateful for the support of the parents committee, which is helping with the upcoming Remembrance Day banquet.”
During the summer, three Kamsack cadets attended cadet camps, she said. Cpl. Kennan Kitsch attended a two-week survival camp at Cold Lake, Alta.; F/Cpl. Cassious Cadotte attended marksmanship camp for four weeks in Vernon, B.C., and Sgt. Halo Tourangeau attended her second band camp in Quadra, B.C., for four weeks when she received her music badge.
Currently, the squadron includes one flight sergeant, four sergeants, two flight corporals, five corporals and four new cadets, she said. All sergeant cadets are learning their new parade positions and are coming along with the help of F/Sgt. Tourangeau and Sgt. Cadotte.
On Oct. 15, Capt. Terry Eriks of Yorkton attended to assist with the squadron’s first range night.
The Kamsack cadets will be participating in a survival weekend at Saskadet at Kelvington with the Yorkton squadron Oct. 24 to 26, she said. On Oct. 29, cadets will be preparing poppy baskets and Halloween treats for the residents of Eaglestone Lodge, where a small Halloween party will be held.
Plans are for a trip to Calgary and Edmonton at Easter, she said, explaining that although approval had been received for a trip to Ottawa in April, after Bodnaryk’s death, it was decided to change plans to go to Alberta with the Preeceville squadron instead.
“The loss of CI Bodnaryk has been felt throughout the community and within the Legion and the cadet corps,” Tourangeau said. “I’m going to continue to keep this going now and in the coming years and hopefully will be able to pass it on to the next commanding officer and future volunteers.”
