Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 15/05) - The 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) in Rankin Inlet marked the official end of its training year with an inspection and parade on May 29.

The event was held in front of friends and family at the FOL's Hangar One.

Longtime Rankin resident and former school principal Jean Williamson was the reviewing officer for the 2005 parade and inspection.

Capt. Tim Hinds, the 3019 RCACC's commanding officer, rates the season as a good one, despite a number of parades and other training activities being cancelled due to the string of blizzards to strike Rankin this winter.

"We started off with about 35 cadets, on strength, and two-thirds of those were solid attenders," says Hinds.

"By the end of the year, those numbers had dropped to about 24 and 16.

"But, the cadets who came out on a regular basis participated well and were a pleasure to deal with."The 3019 RCACC remains one of Nunavut's strongest, but, for that to continue, new instructors will have to be found.

Hinds says four of the six current staff members are set to leave Rankin.

He says the program will continue, however, as long as cadets want to participate.

"Otherwise, we won't be able to attract people who are interested in coming out and working with them.

"That's especially important for next season with myself, Michele Ashby, Joanne Leonard and Sally Watters leaving. That leaves Capt. Tom Rogers and cadet instructor Ben Porter.

"We are in the process of recruiting three or four others who, hopefully, will be able to come out next year and help with the program."

Hinds says former Rankin cadet Aaron Autut joining the regular force has had a positive influence on local cadets.

He says those who know Autut are following what he's doing, where he's going and what he's accomplishing.

"They're passing that interest along to the cadets who are following behind them.

"So, Aaron's success is a real positive for both the teenagers involved with the cadet program and as a recruitment tool for the corps.

"Aaron is showing how much can be accomplished by starting off as a cadet."