Canadian and Northern Irish Cadets Unite

The current lockdown has brought about many changes to how we all conduct our lives and the internet has helped us to reach into households to keep us connected to the outside world. This provided a wonderful opportunity at the weekend for 2912 Sudbury Irish, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps & C Company 1st (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force to unite in this first time virtual exchange for any Canadian or Northern Ireland Cadets!

Adult Instructor, Captain Miniss, came across the Irish connection with a Canadian cadet Unit and after making initial contact with the Officer Commanding, Captain Lamirande, the result was this meeting of Remembrance on the 76th Anniversary of the D Day Landings.

The exchange via Zoom was brilliant, or as the Canadians would say “fabulous”. After the act of remembrance and the playing of the last post, there was a short historical talk from Cadet DSM (Drill Sgt Major) Kutchew (Canada) & Cadet CSM (Company Sgt Major) Carrie Morrow, Glengormley Detachment & Under Officer Paige Abernathy, Ballymena Detachment about the roles of both the Canadian and British troops on D Day.

The cadets and instructors were invited to a Kahoots quiz hosted by Canadian RSM Dumais and afterwards everyone (cadets and adults) were divided into different virtual rooms depending on their star levels, to get to know each other. The event concluded with a Canadian Bagpiper, Cadet Stiller, playing Amazing grace to ‘pipe out’ the evening.
Corporal Matthew Marron from Ballyclare Cadets who had been going through the process of Canadian Cadet exchange selection before “Lockdown” said:

“This was a fantastic experience for all the cadets and we hope to remain in contact with our Canadian friends and hopefully someday get the chance to meet up!”

Capt Lamirande from the Canadian Cadets said:
“Using technology we can now see what our counterparts in Ireland do”.
At the end of the evening Major Reed, Company Commander for C Company, voiced the overall opinion that it was a great success and one that will be repeated.

We would like to thank the instructors and cadets from both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean for all their time and effort to create such an entertaining and interesting evening.