The 574 Dakota Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron hosted their monthly Commanding Officers Parade at the North Ridge 
Community Centre Thursday, December 7th. During this event, Captain Trevor Davies inspects each of the cadets on their dress, drill and deportment. The Commanding Officers Parade has taken place each month since the local Air Cadets Squadron first became available in Martensville. Upon inception, the squadron had 12 cadets and has since grown in size to 37 cadets, and is growing each week. The local squadron services Martensville, Warman, Dalmeny, Osler and surrounding area as a youth program for ages 12 to 19 years old.
It is also at these monthly events that presentations from the community are scheduled, with two taking place December 7th. The first came from Martensville Fire Department with Fire Chief Kurtis Dyck presenting the Squadron with a cheque for $500 for their contribution to this year’s Protective Services Gala, which took place October 21st. At the event, the cadets worked the coat check, the raffle booth and helped clear off the tables. “We wanted to thank you for coming out to help with the gala. We truly appreciate it and it took a lot of extra stress off of us,” Chief Dyck said.
The second presentation of the evening came from the Martensville & District Kinsmen Club who has been a major sponsor for the organization since its inception. “As a Kinsmen Club, our only goal is that we serve the community’s greatest needs. We are very proud as a committee to be sponsoring you and as part of our sponsorship, we give ongoing funding to support ongoing costs within the organization,” said Arnie Deschner of the Martensville & District Kinsmen Club. Kinsmen members Deschner, James Dietrich and Roger Ireland then presented the Cadets with a donation for $3000, which is the first half of the 2018 sponsorship. “We were approached in 2016 to see if we would sponsor them in order to allow them to be able to start up. We have taken on the roll as one of their major sponsors with the intent of providing yearly funding,” Deschner explained. The Air Cadet Squadron participate in a wide variety of activities from September to June, which can include survival weekends, sports weekends, range, gliding/power flying opportunities and more.
The 574 Dakota Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron can be seen supporting numerous community events throughout the year. This past year, they contributed to events such as; the Martensville Community Expo, the Affinity Credit Union Customer Appreciation BBQ, the Protective Services Dine & Dance, the MFD Christmas Hamper Program, poppy day, tag days and much more. “We feel that having the cadet program available in Martensville is such a great thing for the community because they get involved. It teaches them so many important things and it is so nice to see them wanting to come and hang out with one another because they are forming friendships,” said Kari Eidsness Hodges, the Squadron Sponsoring Committee Chair. The main goals for the Air Cadets are to develop good citizenship and leadership, to promote physical fitness and to stimulate an interest in flying.
For more information about the 574 Dakota Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, you can find them on Facebook at ‘574 “Dakota” Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron’.
