.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

WHITEHORSE - Seven members of the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corp in Fort Simpson have once again proven the village produces strong cadets.

The team won the Western Arctic Area Skills Competition that was held in Whitehorse from Jan. 17 to 18.

Warrant Officer Charlene Deneyoua, left, was presented with the 2008 President's Award for top army cadet in the Western Arctic Area (WAA) by David Laxton, president of the Army Cadet League of Canada for the WAA. - photo courtesy of Cpt. Cheryl Major

The competition challenged the cadets to work together in four activities including marksmanship, volleyball, drill and a leadership task.

Marksmanship and drill were two of the team's strengths, said Warrant Officer Charlene Deneyoua, who was the team leader.

The team placed first in marksmanship and second in drill against competitors from Whitehorse, Inuvik and Norman Wells. The timed leadership task proved to be more challenging.

The team, which included Master Cpl. Alex Porter, Master Cpl. Brandon Norris, Pte. Katelyn Harold, Cadet Diedre Yakinneah, Cadet Alicia Norris and Cpl. Nikita Larter worked well together but still has some areas to smooth out, she said.

The team will add extra practice time before representing the Western Arctic Area at the Regional Cadet Skills Competition in Iqaluit from Feb. 21 to 2

The team represented Fort Simpson proudly in Whitehorse, said Lieut. Diane Porter, who accompanied the cadets to the competition.

The win, combined with the corp's performance at other events including the Northern Regional Cadet Biathlon competition, has built a reputation for Fort Simpson amongst the cadet units in the northern region.

"I think we are a force to be reckoned with," said Porter.

The accomplishments are a reflection of the commitment and efforts of both the cadets and the staff with the corp, said Porter.

The cadets have also received outstanding support from the community, she said.

In addition to winning accolades as a team, the seven cadets also received personal recognition while in Whitehorse.

Warrant Officer Charlene Deneyoua received the 2008 President's Award for the top army cadet in the Western Arctic Area.

Deneyoua is the first cadet to receive the award in the area.

She was chosen for continuously demonstrating the values of the cadet program through loyalty, professionalism, mutual respect and integrity, said Cpt. Cheryl Major, a public affairs officer with Regional Cadet Support Unit Northern.

Although Deneyoua, 17, said she knew she would been nominated for the award she was surprised to receive it.

"I was very excited," she said.

The cadets also tested their marksmanship qualifications.

Katelyn Harold, Brandon Norris and Alicia Norris received the highest classification, distinguished marksman, for having groupings under 1.5 centimetres.

Alex Porter and Diedre Yakinneah received expert marksman qualification for two-centimetre groupings while Nikita Larter became a first class marksman for a 2.5-centimetre grouping.