RANKIN INLET - The Rankin Inlet 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps marched away with another successful year under its banner during a final parade and awards ceremony at Rankin's community hall earlier this month.

Sgt. Rhonda Thompson of the Bluenose 615 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron of Halifax, N.S., presents 2nd navy Lt. Dorothy Tootoo, right, with a plaque of appreciation during the Halifax squadron's visit to Rankin earlier this year. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo

The Rankin corps celebrated a number of triumphs this year, including a successful visit by the Bluenose 615 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron of Halifax, N.S. and sending nine cadets for their silver star training.

Commanding officer 2nd navy Lt. Dorothy Tootoo said 24 cadets took part in the final parade, with five more excused due to prior commitments.

She said there won't be much time for the 3019 to catch its breath, as it prepares for its 25th anniversary in 2012.

"The exchange visit was a tremendous success this year and it really opened doors for a lot of our kids," said Tootoo.

"We've been able to retain a lot of our older kids and that's been really good for us.

"Cadets who take silver star training come back with the confidence of knowing they've passed the criteria."

Tootoo said cadet Warrant Officer Cassandra Gordon, who turns 18 in August, has been in cadets since the age of 12.

She said Gordon earned the corps' highest accolade this year, the Leadership Award, and will be sponsored by First Air to travel to cadet camp in Whitehorse, Yukon, as a cadet sergeant major this summer.

"It's huge for us to have a cadet stay in our program this long, especially in a leadership role.

"They've never had a cadet sergeant major of Inuit descent at the camp before, so that's really big for our corps."

Tootoo said there will be a lot of preparation for the corps' 25th anniversary.

She said she'd like to have the original commanding officer and as many cadets from the first Rankin corps when it started on Feb. 16, 1987, attend as possible.

"It would be fun to have some of these people attend and see where they are now and what they remember from their time in the corps.

"Whatever direction we take, there'll be a lot of work involved to organize everything and we're looking forward to getting at it.

"We just completed a great year and we have a wonderful core group of kids moving ahead in the program.

"So, from here, I guess it's a case of onwards and upwards for our program."