From left to right: Lt. Leigh Cameron, 161 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron; Flight Sergeant Safe Abujayyab, 161 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron; Chief Warrant Officer Nicole Bigney, 1777 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps; Petty Officer First Class Brianna Doyle, 9 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps.
Cadets from St. Stephen to Sussex will take part in some friendly competition in Saint John this weekend.
Army, air and sea cadets will participate in a tri-service sports competition at the Barrack Green Armoury.
“We’re kind of reviving an old tradition,” said Lt. Leigh Cameron, training officer with 161 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
Cameron said 1691 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps used to host a similar sports competition, but training priorities changed and they have not had it in a few years.
“One of the local COs [commanding officers] reached out to the other COs and said ‘wouldn’t it be great if we brought this back and invited all the units.'” All of the other COs were very receptive and everyone signed up,” he said.
More than 260 cadets from 13 different units will take part in Saturday’s event, said Cameron.
Petty Officer First Class Brianna Doyle with 9 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps in Saint John said the event is more than just about sports.
“I’m looking most forward to the marksmanship, the leadership that we get to learn, and the first aid that we’re going to be doing,” said Doyle.
Flight Sergeant Safe Abujayyab with 161 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Saint John said he is excited to meet new people.
“I’ll get to meet juniors and seniors alike, maybe influence some junior cadets and really show them why physical fitness can be fun and how it can impact your life,” said Abujayyab.
Chief Warrant Officer Nicole Bigney with 1777 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Saint John said she is also looking forward to meeting new people.
“All the elements used to have a rivalry, air is better than sea and army is better than air and that sort of stuff. It’s going to be nice to be able to see how everybody interacts together, how everbody plays well,” said Bigney.
Cameron said the competition allows cadets to pursue an active lifestyle, build their self-esteem, and make lifelong friends.
“One of the aims of the cadet program is to promote physical fitness. I know some of the smaller units, even some of the bigger units, it’s a challenge to fit that into your regular training year. Bringing them all together, they get to do that physical fitness, they get to have fun, they get to make new friends.”
Cameron said they hope to make the competition an annual event.
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