RANKIN INLET
The cadet program got off to a hot start in Rankin Inlet this past month.

3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Rankin Inlet commanding officer 2nd Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo promotes Senna Oolooyuk to the rank of cadet chief warrant officer in Rankin Inlet. - photo courtesy of Lisa Oolooyuk

The 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Rankin Inlet held a special night on Sept. 22 to promote eight cadets.

The promotions saw Senna Oolooyuk become a chief warrant officer, while Matt Ford-Rogers, Germain Aliyak and Grachel DaCunha received their sergeant chevrons.

Being promoted to the rank of corporal were Katrina Anderson, Marika Sanguin, Andrew Powell, Jewel MacCallum, Tanya Tugak, Shelly Woodford and Nadine Oolooyuk.

The 3019's commanding officer, 2nd Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo, said the corps already completed a weekend training bivouac this past month to get the mandatory exercise done before the weather turns bad.

She said the promotions became official on Sept. 8, but a number of other mandatory tasks had to be completed before a special night could be held.

"The kids were really excited to get their promotions," said Tootoo. "Senna Oolooyuk is our poster boy as he's been very active in the cadet program during the past few years, including going to Scotland this past summer.

"It was nice to see him get the rank he's always wanted, and he deserves."

The Rankin cadets received more good news when told the Iqaluit corps was inviting an officer and three or four cadets from every Nunavut corps to accompany them on a 10-day trip to Europe in May 2015.

Rankin will send four cadets because it's one of Nunavut's biggest corps.

Repulse Bay has been invited to send an officer and three cadets.

Tootoo said it was up to each corps to decide if it wants to participate in the trip.

She said there is fundraising involved because each corps must contribute.

"Rankin will fundraise $1,000 to put towards its cost, and each cadet going on the trip has to pay $200. That's not much to ask for such a tour, and we'll do it in Rankin, but each corps makes its own decision whether to accept the invitation."

The Rankin corps has to submit its list of cadets to attend by Nov. 15.

Tootoo said interview sessions will be held with senior cadets to select the lucky four.

She said it won't be an easy task to select four out of 12 possible senior cadets.

"We're focusing on senior cadets because you can't expect 10- to 12-year-olds to go on museum tours, and attend political functions where they're standing on parade for long periods of time while everyone is giving their speeches and whatnot.

"During the interviews we'll want to know why they want to go, what they hope to get out it and what impact our history may have on their world view.

"The tour isn't just about fun, and there may be times when it will make some cadets sad, like when we visit the Anne Frank House and hear about the holocaust from a Jewish group.

"That's pretty intense, so I told the kids to make sure they understand what this is all about, know they really want to go before applying, and make sure, through their teacher, they're academically sound enough to take 10 days away from school

to make the trip."

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