Sea Cadets from Gibsons, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Burnaby gathered at the Sea Cadet Hall in North Vancouver recently to celebrate their success and display their accomplishments for this year.
The cadets, all members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Lonsdale, displayed their skills before a packed house at the annual ceremonial review. Culminating the ceremony was the presentation of awards and recognitions.
The Lord Strathcona Medal was awarded to Petty Officer First Class Jack Chen of North Vancouver. The Royal Canadian Legion Medal of Excellence was awarded to Petty Officer Second Class Caitlin Jarvis of Gibsons.
Jarvis also received one of the highest awards in the sea cadet program when she was named the winner of the Outstanding Cadet Award and Navy League Medal of Excellence as the Top Sea Cadet in British Columbia - Mainland Division. This is a huge accomplishment by any standard. Jarvis displayed her skills and leadership this year by regularly commuting from her home division in Gibsons to captain the Lonsdale Drill team, and the Seamanship team, and to achieve her music qualifications on flute — an all-round cadet.
Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Lonsdale parades Wednesdays from September though the end of June in North Vancouver and in Gibsons. Sea Cadets is open to all youth ages 12 to 18, and young people may join at any time. All uniforms and equipment are supplied. Cadets are not part of the Canadian Forces and are under no obligation to join the Canadian Forces.