Sea cadets ask to resume school outreach

The city’s sea cadet corps has asked the Brandon School Division to help make it more visible to students, particularly those who may not know the opportunities available through the youth program.

Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 60 Swiftsure civilian instructor Chantel Mulholland, accompanied by corps members Rama Younes and Brooklyn Mulholland, made the presentation to the board of trustees during its general meeting Monday evening.

She said the purpose of the visit was to introduce trustees to the sea cadet program and seek permission to return to schools to make short, interactive presentations to students — a practice that ended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For many young people, the biggest barrier is just not knowing that we’re here,” Chantel Mulholland told trustees. “What we’re asking is that we’re able to reach them maybe a bit earlier, particularly students in grades 7 and 8.”

Sea cadets is a free national youth program for young people aged 12 to 18.

“Cadets receive uniforms and training, while costs associated with travel, accommodations and food for eligible cadet camps are covered. Members can also apply for international exchanges, scholarships and bursaries,” she said.

Mulholland said the program offers more than weekly meetings, with cadets taking part in sailing activities, competitions, community service, leadership training and camps across Canada.

Cadets parade at the Brandon Armoury on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., she said, and the program also works alongside the army and air cadets, as well as the younger Navy League cadets program for children aged nine to 12.

“The program suffered a decline in participation and awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the corps has since worked to rebuild its numbers and establish partnerships, including with Westman Immigrant Services,” she said.

She said the corps wants to restore the connection with schools that existed before the pandemic.

Previously, cadet representatives would make about 15-minute presentations to targeted grades. Mulholland told trustees the corps would like to make future presentations more interactive, potentially teaching students simple knots and other skills.

The goal, she said, is to give students opportunities to see what cadets can offer before deciding whether they want to join.

The civilian instructor also shared her own experience with the program, saying she joined cadets at age 12 after a presentation was made to her Grade 8 class in the small community of Alexander.

“It was something major for me that built up who I am today, and I’m proud of that,” she said. “And I hope that we can share that amongst our youth now.”

The two cadets who accompanied her also described how their experiences had changed them.

Younes said she initially became interested in sea cadets after watching her older sister participate. She first joined Navy League and said the experience helped her overcome shyness, build confidence and form friendships.

After completing two years in Navy League, she joined sea cadets and is now entering her third year.

Brooklyn Mulholland joined sea cadets at age 12 and described travelling to cadet camps in Victoria and Vernon, B.C., as highlights of her experience.

She said the program helped her develop leadership skills.

“Cadets has taught me a lot,” she said. “I was also shy. There was no talking whatsoever to anybody. But now I’m able to lead everybody and be as loud as I can to help everybody and guide everybody.”

She said she is now only about four months from aging out of the program, but hopes she may eventually return as a staff member.

Trustee Kirk Carr praised the self-assurance displayed by the two cadets during their presentation.

“The amount of confidence that comes off both of you is just amazing,” Carr said before asking them about their community-service experiences.

Trustee Calistus Ekenna asked about the corps’ previous school outreach and its work with newcomers.

Chantel Mulholland said the earlier school outreach declined as dedicated officers left and participation dropped, followed by the disruption caused by COVID-19. She said the corps now believes it has a strong enough foundation to resume outreach.

Regarding newcomer participation, Mulholland said at least eight newcomers had joined during one outreach effort and none had been turned away because of citizenship or paperwork concerns.

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