This will be the last regular news letter for this training year as there will be now be no regular Monday training parades until next September. We will however issue special editions as required to cover the annual Inspection, the year end trip and summer training programs.

1661 Harmony Road North, Oshawa

The annual inspection this year will not be held in Whitby but in The Legends Centre here in Oshawa. This change was due to roof repairs at the Iroquois Park Complex. The actual parade will be held at 8 PM in the # 1 Arena Pad which is located on the north east corner of the centre. It is suggested that parents and guests should enter the Centre from the north parking lot as the parade area is just inside the north door and on the left.

The Annual Inspection is the most important parade of the cadet year and it is vital that all cadets attend. It is the time for cadets and staff to demonstrate to the Canadian Forces, parents and the public the proficiency and spirit of our Squadron.

This past week Major Puglisevich and F/Sgt Schwirtz-Zinser participated in the National Air Rifle championships that were held in Edmonton Alberta on the grounds of Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. This was a week-long event which not only involved a very serious and demanding competition but it also gave the cadets a chance to visit the Alberta legislative buildings and the West Edmonton Mall which has to be one of the most amazing shopping malls in Canada. Where else might you find your favorite store as well as a skating rink, pirate ships, a mini put and a roller coaster all inside the same building.

The week long competition started on the Monday with a Break the Ice reception which involved an 80 year old granny in a country-blue dress who turned on the speakers and barked out dancing commands that only those in highland dancing might respond to. Apparently many in the room stood wide-eyed and wondering about what had just came to town. This 80 year old had the energy of a Jack Russell terrier and she got the cadets up and moving to a pulse and rhythm renown with square, round and clogging dancing.

A great way to break the ice and bring the cadets together for a tough and demanding competition.

We have included above several of the photos from the competition. Here you will find a photo of Maj. Puglisevich and his composite team of top individual shooters from across Canada. This team came in 4th overall out of the 15 teams in the competition and they also picked up a Silver medal in the coaches match competition. Ontario also won the gold medal for top province in the country. F/Sgt Schwirtz- Zinser finished 26 overall in the open individual competition.

These are only a few of the numerous photos that can be found on the internet. If you wish to see more photos you can go to "Cadets of the Canadian Prairies" photo sharing site which has an impressive collection of high resolution photos covering all aspects of the competition. Overall the web site is a very professional presentation which just highlights once again the tremendous opportunities that are available to youth through the Canadian Cadet Program.

The main web site for the competition that can be found at:
http://www.prairiecadets.smugmug.com

For the first time in the Squadron's history five of the Squadron's cadets were in Europe to help celebrate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. This privately arranged tour for high school students travelled not only to the Netherlands but they also visited the first house to be captured in France, The Juno Beach Centre, Lloyd Chadburn's grave in France, The Hall of Mirrors in The Palace of Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, The Menin Gate in Belgium, Vimy Ridge and the City of Berlin to name a few of the highlights. It was obviously an emotional visit for these cadets and we have included some of their photos so that you might share in their experiences.

F/Cpl Arron Littlefair commented that "As our group marched down closer to the city in the anniversary day parade, a group of Dutch
students who were up on a balcony started singing our National Anthem.
After hearing that and being in the parade I truly realized how thankful the Dutch were to Canada."

Cadets are reminded that there will be cadet gliding on Sunday June 6
Make sure to check with Lt. S. Donahue if you wish to attend.

Next summer we will be playing host to Air Training Corps Cadets from the 1955 City of Wells Squadron in Devon England. This will be their second visit with us and it will be followed the following summer with our Squadron going to visit them in Wells and then onto Europe. One of the challenging activities for British cadets that we thought you would like to hear about is the Ten Tors hike across a rather desolate area of moorland known as Dartmoor. It is a protected area of almost 1000 square kilometers located in the centre of Devon and the word Tors means a granite hilltop of which there are many located throughout the area.

The outing which is open to the public started in 1960 and it is organized and managed by the British Army who use the opportunity to provide logistical training and experience for their members. This year there were 2,400 young people taking part and they were divided into six person teams in three different age groups. There are twenty-six different routes over three different distances lettered from A to Z, using a total of nineteen different manned Tors: twelve Bronze routes of 35 miles (56 km) for those aged 14 to 15 years, ten Silver routes of 45 miles (72 km) for those aged 16 to 17 years and four Gold routes of 55 miles (89 km) for those aged 18 to 20 years.

Participants must carry their kit, cook for themselves, and use survival and navigational skills out in the midst of the Dartmoor wilderness. They sleep on the moor and they take everything they need for the 2 days (Tent, sleeping bag, cooker, clothing etc.). For water they use streams (with purifying tablets). It is a well organized event, and all 2400 kids must pass scrutinizing to ensure they have the required clothing, shelter, food etc.

The organizers stress that the event is not a race, although teams often compete to see who can finish first. Instead it is a test of endurance, navigation and survival skills. It is not just the distances and the challenging terrain, but it is the weather: conditions on Dartmoor which can and do change suddenly.

The teams of six set off at 7 am on a Saturday morning and must stop for the evening at 8 pm. They can start again at 6 am on Sunday and they have to reach the finish line by 5 pm on Sunday in order to complete the course. As it says on their website; "Ten Tors is the toughest challenge there is, and you want to do it for the same reason people climb mountains, for the same reason people sail around the world - not to be the first; not even to be the fastest or the best; you need to see if you can do it."

As one can see Dartmoor is a rather desolate location and the many participants you see above were supported not only by various units from the British Army but there were also Sea King helicopters from the Royal Navy and Gazelle helicopters from the Army Air Corps.

The other 1955 cadets who completed the challenge were;
Cdt. James Bennett, Cdt. Lucy Elliott and Cdt. Henry Wetton
This little hike is no walk in the park and as the CO F/L John Blackburn says;
"I take any opportunity I can to let people know how proud I am and how well our guys have done."

We would like to add our congratulations as well and perhaps we will meet some of these cadets next summer.

Last Monday saw another of our cadets F/Cpl Paul McGregor age out of the cadet program. We all join in wishing Paul well as he starts off on a new career as a member of the Canadian Forces.

No results yet but this was our rifle drill team being inspected prior to the actual competition.

Honorable Members

Squadron Cadets

Lest We Forget

The Snowbirds 2010

To see an impressive slide show of this years Snowbird presentation click on: