Canadian Cadet Movement
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Cadet Organizations, marketed under the term Cadets Canada, are youth cadet programs known as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local...

, Army Cadets
Royal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...

, and Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...

. The program is sponsored by the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

, funded through the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...

, with support from the civilian The Navy League
Navy League of Canada
The Navy League of Canada, is a Non-For-Profit organization founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1918. Originally formed to promote maritime issues to Canadians, the Navy League is the non-governmental partner of the Department of National Defence in delivery of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program...

, The Army Cadet League
Army Cadet League of Canada
The Army Cadet League of Canada is the civilian non-profit organization which works with the Department of National Defense to support the Royal Canadian Army Cadet program. It was founded in 1971 with a branch in every province and one for the northern region....

 and the Air Cadet League
Air Cadet League of Canada
The Air Cadet League of Canada is a volunteer organization that provides financial support and oversight to the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The Air Cadet League owns all of the aircraft used in the Air Cadet Gliding Program...

, as well as local community sponsors that include service organizations and parents of cadets.

Cadet corps and squadrons exist in communities large and small from coast to coast to coast. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Forces nor is the program a prerequisite for military service. Adult leadership is provided by Regular and Reserve members of the Canadian Forces assisted by Civilian Instructors and approved volunteers.

History

In 1862, 5 years before Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...

, "drill associations" were set up in Canada as a response to the Fenian Raids
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...

 and the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

. These early drill associations served to train militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...

 and were open to people over the age of 13.
In 1879, the government authorized the creation of 74 "Association[s] for Drill in Educational Institutions", drill associations that were open to male youth over the age of 14 and which did not entail active service in the military.
The Riel Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...

 of 1885 motivated increased support to these youth drill associations. By 1887, they were called the cadet corps, and were open to boys over the age of 12.

It was not until July 30, 1973 (the result of a change in legislation) that girls were officially permitted to join Government supported cadet corps and squadrons. Until then girls paraded as "Wrenettes" supported by the Navy League and Air "Cadettes" supported by the Air Cadet League. On rare occasions girls paraded unofficially with army cadets.

See also

  • Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
    Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
    Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local...

  • Royal Canadian Army Cadets
    Royal Canadian Army Cadets
    The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...

  • Royal Canadian Air Cadets
    Royal Canadian Air Cadets
    Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...

  • Canadian Forces
    Canadian Forces
    The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

  • Other Sea Cadet organisations
  • History of the Cadet Instructors Cadre
    History of the Cadet Instructors Cadre
    The Cadet Instructors Cadre was founded on May 1, 1909 when the Canadian Army establishment of a "Corps of School Cadet Instructors ." Previously, a Special General Order issued on December 21, 1903 had allowed qualified male school teachers be appointed as a Second Lieutenant, and to be...


External links

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