Fort Simpson cadet brings top honours to the Deh Cho
President's Award leaves Yellowknife for first time
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 30, 2014
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A youth from Fort Simpson has become the first army cadet outside of Yellowknife in the territory to receive a prestigious award.
Bud Rhyndress, right, the president of the NWT branch of the Army Cadet League, presents Cadet Master Warrant Office Robert Harold with the President's Award during a ceremony in Fort Simpson on Oct. 21. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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Cadet Master Warrant Officer Robert Harold was presented with the President's Award in front of his peers in the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps during a ceremony in the village on Oct. 21. The award is given annually to the top cadet in each of the 13 areas across Canada represented by branches of the Army Cadet League.
This was the first time in its five-year history that the award for the NWT branch has been given to a cadet from somewhere other than the 2837 corps in Yellowknife.
"To be selected as the top army cadet in a province or a territory is quite a significant achievement," said Bud Rhyndress, the president of the NWT branch of the Army Cadet League, who presented the award to Harold.
Harold, 17, said he was surprised this was the first time the award and the trophy that comes with it has left the capital city. Cadets must be nominated for the award, which takes into account both their performance in their corps as well as their school attendance and marks, volunteer work and extra-curricular activities.
"It's nice knowing it was worthwhile, all the hard work," he said.
The Grade 12 student has been a member of the corps for five years after joining as soon as possible at age 12.
"It's given me lots of opportunities to travel and I've been able to do lots of things I wouldn't of been able to do just as a civilian," he said.
Harold's most recent trips include a six-week leadership and challenge course in Alberta during the summer of 2013 and a national expedition that started in Thunder Bay, Ont., this fall. Activities during the trips included rock climbing, kayaking and ice climbing.
"Things I never even thought of trying," he said.
Harold also credits the cadet program for aspects of his personal growth.
"It's definitely made me a better leader and made me more comfortable with public speaking," he said.
"It also makes you a better citizen because you learn how to take care of your peers."
Harold said the corps staff, particularly Capt. Steve Nicoll, pushed him to be a better cadet and helped him achieve the award.
"He's been a very committed cadet all the way through," Nicoll said.
Harold could have done anything he wanted with his time and energy, but he chose to spend it training and leading younger people through cadets, he said. The award also reflects the additional volunteer work that Harold has done with the corp including helping set up equipment for field training exercises and distributing and briefing senior cadets on the lessons they are leading, in addition to his own teaching duties.
Harold displays a very high level of skill and morale that raises the level of the motivation and performance of the cadets below him, Nicoll said.
Being the first corps outside of Yellowknife to have a cadet win the award is a matter of pride, he said.
"It will build esprit de corps for us," said Nicoll.
