Naujaat captures cadet crown
Defeats Iqaluit, Arctic Bay to claim four-event competition
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
NAUJAAT
The 3055 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) Naujaat captured the Eastern Arctic Cadet Sports and Drill Competition in Iqaluit earlier this month.
Five teams - Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Naujaat, Iglulik and Arctic Bay - were scheduled to compete, but bad weather kept Rankin and Iglulik from attending the Dec. 5-6 event.
The competition consisted of four events - volleyball, leadership tasking of setting up an Arctic tent while being timed, marksmanship and drill routine - with teams receiving three points for first, two for second and one for third in each event.
The final overall points standings in the competition saw 3055 Naujaat finish first with nine points, 795 Iqaluit second with eight points and 3045 Arctic Bay third with seven points.
The championship came down to the final event of volleyball to decide the winner.
Capt. Lloyd Francis of Naujaat said while the event is a competition, its main goal is to allow cadets the opportunity to meet others in the cadet program from across Nunavut and to promote teamwork and camaraderie.
He said if any of the cadets at the competition are attending summer camp, they will now know other people from Nunavut.
"Knowing other cadets makes their camp experience that much better, especially if it's their first time away from home for any real length of time," said Francis. "Two of our cadets - Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Kopak and cadet Melanie Kaunak - had never been on a plane until we left for Iqaluit.
"We celebrated Sgt. Gene Siusangnark's birthday while in Iqaluit on Dec. 5, and it was a touching moment when the competitors from all thee teams joined together to sing him happy birthday."
Francis said the Naujaat team consisted of four senior and four rookie cadets.
He said it was great to see the mentoring that took place among the youths.
"The cadets practised for weeks leading up to the competition, and their hard work and dedication paid off.
"The results were very close, with all three teams being very competitive and displaying a positive attitude.
"This shows how strong the cadet program is in Nunavut.
"3055 RCACC Naujaat is now looking forward to a biathlon competition in Whitehorse, the Yukon, this coming February, as well as a marksmanship competition in Gimli, Man., in March."
