THIS summer, North Vancouver cadet Nathan Wong, petty officer first class of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Lonsdale, was selected as the top staff cadet of 2012.
According to a written statement, Wong worked as a basic seamanship divisional petty officer aboard HMCS Quadra. Wong was in charge of 60 youth aged 12-14 from across Canada and throughout the summer taught them countless lessons and skills, including rope work, leadership and life skills. After nearly two months of successfully leading his division and out of more than 140 of his peers, he was awarded the Lord Strathcona Trust Award.
In 1909, Canada's high commissioner to Great Britain established this trust to encourage esprit de corps and promote drill and physical fitness in Canadian youth.
The top staff cadet is one who has demonstrated these attributes throughout their period of employment.
Wong had his award presented to him by Rear Admiral Jennifer Bennett.
Sea Cadets has taught him the value of loyalty, professionalism and has helped him make friends from across Canada, says Wong, a 17-year-old boatswain, in the statement.
The HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre, based in Comox, recently completed its 56th year of operations and trained more than 1,000 cadets from across Canada this summer.
For more information on the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, a national youth program sponsored by the Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada, visit www.cadets.ca.
Send details, along with your contact information, for our regular Noteworthy Neighbours section to [email protected].
