OTTAWA - Standing in front of Nunavut's flag, her toes at the red carpet in the Hall of Honour, warrant officer second class Candice Sudlovenick presented a red rose to Gov. Gen. David Johnston at his swearing-in ceremony on Oct. 1.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston, left, and his wife Sharon each received a rose from warrant officer second class Candice Sudlovenick of the 795 Iqaluit Squadron during Johnston's swearing-in ceremony this past Oct. 1. - photo courtesy of Sgt. Serge Gouin, Rideau Hall

The squadron commander of the 795 Iqaluit Squadron was one of 13 Canadians, one from each province and territory, to present Johnston and his wife a rose. She also extended her best wishes on behalf of Nunavut.

"It was an honour to represent Nunavut because to think one person (was) sent from each province and territory is really a cool thing. All the other people I met did such great cool things," she said.

Sudlovenick said they had a rehearsal the evening before the ceremony, when she was told to stand in front of Nunavut's flag for the swearing-in ceremony, her toes at the red carpet, so Johnston would not step off it when she greeted him for 20 seconds. She said she gave Johnston a red rose and his wife a white one but she doesn't remember what she told him.

"I don't really remember. It happened so quickly," she said. "I was really excited but I wasn't as nervous as I used to be for big events. It happened so fast."

After the ceremony, she said she was invited to dinner at Rideau Hall.

"It was really cool," she said. "I was a little nervous at first and I kind of got used to it. It was really fun."

Sudlovenick was born in Iqaluit and has lived in Pond Inlet and Saskatoon before moving back to Iqaluit, her home for the last 13 years. The 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Inuksuk High School joined the air cadets five years ago. She said she learned the week of the ceremony she would be participating.

"I was really excited, jumping all over the place," she said.

Back at school, she said she told her classmates how exciting it was to meet the governor-general, the prime minister and other important people.

Sudlovenick, who is starting her sixth year as a cadet, said she was unsure what her future holds.

"I experienced so much in cadets alone. You travel all over the place for summer camps," she said. "It's an experience that you will probably experience after you left home if you weren't a cadet. When you are leaving, it kind of teaches what it's going to be like to be alone, without your parents around."

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