Once closed during the pandemic, the HMCS Acadia Cadet Training Center in Cornwallis Park, NS, will not reopen.
The training centers in Greenwood, NS, and Gagetown, NB, will continue to be used in the future. The Debert Learning Center closed in 2021.
Major Sean Sperry, deputy commander of the Atlantic Cadet Regional Support Unit, said the program would change so that cadets could pass the first two required levels at certain points in the community instead of having to go to the nearest training center.
The newly created Cadet activity program will launch this summer and will offer about 200 locations in the community across the country.
It is expected to have more than 9,000 participants for the first level of training and over 7,000 for the second level.
Sperry said both the closure of Cornwallis Park and the complete renewal of the program come amid funding uncertainties caused by the pandemic and the need to centralize the program.
Some locals say they will miss the training center.
“It’s very unfortunate for this area,” said Peter Nordland, a retired veteran and resident.
“It was great. It just breathed life into this place in the summer when the cadets were here, and we’re pretty disappointed.”
John Rodgers, a resident and retired Sea Scout Skipper – the senior driver of the Sea Scout – said he was sad to see him.
“It was a great program for the kids … It also makes a few people in the area work.”
Sperry acknowledged these feelings, but said the changes would allow more cadets in Canada to attend training in the future.
Cadet activity programs will be provided locally for cadets in the first two levels. (Government of Canada website)
“Across Canada, in many communities, we have these sites that will be staffed to allow cadets to basically do day camps for their first and second year, which allows them to stay home and their parents will leave. get rid of them, “Sperry said.
Cadets will be sent to a CTC site to complete their training only after completing the first two levels.
“This can range from expedition, aviation, gang, sailing and a number of other activities… they can be from Atlantic Canada, but will be transported to the relevant CTC throughout the country and will be given the same experience as in HMCS Acadia “Sperry said.
The training centers will now only offer the last two levels. They will also offer additional courses such as marine skills and sailing.
Sperry said he did not know what would happen to the HMCS Acadia building itself.
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