The 71st annual ceremonial review of Squadron 43 of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets was held Sunday.
An inspection, march past, drill demonstration and presentation of awards was held during the afternoon at the Don Ross Centre and further awards were presented at a banquet that evening at the Air Cadets Hall.
In his remarks opening the afternoon, MC and former cadet with No. 43 RCACS Cole Janostin said the squadron has worked hard over the last year to complete their levels.
This hard work has also seen cadets participating in local, provincial and national biathlon, local and provincial marksmanship, local and zone effective speaking, local and zone curling and a number of optional activities such as support of the Cowboy Christmas Parade, Poppy Day, Remembrance Day parades and other community activities.
Reviewing officer for the day was S/Sgt. Phil Wilson, commander officer of the North Battleford Municipal Detachment of the RCMP. The reviewing party also included Commanding Officer Joyce Ptolemy, No. 70 North Battleford Legion representative Bill McDonald, No. 43 Sponsoring Committee chair Dan Bartko, City of North Battleford councillor Ray Fox and area director Lt. Col. (Ret) Lloyd Beaumont.
Following the inspection, the squadron executed a march past and presented a drill demonstration.
Promotions and awards followed.
The Best First Year Award was shared by three cadets, Cpl. Keaton Rose, Cpl. Nicholas Black and Cpl. Ryan Dyck. The award is presented annually to the cadet who shows a high level of motivation, good care for their uniform, good personal drill and conduct becoming of a cadet not only on parade night but at other activities.
The Best Second Year Award was presented to F/Cpl. Jake Warner and the Best Third Year Award went to Sgt. Hannah Adamcryck.
The Most Improved Cadet Award was presented to F/Sgt. Matthew Bartko.
The Unsung Hero Award was presented to Cpl. Bryan Erbach. This award goes to a cadet who, in addition to attending mandatory activities, volunteers readily for supplementary training and extra tasking, and who has not been recognized by any other award.
Long Service Medals (four years) were presented to WOII Kiwi Pete-Bull, F/Sgt. Matthew Bartko, F/Sgt. Dylan Patton and WOI Austin Legacy (six years).
WOI Legacy was also presented with the Best Overall Cadet Award, the Walter Kostyna Award, the Myron Stetzenko Award, the Lord Strathcona Award and the Best Dressed on Parade Award. At the evening event he received the Best NCO Award, the Senior Marksman Award and the Wayne Boskill Memorial Trophy. (See accompanying photo.)
At the evening banquet, the Raymond Faddish Memorial Trophy, donated by the family in memory of a member of the squadron, an ardent curler who lost his life in a farming accident, was presented to Cpl. Wayne Adams, F/Sgt. Matthew Bartko, F/Cpl. Zachary Blackmon, F/Sgt. Jason Reimer and Sgt. Hannah Adamcryck.
A Special Parliamentary Certificate of Recognition was presented to F/Sgt Jason Reimer, who participated in local, zone, provincial and national biathlon. At the provincial level he received gold and nationally he received two gold medals and one silver in the four races the teams compete in. As the top competitor in his category he also received the Jean-Philippe Le Guellec Award. This award for the senior category, (15 and 16 years old) is given to the female and male cadets with the highest cumulative aggregates from their individual race results during the National Cadet Biathlon Championship.
The Junior Marksman Award is presented to a cadet who has not reached his or her 15th birthday on or before May 15 of the current training year and who receives the highest marks for the year. This year it was shared by Sgt. Hannah Adamcryk and F/Cpl Adam Fransoo. (Fransoo received the bronze award in his category for his performance at the provincial level.)
Cpl. Keaton Rose was presented the Perfect Attendance Award. Awards for 100 per cent attendance (not more than five excused attendances) went to Sgt. Hannah Adamcryck, Cpl. Nicolas Balack, F/Cpl. Zachary Blackmon, Cpl. Ryan Dyck, F/Cpl. Adam Fransoo and F/Cpl. Jake Warner.
A special presentation was made by Adele DeLong and family in memory of Lorne DeLong, who passed away July 29, 2011. It was his wish that all those in attendance take the time to say thank you to the commanding officer, officers, volunteers, civilian committee and parents for all their hard work and hours of dedication throughout the year.
Delong became involved with the air cadet program in 1983 when his oldest daughter Kimberley joined No. 43 RCACS. He was first a member of the civilian committee and served on its executive committee, later joining the squadron as an officer. During his first three years as an officer, DeLong would take holidays from his job to attend his officer qualifying courses where he earned captain's bars. He served in all the roles of the squadron, and eventually he became the commanding officer of squadron until his retirement in 1992. He stayed involved with cadets as the liaison officer for the Royal Canadian Legion for about five years.
The awards were accepted by Dan Bartko, on behalf of the civilian committee, parents and volunteers of No. 43 RCACS and by Capt. Joyce Ptolemy on behalf of the officers, civilian instructors and staff of No. 43 RCACS.
