A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CORPS

3012 (Lynx) Army Cadet Corps was officially formed on July 1st, 1985 as Our Lady of Lourdes Army Cadet Corps and was initially sponsored by the Lourdes Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. Since 1993, however, the Cadet Parents Committee has assumed this responsibility. The Corps is affiliated with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Nfld Regiment and receives its training support from “C” Company located in Stephenville. The Corps is also sponsored by the Department of National Defence and the Army Cadet League of Canada, however, the majority of funds required for day-to-day operations is the responsibility of the Parents Committee. Like the founding Town of Lourdes, the Corps was not without its trials and tribulations. Lacking any expertise whatsoever in the formation of a Corps, the Town called upon Mr. Gerald Smith, then the School Principal, to conduct initial enquiries and with the assistance of the Area Cadet Officer from St. John’s, condensed training was provided to a “green” staff. Lo and behold, the first Commanding Officer, Officer Cadet Len Greene, ably assisted by the Knights of Columbus, managed to make it through to the 1st Annual Ceremonial Review. The rest is history. The Corps has enrolled well over 600 cadets since 1985 and is represented by cadets from most Communities on the Peninsula. Over the past two plus decades the Corps has produced a great many outstanding cadets who have made impressive achievements, both with the Corps and in their personal lives. Almost all who have held senior positions in the Corps have gone on to University/College and subsequent careers, with at least eleven opting for careers in the Canadian Forces. So far, the Corps has produced almost 100 Gold Star cadets with over 50 reaching National Star Certification and 35 having reached the pinnacle of the Cadet movement with their appointments as “Master Cadets.” Approximately 30 cadets each year attend Summer training at various Training Centres across Canada, five have attended International Exchanges, one attended an International Expedition, another went to France & Belgium for the RNfldR’s 90th Anniversary Pilgrimage and one completed the Military Parachutist Course.
Although the Corps has, at times, had difficulties to survive and compete, it has also made great strides. It can now boast a 14 piece Military Marching Band, Colour Party, Honour Guard and a competitive Air Rifle Shooting Team. Over the years the Corps has competed in Provincial Drill Competitions, Provincial Marksmanship Competitions and numerous other Zone competitions. It is also the only known bilingual Cadet Corps on the Island and proudly flies the Francophone Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2005, with many of Cadets belonging to one of the local Indian Bands, the Corps realized another milestone and is now also proudly displaying the flag of the Mi’kmaq Nation.

The Cadet Corps is very involved locally and supports the Parish in its fundraising activities. It also conducts Remembrance Ceremonies in all the Peninsula Schools and at the Regional War Memorial annually. Cadets Caring for Canada will find all the cadets involved in some environmental project or cleaning up Parish properties and cemeteries. Pomp and Ceremony is the order of the day at the Opening Ceremonies of the Annual Fall Fair or at the Annual Ceremonial Review and Annual Inspection of the Corps when cadets graduate to the next level and impress their parents, family, friends and the public with their new found knowledge and skills. Add to it all; Cadet Outings, Excursions, Competitions, Physical Fitness, Fieldcraft, Bushcraft, Map & Compass, Leadership, Marksmanship, Drill and Citizenship and it equates to an outstanding youth program – “The Best Kept Secret in Canada.”

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program is also becoming an integral part of the Cadet movement and the past few years has seen numerous Bronze and Silver Level Awards, as well as the 1st Gold Level of the Award recently. The success of the Duke of Edinburgh Program is due mainly to the untiring efforts of 2nd Lieutenant Judy Gaudon of the Cadet Corps.

Until 1994, the Official designation of the Corps was “Our Lady of Lourdes,” however, at that time it was agreed upon by our Sponsor that, as the majority of cadets came from surrounding communities, a more generic name was needed. After much deliberation the “Lynx” was adopted as it is an animal that is synonymous with the area and, more importantly, possesses the strong family traits that our Corps strives to instill in our cadets. The Corps Motto, “Strength thru Adversity” is indicative of the struggle over many years to keep the Corps alive and strong. Presently, our new Crest & Motto is on our Corps flag, awards, certificates and other Corps regalia. It is believed that the future of the Corps is limited only by the imagination of all involved in supporting its activities. Towards this end, cadets, staff and supporters continue to honour the Army Cadet motto “ACER ACERPORI” (As the Maple, so the Sapling) and their own Corps motto “Strength thru Adversity.”

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish has been one of the Corps biggest supporters and continues to provide infrastructure for the cadets to carry out local training.

CORPS COMMANDING OFFICERS

1993 – present Major Henry Gaudon, CD3
1991 – 1993 Lieutenant Clayton Moraze
1989 – 1991 Officer Cadet Clarence LeCoure
1987 – 1989 2nd lieutenant Leo Greene
1985 – 1987 Officer Cadet Leonard Greene