A BRIEF HISTORY
3012 (Lynx) Royal Canadian 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 the responsibility of Official Sponsor. The Corps is affiliated with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland 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 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 1st 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 25 years the Corps has produced many outstanding cadets who have made impressive achievements, both with the Corps and in their personal lives. Almost all who have senior positions in the Corps have gone on to University/College and subsequent careers, with many opting for careers in the Canadian Forces. So far the Corps has produced almost two hundred "Gold Star" cadets with at least 75 reaching "National Star Certification" and nearly 50 reaching the pinnacle of the cadet movement with appointments as "Master Cadets. Approximately 30 cadets each year attend Summer Training at various Cadet Summer Camps across Canada, seven have attended International Exchanges, one attended an International Expedition (Blake Benoit), another went to France & Belgium for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's 90th Anniversary Pilgrimage (Paul Doucette) and one cadet completed the Basic Military Parachutist Course (Maurice Chaisson). At least five cadets each year are employed as "Staff Cadets" at various Summer Camps teaching younger cadets what they have learned over the years and earning good salaries for doing so. In 2009 one of our cadets (Sarah Gaudon) was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major of Cadet Summer Training Centre Argonaut, holding the top cadet position of a Summer Camp, training over 1,000 cadets annually. This was the first time ever for the Corps.
Although the Corps has, at times, had difficult to survive and compete, it has also made great strides. It now boasts a 14 piece Military Marching Band, 7 member Colour Party, an Honour Guard and a competetive 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 Province's Francophone Flag. In 2005, with many of the cadets belonging to local Mi'Kmaq Indian Bands, the Corps reached another milestone and is now also proudly displaying the flag of the Mi'Kmaq Nation. Many of our cadets in the Corps now enjoy full status under the Indian Act as aboriginal peoples in the newly formed "Qualipu" Indian Band.
The Cadet Corps is very involved locally and supports the Parish in all its fundraising activities. It also conducts annual Remembrance Ceremonies in all the Peninsula Schools and at the Regional War Memorial. "Cadets Caring for Canada" has found 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 Ceromonial Review of the Corps when cadets graduate to the next level and impress their parents, family, friends and the general 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."
In recent years the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program was initiated in the Cadet Corps for the first time, thanks to the tireless efforts of Lieutenant Judy Gaudon for coordinating and executing the requirements of the Program. To date we have 27 cadets participating in the Program, 19 of whom have progressed to eithe the Bronze or Silver levels and eight who have completed the Gold Level of the Award. Over the past year Blake Benoit, Brandon Skinner, Paul Doucette, David Barter, Kelsey Collier and Kyrill Kerfont have received their Gold Awards from either Princess Anne or the Governor General of Canada. They now share a bond with thousands of young people throughout the British Commonwealth. It is noteworthy that nearly all of the requirements for all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program can be obtained through the cadet program.
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 name "Lynx" was adopted as it is an animal that is synonymous with the area and, more importantly, possesses the strong family traits and loyalties that the Corps strives to instill in its cadets. The Corps Motto, "Strenght Thru Adversity" is indicative of the struggle over many years to keep the Corps alive and strong. Presently our new Crest and 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 Sponsors continue to honour the Army Cadet Motto "ACER ACERPORI" (As the Maple, so the Sapling) and its own Corp 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 Green
1985 - 1987 Oficer Cadet Leonard Greene
CORPS REGIMENTAL SERGEANT-MAJORS
2011 - 2012 Chief Warrant Officer Nikole Cole
2010 - 2011 Chief Warrant Officer Alexandra Drake
2009 - 2010 Chief Warrant Officer Taylor Flynn
2008 - 2009 Chief Warrant Officer Brandon Skinner
2007 - 2008 Chief Warrant Officer Jasmine Felix
2006 - 2007 Chief Warrant Officer Jessica Rouzes
2005 - 2006 Chief Warrant Officer Samantha White
2004 - 2005 Chief Warrant Officer Elise Simon
2003 - 2004 Chief Warrant Officer Conrad Hinks
2002 - 2003 Chief Warrant Officer Steven Snook
2001 - 2002 Chief Warrant Officer Kerry Duffenais
2000 - 2001 Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Kerfont
1999 - 2000 Chief Warrant Officer Ross Simon
1998 - 1999 Chief Warrant Officer Patricia Young
1997 - 1998 Chief Warrant Officer Maurice Chaisson
1996 - 1997 Chief Warrant Officer Brent Collier
1995 - 1996 Chief Warrant Officer Dawn Collier
1994 - 1995 Chief Warrant Officer Robyn Retieffe
1993 - 1994 Chief Warrant Officer Collette Chaisson
1992 - 1993 Cadet Captain Tara O'Quinn
1991 - 1992 Cadet Captain Duane Kelly
1990 - 1991 Cadet Captain Samantha Bngay
1989 - 1990 Cadet Captain Samantha Bungay
1988 - 1989 Cadet Captain Earl Jesso
1987 - 1988 Cadet Captain Michelle Bungay
1986 - 1987 Cadet Captain Michelle Bungay
1985 - 1986 Cadet Captain Michelle Bungay
