ST. PAUL – Capt. (Ret’d) Jake Dufault, who was instrumental in the 2002 beginning of 2395 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) Logistics, and who now serves as Past President of the Board of Governors of the Alberta Army Cadet League, was the Reviewing Officer at the Corps’ 2023 Annual Ceremonial Review on Sunday, June 4.
The corps was originally an affiliate of 2995 RCACC Lac La Biche, where Dufault was the Commanding Officer. In 2003, the corps became its own unit as 2395 RCACC Logistics in Mallaig, with Capt. John Brooker as Commanding Officer, a post he held for all but one year before the corps moved to its St. Paul’s Mannawanis Friendship Centre in 2017, where it was led by Lt. Purvis until 2022 and is now led by Lt. (N) Sadie Hulme-Lawrence, a former leader of the RCSCC Arrowhead Sea Cadets.
The June 4 event started in the St. Paul Royal Canadian Legion parade square, where Capt. (Ret’d) Dufault and Lt. (N) Hulme –Lawrence led invited guests Sgt. Moses, Capt. Hosaz and Capt. Park, training officer Capt. Brooker, assistant training officer CI Schwab, administration officer CI Warner, supply officer Lt. Purvis and his assistant volunteers Trever and Whiskeyjack, Army Cadet League representative Charlene Skeoch and unit support committee chair Dez Mudryk through the platoon of cadets before the platoon performed a march past.
The inspecting party, cadets, their families and guests then returned to the Mannawanis auditorium for the presentation of awards.
Capt. Park was called forward to present the Best Attendance Award to MCpl. Nathaniel Whiskeyjack for his high percentage of attendance at all cadet activities. Next was the Congeniality Award, which goes to a recipient selected by the cadets themselves as the most congenial and a good role model for the other cadets, was presented by CI Schwab to LCpl Corwin Smyl.
Army Cadet League representative Skeoch presented two Cadet Service Medals, which go to cadets with four years of cadet service, to MWO Angela Whiskeyjack and WO Eric Schwab.
The final award was Best on Parade, which goes to the cadet that has consistently demonstrated excellence in skills, attendance, community service, dress, drill and deportment, reviewing officer Dufault making that presentation to MWO Angela Whiskeyjack.
Following thanks and introductions of the reviewing party by unit support committee chair Mudryk, CO Lt. (N) Hulme-Lawrence presented a gift to reviewing officer Dufault, thanking him, the rest of the reviewing party, the staff and guests for their attendance and thanking the cadets for their enthusiasm and dedication, saying, “You have all done and excellent job again this year, and as always, I am very proud of each of you.”
